Balm

"Contracted from Bal'sam, a general name for many oily or" resinous substances which flow or trickle from certain trees or plants when an incision is made through the bark. "(1.) This word occurs in the Authorized Version (Gen. 37:25; 43:11; Jer. 8:22; 46:11; 51:8; Ezek. 27:17) as the rendering of "the Hebrew word tsori_ or _tseri, which denotes the gum of a" "tree growing in Gilead (q.v.), which is very precious. It was" "celebrated for its medicinal qualities, and was circulated as an" article of merchandise by Arab and Phoenician merchants. The "shrub so named was highly valued, and was almost peculiar to" Palestine. In the time of Josephus it was cultivated in the neighbourhood of Jericho and the Dead Sea. There is an Arab tradition that the tree yielding this balm was brought by the "queen of Sheba as a present to Solomon, and that he planted it" in his gardens at Jericho. "(2.) There is another Hebrew word, basam_ or _bosem, from which "our word "balsam," as well as the corresponding Greek balsamon," "is derived. It is rendered "spice" (Cant. 5:1, 13; 6:2; margin" "of Revised Version, "balsam;" Ex. 35:28; 1 Kings 10:10), and" denotes fragrance in general. Basam also denotes the true "balsam-plant, a native of South Arabia (Cant. l.c.)."

Related Bible Dictionary Terms:
Gilead Balm of