Nehemiah 8:15

Go forth unto the mount. The extant text appears to imply that this statement and what follows were quoted from Scripture, but this is not the case. This difficulty is avoided by the LXX, which reads, “and Ezra said,” instead of “saying” between “Jerusalem” and “Go forth.”

Pine. Hebrew ‘es shemen, literally, “oil tree,” generally rendered “wild olive” in translating this text. However, it is questionable that the wild olive tree, or oleaster, which contains little or no oil, would have received such a name. Therefore the suggestion has been made that a resinous tree is meant, perhaps the fir tree. According to 1 Kings 6:23, 31, 32 its wood was used as timber, whereas wild olive wood is of little value for the purpose here described.

Palm branches. That is, of the date palm.

Thick trees. The same expression is used in Leviticus 23:40, but in both references the meaning is uncertain. Perhaps trees with a thick foliage are intended. It is remarkable that two of the trees commanded in Leviticus 23 are omitted here, while three — the olive, fir, and myrtle — are added.