אַלְגּוּמִּים

From the study of 2 Chronicles 2:8

Range of meaning

A costly wood of uncertain identity. In 9:10–11 it is used for steps or supports in the temple and palace and for lyres and harps. Kings has the spelling almuggim (1 Kgs 10:11–12) and says it was brought from Ophir with gold and precious stones.

Against the English

Most versions (KJV, BSB, WEB, ESV, NASB, NIV) simply transliterate it as "algum," which honestly admits that no one knows the tree. Some modern paraphrases name a specific wood, such as red sandalwood, which states a guess as if it were known.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ugaritic texts mention ʾalmg, a valuable wood, and Akkadian texts mention elammakku, a precious timber connected with the mountains of northern Syria (the Amanus range). Both point to a high-value wood found in the Levant and Syria. An old suggestion, red sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus) from India, rests on the Ophir trade route in Kings. Greek juniper (Juniperus excelsa) is a candidate from the Lebanon itself.

From the study of 2 Chronicles 9:10

Range of meaning

The name of a particular imported wood, valued for its quality and appearance. It occurs only in 2 Chronicles 2:8 (Hebrew 2:7) and 9:10–11, and as 'almuggim' in 1 Kings 10:11–12. The exact species is unknown. Suggestions include red sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus, from India), true sandalwood, juniper, Phoenician cedar or a similar conifer, and ebony-like woods.

Against the English

Most English versions simply carry the word over ('algum'), which is honest about the uncertainty. KJV and WEB 'algum trees' wrongly suggests living trees. NLT's 'red sandalwood' commits to one identification, which is plausible but not proven.

Used elsewhere in the period

Texts from Ugarit (Late Bronze Age, on the Syrian coast) mention ʾalmg, a wood used for fine objects. Akkadian texts mention elammakku, a valuable wood, including from the Alalakh region of northern Syria. That points to a wood known in the Levant, which fits 2 Chronicles 2:8, where Solomon asks Hiram for algum 'from Lebanon'. It sits less easily with the Ophir voyages here. The Greek translation (LXX) seems to have guessed at the meaning: it renders the Kings verse 'unhewn wood' and the Chronicles passages with a word for pine. The Vulgate uses 'thyine' wood (ligna thyina), a fragrant wood prized by the Romans.