Algum

Algum(Hebrew:אַלְגּוּמִּים,romanized:’algūmmīm) oralmug(Hebrew:אַלְמֻגִּים,romanized:’almuggīm)is a type ofwoodreferred to in theHebrew Bible.

Biblical reference

According to theFirst Book of Kings(1 Kings 10:12), and theSecond Book of Chronicles(2 Chronicles 2:8; 9:10–11), it was used, together withcedarandpine,in the construction of the pillars ofSolomon's Templeand the crafting of musical instruments for use in the temple. SomeEnglish translationssay that it was used for the steps rather than the pillarsand biblical commentatorsCarl Friedrich KeilandFranz Delitzschsuggest that "we should have to think of steps withbannisters"to make sense of the text.

It is likely that the wood was brought by the ships ofTarshish,sent from theRed Seaport of Ezion-Giber, from the distant country ofOphir,and was very valuable.

Botanical classification

Thebotanicalidentity of algum is not known for certain, though some references suggest it may bejuniper(Juniperus). Several species of juniper occur in theMiddle Eastregion, includingJuniperus excelsa(Greek juniper),Juniperus foetidissima(stinking juniper),Juniperus phoenicea(Phoenician juniper), andJuniperus drupacea(Syrian juniper). It is likely that the woods of these species, which are all very similar in woodworking properties, would not have been distinguished from each other in the wood trade. The difficulty in identifying this wood is due in part to uncertainty over the location of the biblical city of Ophir. If Ophir is located in the Philippines, as some think, the wood likely would be redsandalwoodorPterocarpus santalinus.