The expression also that it might grow into such dimensions that Birds might lodge in the Branches thereof, may be literally conceived; if we allow the luxuriancy of plants in _Judæa_, above our Northern Regions; If we accept of but half the Story taken notice of by Tremellius, from the _Jerusalem Talmud_, of a Mustard Tree that was to be climbed like a Figg Tree; and of another, under whose shade a Potter daily wrought: and it may somewhat abate our doubts, if we take in the advertisement of _Herodotus_ concerning lesser Plants of _Milium_ and _Sesamum_ in the Babylonian Soil: _Milium ac Sesamum in proceritatem instar arborum crescere, etsi mihi compertum, tamen memorare supersedeo, probè sciens cis qui nunquam Babyloniam regionem adierunt perquam incredibile visum iri._ We may likewise consider that the word κατασκηνῶσαι doth not necessarily signifie _making a Nest_, but rather sitting, roosting, covering and resting in the Boughs, according as the same word is used by the _Septuagint_ in other places[197] as the Vulgar rendreth it in this, _inhabitant_, as our Translation, _lodgeth_, and the Rhemish, _resteth_ in the Branches. [197] Dan. 4. 9. Ps. 1. 14. 12. [Sidenote: _The Rod of_ Aaron. Numb. 17. 8.] 24. _And it came to pass that on the morrow Moses went into the Tabernacle of witness, and behold the Rod of Aaron for the House of Levi was budded, and brought forth Buds, and bloomed Blossomes, and yielded Almonds._ In the contention of the Tribes and decision of priority and primogeniture of _Aaron_, declared by the Rod, which in a night budded, flowred and brought forth Almonds, you cannot but apprehend a propriety in the Miracle from that species of Tree which leadeth in the Vernal germination of the year, unto all the Classes of Trees; and so apprehend how properly in a night and short space of time the Miracle arose, and somewhat answerable unto its nature the Flowers and Fruit appeared in this precocious Tree, and whose original Name[198] implies such speedy efflorescence, as in its proper nature flowering in _February_, and shewing its Fruit in _March_. [198] Sbacher _from_ Sbachar festinus fuit _or_ maturuit. This consideration of that Tree maketh the expression in _Jeremy_[SN: Jer. 1. 11.] more Emphatical, when 'tis said, _What seest thou? and he said, A Rod of an Almond Tree. Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen, for I will hasten the Word to perform it._ I will be quick and forward like the Almond Tree, to produce the effects of my word, and hasten to display my judgments upon them. And we may hereby more easily apprehend the expression in _Ecclesiastes_ [SN: Eccles. 12. 5.]; _When the Almond Tree shall flourish_. That is when the Head, which is the prime part, and first sheweth it self in the world, shall grow white, like the Flowers of the Almond Tree, whose Fruit, as _Athenæus_ delivereth, was first called Κάρηνον, or the Head, from some resemblance and covering parts of it.