Algum Trees and Wood
The use of algum wood when Solomon built the Temple is recorded in two places: 1 Kings 10:11-12; and 2 Chronicles 9:10-11.
During Solomon’s reign, more algum wood was imported than ever seen previously in Israel. Algum wood was used to make stairs and banisters for the Temple and royal palace complex. It was used extensively in the stringed instrument section of the Temple, e.g., in harps and lyres. The musical instruments were so beautiful that they were a marvel in Judah. The almug tree yields heavy, fine-grained wood that is notably black on the surfaces yet polishes to a rich ruby or garnet color. In addition to being strong, it is antiseptic which makes it impervious to most insects, e.g., termites, as no insects will live inside the wood.
The algum tree of the Bible was from the Pterocarpus santalinus known as red sandalwood, Red Saunders and Red Sanders. Sandalwood is native to southern India and does not naturally grow in Israel. The algum is a deciduous tree between 33-65 feet tall. The red sandalwood is considered endangered because its natural habitat in India is subjected to human encroachment. The algum tree has a number of useful products. The hard, heavy heart wood can be used for carpentry and for fence posts. Bark and stems are made into a red dye which gives a deep ruby red color to silken and woolen clothes. Currently, the dye is used as a brightening substance in tea mixtures and a coloring agent in toothpaste.
Jules' jewels 
I own two harps, one of cherry and one of maple. The harps you show in your picture are Celtic folk harps, similar to mine. I’ve been researching the harps of David’s time and came across the reference after the queen of Sheba’ s visit to Almug wood in harp construction. Modern folk harps are also made of walnut and bubinga (an African wood), the wood types change the timbre and each harp wood has a slightly different voice. Most harps have a short life span 20 or so years, due to the extreme pressure the strings exert on the sound board. I’m assuming the biblical harps had gut strings, as did all early string instruments. Thanks for the info and picture of almug wood.
Thanks for your expert input!
Thanks for sharing your unique background into wood and harps. Stories like these make me want to plant trees.
You know where will you found a tree named.”almug tree”??? Just.here in Philippines that we call that tree in a “NARRA TREE”
Where would you be able to get or purchase almug trees? Can small almug trees (whips) be shiped? I would love to propagate some of these trees. With the trees being endangered, maybe the trees could could be propagated elsewhere to expand their territory.
No idea. Do some internet research.
@Andrew Carrithers Good question! It looks like many plant nurseries for Red Sandalwood are located in India.
There are some seed suppliers in the USA as well. Ex: Frozen Seed Capsules