Wood

Wood (ets in Hebrew, used for both the material and the living tree) was a foundational building and fuel material throughout the biblical world. Lebanon's cedar forests supplied the premium timber for Solomon's temple (1 Kings 5:6–10; 2 Chronicles 2:8) and his palace (1 Kings 7:2–3). Acacia (shittim) wood from the Sinai was the primary material for the tabernacle's structural elements, the ark of the covenant, and the furniture (Exodus 25–27). The tabernacle also required abundant wood for its altar's burnt offerings. Isaiah uses wood-cutting as an extended illustration of idolatry's absurdity: a man cuts down a tree, uses half for fuel and warmth, and fashions the other half into an idol to worship (Isaiah 44:14–17). Paul uses building materials including wood in his image of the quality of ministry work in 1 Corinthians 3:12–15: gold, silver, and precious stones survive the fire of judgment; wood, hay, and stubble do not.