The Diviners' Oak was a tree near Shechem, likely associated with pagan divination practices (Judges 9:37).
Also known as diviners' tree · plain of Meonenim
The Diviners' Oak was a tree located near the city of Shechem, mentioned in the story of Abimelech's rise to power (Judges 9:37). It was likely a prominent tree used by pagan diviners for their occult practices. In the context of the story, Gaal, one of Abimelech's opponents, refers to the Diviners' Oak when warning of an approaching army. The mention of this tree suggests that pagan divination practices were still prevalent in the region during the time of the judges. The Diviners' Oak stands as a reminder of the Israelites' struggle to remain faithful to God in the face of surrounding pagan influences.
Approximate location: 32.214, 35.282 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
1 verse in 1 book · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H6049
Then Gaal spoke up again, “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming by way of the Divinersʼ Oak.”
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.