Bible Question: what is meant by "balm in Gilead? |
Bible Answer: The “balsam [Heb., tsori´] in Gilead” appears to have been of a unique quality and possessed of special medicinal properties. (Jer 8:22; 46:11) This balsam is first mentioned as among the articles carried by the caravan of Ishmaelites from Gilead, E of the Jordan, and to whom Joseph was subsequently sold. (Ge 37:25-28) Jacob later included it in with “the finest products of the land” when sending a gift to Egypt with his returning sons. (Ge 43:11) According to Ezekiel 27:17, the wealthy merchants of Tyre imported it from the kingdom of Judah. References to the healing virtues of balsam, chiefly as a cure for wounds, are common in ancient literature. All references to such healing properties in the Scriptures are made by Jeremiah. He uses these, however, in a figurative sense, first when lamenting the spiritual breakdown in Judah (Jer 8:14, 15, 21, 22; compare Jas 5:14, 15), then in chiding Egypt as to her vain efforts to avoid defeat by Babylon (Jer 46:11-13), and finally in pronouncing God’s judgment of calamity against Babylon.—Jer 51:8-10. Identification of the specific plants or trees represented by the Hebrew words bo´sem and tsori´ is not definite. The name “balsam of Gilead” has been applied to a shrublike evergreen tree called Commiphora opobalsamum (or, Commiphora gileadensis). Its greenish-yellow oily resin is gathered by making incisions in the stem and branches, and the little balls of sap that form are later collected. While this particular tree is found chiefly in S Arabia, the Jewish historian Josephus indicates that it was cultivated around Jericho in Solomon’s time, and the Greek geographer Strabo records that in Roman times it was also grown beside the Sea of Galilee. To get more Bible questions answer copy and paste the following hyperlink and logon to website. www.watchtower.org |