Biblical ecology. At the time of the Israelite settlement, the Tabor oak, with its characteristic acorn (see close-up), predominated in Manasseh’s valleys, such as the eastern valley of Zebabdeh. Later, the trees in these valleys were cut to open up space for cultivation. The Qa’adeh National Park, in Manasseh, preserves a natural forest of Tabor oak, characterized by widely spaced growth suitable for grazing sheep and goats.