Genesis 12:6 in the KJV Bible reads like this
And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the was then in the land.
Reading a different translation last week, I noticed that "plain" is from the Hebrew word, "elon". This appears to be a bad translation. Elon means oak or terebinth tree and virtually every other translation agrees. It presents a challenge because the tree is mentioned as if the reader knows which tree the text is referring to. There are billions of trees so what was special about that one tree in Moreh? We don't know. But even though most translations use the singular form, some claim that it might refer to a grove of trees. My knowledge of Hebrew is not even close to adequate to determine who is right. In any case, I assume the tree or grove is mentioned for a reason. It marks a sacred spot. The Lord appeared to him there and gave him promises, and Abraham built an altar. Interestingly, there is no mention of a sacrifice, which is usually the case when there is an altar. In fact, no ancient Near Eastern document refers to altars used for anything other than sacrifices in the presence of deity. Whatever happened at Moreh, other than the little information we get from the text, it was significant and God was present.
The NRSV cultural backgrounds study bible states:
No hint is given that trees themselves were worshiped, but notable trees became places where various sacred rituals were performed. The significance given to certain trees in the Biblical text suggests that they designated sacred space (cf. 13.18; 35.4,8; Deut 11.30; Judg 4.5; 6.11; 9.37). Note the eventual indictment of the Israelites that they set up sacred stones and Asherah poles “under every green tree” (2 Kings 17.10). Moreh. The name given to the oak here has been interpreted as suggesting that oracular information was gained here (Moreh means “teacher”).
This Hebrew word for tree has both a masculine and feminine version, elon and elah, respectively. Some scholars believe that elon means oak and elah means terebinth. I'm speculating here, but I believe this may be because of the strength of the large oak that can be associated with masculinity and the feminine nurture and protection that the terebinth tree gives in the form of fruit and shade (it is very dense). People in some parts of the world, like myself, don't usually value shade very highly since the hot sun is a relatively rare occurrence. But I understand it was very different for people in the Near East. See for instance Genesis 18:4, where Abraham shows his hospitality by offering his visitors to rest under a tree, among other things.
The other thing about these words, elon and elah, is the close resemblance to El and Eloah, meaning God. As explained in this post, there is close linguistic resemblance between the tree and God that follows the same pattern as the resemblance between the ground and man.
I have written extensively about trees and tree symbolism in the scriptures before. But this detail from Abraham's life was new to me. There is a very similar description in Genesis 13:18:
So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD. (This is from the English Standard Version since the KJV keeps insisting on "plain")
So we have another grove followed by the building of an altar. In Genesis 18:1, the Lord appears to Abraham at that grove. As I have written before, I think that most of the tree symbolism in the scriptures can be traced back to the Garden of Eden and the House of Israel symbolism in Zenos' allegory. There is a relationship between the covenant people and the tree of life. As the story of Abraham indicates, trees may have been a more important part of ancient Israelite worship than we might think. Especially considering the fact that Josiah's reform included the destruction of all the Asherah/tree symbols.
This all makes me think of Alma-1 in the Book of Mormon. As we know, he was one of King Noah's priests, believed Abinadi's words and secretly starting to teach the people. They gathered at a place called Mormon.
Now, there was in Mormon a fountain of pure water, and Alma resorted thither, there being near the water a thicket of small trees, where he did hide himself in the daytime from the searches of the king. (Mosiah 18:5)
The "small trees" is not a fitting description for the oaks of Abraham and with a different flora in the Americas, there were probably no terebinth trees either. But the symbolism is familiar, the trees offer protection and gives Alma a place to hide. It is also coupled with a fountain of pure water, just like the tree of life in Lehi's dream and in Revelations 21. It was certainly considered a special place
the place of Mormon, the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon, how beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer; yea, and how blessed are they, for they shall to his praise forever. (Mosiah 18:30)
Pondering on this, my thoughts go to the sacred grove in Palmyra. This was certainly a monumental event, but there is something sacred about the place too. Considering the role of trees in the story of Adam and Eve, Abraham, Alma and the ancient tree symbolism associated with the divine, it is interesting to me that a grove of trees is where the Father and the Son appeared to Joseph Smith, ushering in the restoration in the fullness of times. They appeared amidst ancient symbols of the divine and gave young Joseph instructions, like Abraham in the grove of Moreh (Hebr. teacher).