Difference between revisions of "Spices"

<p> '''''Basam''''' . Not pungent, as pepper, ginger, etc., but aromatic woods, seeds, or gums (&nbsp;Song of Solomon 6:2; &nbsp;Song of Solomon 5:1). Balsam or balm of Gilead, '''''Αmyris Opobalsamum''''' ; a tropical plant that grew in the plains of [[Jericho]] and the hot valleys of southern Palestine. KJV translated not '''''Basam''''' , but '''''Tseri''''' or '''''Tsori''''' , "balm". (See [[Balm]] .) The balm of Gilead tree is not more than 15 ft. high, with straggling branches and scanty foil age. The balsam is procured from the bark by incision, and from the green and ripe berries. </p> <p> The '''''Nekoth''''' , "spicery" &nbsp;Genesis 37:25, is the '''''Storax''''' or gum of the '''''Styrax''''' tree (Speaker's Commentary). Arabic '''''Nekaat''''' , the gum exuding from the '''''Tragacanth''''' ( '''''Astragalus''''' ); when exposed to the air it hardens into lumps or worm-like spires (Smith's Bible Dictionary). In &nbsp;2 Kings 20:13 margin, "house of spicery" expresses the original design of the house; but it was used ultimutely for storing Hezekiah's other "precious things." '''''Sammim''''' , a general term for aromatics used in preparing the holy anointing oil. [[Certain]] [[Levites]] especially "oversaw the frankincense and spices" (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 9:29-30). Myrrh and aloes were among the spices wrapped with Jesus' body (&nbsp;John 19:39-40; compare also &nbsp;2 Chronicles 16:4; &nbsp;Mark 16:1; &nbsp;Luke 23:56; &nbsp;Luke 24:1). </p>

<p> '''Spices.''' </p> <p> (Hebrew, '''basam, besem''' or '''bosem.''' ) In &nbsp;Song of Solomon 5:1, "I have gathered my myrrh with my spice," the word points, apparently, to some definite substance. In the other places, with the exception, perhaps, of &nbsp;Song of Solomon 1:13; &nbsp;Song of Solomon 6:2, the words refer more generally to sweet aromatic odors, the principal of which was that of the balsam or balm of Gilead; the tree which yields this substance is now generally admitted to be the '''Balsam-odendron opobalsamum''' . </p> <p> The balm of Gilead tree grows in some parts of [[Arabia]] and Africa, and is seldom more than fifteen feet high, with straggling branches and scanty foliage. The balsam is chiefly obtained from incisions in the bark, but is procured also from the green and ripe berries. </p> <p> (Hebrew, '''Necoth.''' ) &nbsp;Genesis 37:25; &nbsp;Genesis 43:11. The most probable explanation is that which refers the word to the Arabic, '''naku'at''' , that is, "the gum obtained from the tragacanth" ( '''Astragalus''' ). </p> <p> (Hebrew, '''Sammim.''' ) A general term to denote those aromatic substances which were used in the preparation of the anointing oil, the incense offerings, etc. The spices mentioned as being used by [[Nicodemus]] for the preparation of our Lord's body, &nbsp;John 19:39-40, are "myrrh and aloes," by which latter word must be understood not the aloes of medicine, but the highly-scented wood of the '''Aquilaria agallochum''' . </p>