2,000-Year-Old Seed Sprouts, Sapling Is Thriving

National Geographic ^ | 11/22/2005 | John Roach

[EternalVigilance]

An ancient and very beneficial plant flourishes in the Holy Land.

Awaiting Muslim threats to smash it and throw it into the sea...

[Sleeping Freeper]

All I can say is cool!!!!

[BigFinn]

Very interesting article. Wonder why they were wiped out in 500 AD.

[sr4402]

An ancient and very beneficial plant flourishes in the Holy Land.

So does anyone know if the seedling is any different than modern ones?

[sheik yerbouty]

TROP only grows chaos and misery..

[RightResponse]

The sex of the sapling is unknown, but the researchers are hoping for a female, which would bear fruit.

Imagine hooking up a 2000 year old Jewish date, that was interested in bearing fruit!

[Mamzelle]

Yé! utúvienyes!

blast from the past...

[Licensed-To-Carry]

Right up Bill Clinton's alley, so to speak.

[STD]

Weird mind of yours Pal

[EternalVigilance]

So does anyone know if the seedling is any different than modern ones?

The article says that it is different.

[EternalVigilance]

In ancient times the Judean date palm was a staple source of food, shelter, and shade. References to it are made in the Bible, the Koran, and other ancient literature. Judean date palms were wiped out by about A.D. 500.

[patton]

LOL

[Convert from ECUSA]

Some good news from Israel - ping!

[Thunder 6]

Yeah, but you gotta admit...it was pretty funny!
Regards,

[STD]

Watch this date palm for some miraculous healings. It will then become the object of idol worship. People the world over will fly to Israel for cancer treatment.

[RightResponse]

Or it will bear fruit, then move in with the kids for another 2000 years....

[chuckles]

The real significance of this is religious. Jesus told us of seeds that had to die to live. A seed will sit dormant for years(even thousands), and still retain the ability to come alive. Just as our souls are dormant and dead until we die to self and live for Him.

This is the image of Baptism. We die by being held under water, but rise to new life. He wanted us to know that he would be "planted", only to rise to new life. It is also depicting the verse that we "see through a glass darkly". We cannot know, by looking at ourselves, what we will become in a glorified state. If you look at a kernel of corn, could you ever envision a corn stalk, or an acorn an oak tree?

[Feiny]

Judean dates instantly remove unwanted fat.

[Red Badger]

2000....20... they're all the same.......oy vey!....