Gilead: A Geographical Place
Gilead was an actual location. The name refers to a region east of the Jordan River with a fertile and mountainous topography. The spices and ointments it produced gave Gilead its claim to fame.
The region’s name appears in its most precious commodity, the balm of Gilead. Made from the balsam plant or tree growing in that area, the balm could be applied to wounds, burns, or cuts. It ability to mask the smell of rotting flesh led to its use in the embalming process as well.
The Biblical Persimmon and Other Names
People in Bible times viewed the balsam as a positive symbol because they attributed both magical and ceremonial properties to it. They produced perfumes, incense and medicines from the plant. Additionally, Exodus 30:34 lists its sap as one of the spices for making incense for the Temple.
This particular plant bore several names, including the balm of Gilead, the balsam, and later on the biblical persimmon. Nevertheless, the ancient persimmon is unrelated to today’s persimmon which produces a fall fruit with sweet, honey-like flavor in yellow-orange flesh.
Luxury Products and Cleopatra
The biblical persimmon was considered a luxury product in the ancient world. Accordingly, the Jews living in the Dead Sea basin where the plant grew tightly controlled its cultivation and trade.
The famous and expensive biblical persimmon was a component of the favorite perfume of Egypt’s Queen Cleopatra. In fact, the queen’s husband, Marc Antony, gifted his wife an orchard of persimmon trees previously belonging to Herod the Great. The orchard’s harvest helped to create Cleopatra’s signature scent.
Biblical References To The Balm of Gilead
Besides use in Temple incense, several references to incense and balm from the biblical persimmon are sprinkled throughout the Bible. In one of the earliest mentions, Genesis 43:11 tells how Jacob sent a gift of persimmon balm to Pharaoh. Included among other precious gifts the Queen of Sheba brought to Solomon was balsam. Hebrew merchants carried such balm to the market of Tyre.
Likely the most familiar biblical passage referencing the balm of Gilead come in the form of a question by the weeping prophet, Jeremiah. “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there?” he asks in Jeremiah 8:22. God’s people had festering wounds from sin and needed the ultimate balm to heal them. While Gilead’s balm might heal temporary physical symptoms, only Jesus can ultimately heal souls.
Archaeological Find
In 2021 archaeological excavations in Jerusalem’s Old City along the Western Wall’s foundation stones uncovered an ancient amethyst seal. This discovered caused excitement as it bore the first known depiction of the plant called the “Balm of Gilead.”
The seal’s engraving showed a bird and a branch holding five pieces of fruit. Further examination led to the conclusion the branch belonged to the persimmon plant used for making perfume mentioned in the Bible. The seal, believed to be 2,000 years old, was fashioned from a wee semi-precious amethyst, under half an inch long and a quarter of an inch wide. Because the biblical persimmon was a luxury product, a wealthy Jew likely owned the lost seal. While not familiar to most today, ancient peoples knew of the plant and revered it for the luxury products it provided. Hence it was depicted on a valuable seal.
The Best Balm
The balm of Gilead led to better-feeling and better-smelling people in the ancient world. At least it did for those who could afford products from this luxury item. Regardless of the name the plant was given—whether balsam, biblical persimmon, or balm of Gilead, the relief it provided was only temporary. The best balm ever came later in the form of Jesus who, at the expense of his very life, provides eternal relief to “sin-sick souls.”
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