Tree of Life

I’ll shortly be launching into a study of Isaiah. I believe a key to understanding Isaiah, and a lot of scripture, is to understand the imagery and symbolism of the tree of life. Old Testament scholar and Methodist minister Margaret Barker has done incredibly illuminating work in this area. For an introduction to her work, read her book Temple Theology. It’s a quick read and a fascinating look into the pre-Jewish religion of the ancient Israelites. And for my LDS friends, you’ll spot some knock-your-socks-off parallels to our theology and practices.

 One of these parallels is that this ancient Israelite religion had the temple at its center, and this temple included a tree of life (which was later transformed into the menorah). This tree of life had associations with the divine feminine, the love of God, wisdom, and salvation. These associations are summed up well in Proverbs 3:13-19:

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

Nephi’s vision of the tree of life expands on this in some amazing ways (that, incidentally, Joseph Smith could not have known about). To understand more about this, read this intriguing paper by Daniel Peterson (http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/jbms/?vol=9&num=2&id=223).

 

Isaiah draws heavily on this imagery, and it’s easy to spot when he uses images of trees, groves, gardens, vines, oaks, etc.

That’s enough groundwork for now. More later.