"Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. And ten young men that bare Joab's armor compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him." 2 Samuel 18:14-15 ASV
<p>Illustration of Absalom hanging by his hair from an oak tree. His horse is rearing on its hind legs, preparing to run away. Joab, the general, holds two spears in one hand and prepares to stab Absalom with the third. Other members of Joab's troops have their swords raised, poised to strike.

Absalom is Killed by Joab While Hanging in a Tree

"Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them…

"The oak that lifts its stately head on high, / The tempest blast, and whirlwind will defy; / But a small ax, within the woodman's hand, / More powerful proves - its force it cannot stand; / By little strokes, quickly, and often made, / The giant monarch oak is lowly laid: / By feeble means, great wonders meet our eyes, / The forest falls, and splendid cities rise."&mdash;Barber, 1857

Little Strokes Fell Great Oaks

"The oak that lifts its stately head on high, / The tempest blast, and whirlwind will defy; / But a…

"A philosopher, seating himself under an oak tree, and viewing its massiveness, could not understand why so large a tree should produce such small fruit. 'There,' said he, 'is the pumpkin, growing on a slender vine; how much better it would be, if that vine bore acorns, and the great tree the pumpkins; then there would be some harmony and fitness in nature.' As he was meditating on this subject, and examining some ancient theories on the works of creation, an acorn dropped on his head and broke up the train of his reflections. 'How foolish and short-sighted I am, to question the wisdom of Providence,' thought the philosopher, 'if the acorn had been a pumpkin, my head would have been broken.'"&mdash;Barber, 1857

Man Thinks Himself Wise, till God Shows Him His Folly

"A philosopher, seating himself under an oak tree, and viewing its massiveness, could not understand…

A valuable and well known tree, or its wood.

Oak

A valuable and well known tree, or its wood.

"Acorn and cupule of Quercus Skinneri, natural size; 2. cross section of the acorn, showing the lobed embryo." -Lindley, 1853

Acorn

"Acorn and cupule of Quercus Skinneri, natural size; 2. cross section of the acorn, showing the lobed…

Giant oak with man.

Oak Tree

Giant oak with man.

The famous oak tree that stood upon the northern slope of the Wyllys Hill, in Hartford.

The Charter Oak

The famous oak tree that stood upon the northern slope of the Wyllys Hill, in Hartford.

Also known as Quercus suber. It is a medium-sized oak tree, and it is the primary source of cork for wine bottle stoppers. It is commonly found in southwest Europe and northwest Africa.

Cork Oak

Also known as Quercus suber. It is a medium-sized oak tree, and it is the primary source of cork for…

Sigmund, the son of Volsung, lived in a castle with a giant oak tree growing out of it. A disguised Odin thrusts a powerful sword in the oak and says that whoever can pull it out will be able to keep the mighty sword. No grown men could pull it out, but young Sigmund pulls it out with ease.

Sigmund and the Oak Tree

Sigmund, the son of Volsung, lived in a castle with a giant oak tree growing out of it. A disguised…