SPECIAL TOPIC: ACACIA WOOD

SPECIAL TOPIC: ACACIA WOOD (Acacia Raddiana)

This desert tree, growing to about 16', is called Shittah (BDB 1008) in Hebrew. It is common in the dry regions of Africa and Canaan. Its wood was very hard and strong because of the slow growth of the tree. Its wood is a brownish orange in color. It was the only wood available in the area where Israel camped during the wilderness wandering period (cf. Exodus 25-27).

poles (cf. Exod. 25:13), not boards, were what was used in the structure of the tabernacle
poles for carrying its furniture (cf. Exod. 25:13-14)
larger slabs would have been used for the furniture pieces themselves (i.e., ark, tables, altars, cf. Exod. 26:15; 36:20; Deut. 10:3)
see UBS Fauna and Flora of the Bible (pp. 87-88).