“The carpenter cuts down cedars.
He may choose a holm tree.
He may choose an oak tree.
He lets it grow strong
Among the trees of the forest.
He plants a cedar.
The rain nourishes it.
Then it can be used as fuel.
He takes a part of it.
He warms himself.
He kindles a fire.
He bakes bread.”
Second Isaiah points out that tree wood has many uses. The most common form of Middle Eastern trees was the cedar or the oak tree, especially the holm oak. You have to let these trees grow strong among the many other trees in the forest. A cedar tree had to be nourished by rain. When it is chopped down, it could be used as fuel to warm oneself. You could also start a fire in order to bake bread.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 