Today is a day of victory stories and celebrations with Palm leaves. We all know that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey amidst great celebration with people laying down palm branches and clothing to build up the road. Why do we have this tradition? There are stories, some of which have been forgotten.
Having grown up in south Florida, palm branches are fun to wave and build outdoor structures (like lean-to's, pirate shacks, tree houses, picnic shelters, and Sukkot tabernacles). Palm leaves speak of vacations in warm places. Even in Israel the symbol of Jericho was the Palm Tree.
Palm leaves are symbolic and have been used throughout history as emblems of joy and victory (Ps 92:12). They were engraved throughout the Temple, beginning on the basins at the entrance of the Temple. They are used during the Feast of Tabernacles to show God’s bounties. (Leviticus 23:40)
The stories start with the triumphant entry when King David brought the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem. “David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing.... And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn. (2 Sam 6:12-15)
Likewise, there was great celebration when Jehu was anointed King by the prophet Elisha. “When Jehu came out to the servants of his master, they said to him,“Is all well? Why did this mad fellow come to you?” ... He spoke to me, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, I anoint you king over Israel.’” Then in haste every man of them took his garment and put it under him on the bare steps, and they blew the trumpet and proclaimed, “Jehu is king.” (2 Kings 9:11-13)
The Jews look forward to the time the Messiah will come into Jerusalem in the midst of great celebration. “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zech 9:9) “Go through, go through the gates, Clear the way for the people; Build up, build up the highway, Remove the stones, lift up a standard over the peoples. 11 Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth, Say to the daughter of Zion, "Lo, your salvation comes; Behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him." (Isa 62:10-11)
Stories of the Maccabees include palm leaves during two victorious marches into Jerusalem. The first was when Judas Maccabee celebrated the recapture of Jerusalem with dancing, singing and palm branches. “The Jews celebrated joyfully for eight days as on the Feast of Booths, remembering how, a little while before, they had spent the feast of Booths living like wild animals in the mountains and in caves. Carrying rods entwined with leaves, beautiful branches and palms, they sang hymns of grateful praise to him who had successfully brought about the purification of his own place. By public decree and vote they prescribed that the whole Jewish nation should celebrate these days every year.” (2 Macc 10:6-8)
Twenty years later Jerusalem was under attack again, from Egypt, because of poor defenses. They appealed to their High Priest and Prince, Simon Maccabee for help. He rebuilt the defenses and the raids stopped. “There was a great celebration in the city because this terrible threat to the security of Israel had come to an end. Simon and his men entered the fort singing hymns of praise and thanksgiving, while carrying palm branches and playing harps, cymbals, and lyres. Simon issued a decree that the day should be joyfully celebrated every year.” (1 Macc. 13:51-2)
So it is against the background of many stories about victorious entries and palm leaves that Jesus enters Jerusalem. John tells us “The large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’” (12:12-13).
Of course there are other stories also, like stories of donkeys ... but more on that later.
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