[203] Isa. 9. 10 It is a broad spreading Tree, not onely fit for Walks, Groves and Shade, but also affording profit. And therefore it is said that King _David_[204] appointed _Baalhanan_ to be over his Olive Trees and Sycamores, which were in great plenty; and it is accordingly delivered,[205] that _Solomon made Cedars to be as the Sycamore Trees that are in the Vale for abundance_. That is, he planted many, though they did not come to perfection in his days. [204] 1 Chron. 27. 28. [205] 1 King. 10. 27. And as it grew plentifully about the Plains, so was the Fruit good for Food; and, as _Bellonius_ and late accounts deliver, very refreshing unto Travellers in those hot and drie Countries: whereby the expression of _Amos_[206] becomes more intelligible, when he said he was _an Herdsman, and a gatherer of Sycamore Fruit_. And the expression of _David_[207] also becomes more Emphatical; _He destroyed their Vines with Hail, and their Sycamore Trees with Frost_. That is, their _Sicmoth_ in the Original, a word in the sound not far from the Sycamore. [206] Amos 7. 14. [207] Psal. 78 47. Thus when it is said,[208] _If ye had Faith as a grain of Mustard-seed, ye might say unto this Sycamine Tree, Be thou plucked up by the roots, and be thou placed in the Sea, and it should obey you_: it might be more significantly spoken of this Sycamore; this being described to be _Arbor vasta_, a large and well rooted Tree, whose removal was more difficult than many others. And so the instance in that Text, is very properly made in the Sycamore Tree, one of the largest and less removable Trees among them. A Tree so lasting and well rooted, that the Sycamore which _Zacheus_ ascended, is still shewn in _Judæa_ unto Travellers; as also the hollow Sycamore at _Maturæa_ in _Ægypt_, where the blessed Virgin is said to have remained: which though it relisheth of the Legend, yet it plainly declareth what opinion they had of the lasting condition of that Tree, to countenance the Tradition; for which they might not be without some experience, since the learned describer of the _Pyramides_[209] observeth, that the old Ægyptians made Coffins of this Wood, which he found yet fresh and undecayed among divers of their Mummies. [208] Luk. 17. 6. [209] D. Greaves. And thus, also, when _Zacheus_ climbed up into a Sycamore above any other Tree, this being a large and fair one, it cannot be denied that he made choice of a proper and advantageous Tree to look down upon our Saviour. [Sidenote: _Increase of Seed 100. fold in_ Matt. 13. 23.]