Pistachio: Gifts for a Mighty Ruler

     Pistachio are drought-tolerant trees that grow up to 30 ft. The edible part is the seed, a nut encapsulated in an oblong shell that splits open as the seed ripens. Pistachio nuts have been valued since the earliest times. 
     When Jacob's sons encountered the mighty ruler, Joseph, they did not recognize him as their long, lost brother. But, Joseph knew them. He commanded that they return with their youngest brother, Benjamin, saying, "Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you" (Gen. 43:3). Jacob hoped to appease the powerful Egyptian ruler by telling his sons to take gifts "of the best fruits of the land...to carry down the man a present...myrrh, nuts (which botanists believe were pistachios) and almonds" (Gen. 43:11). 
     Later, when Joseph heard that his entire family was on their way to Egypt, he was so excited to see them that he "went up to meet Israel [Jacob] his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him: and he fell on his neck, and wept," for joy (Gen. 46:29).

Pistachio Nuts