Description
Royal Balm of Gilead-שמן אפרסמון
Blended in base of FCO
Botanical name: Commiphora gileadensis
Extremely Rare
5ml
Branches, Leaves, Fruit, and Resin
ISRAEL
LIMITED SUPPLY
In ancient Biblical times, a wonderful plant (Commiphora gileadensis) was grown on the shores of the Dead Sea – the ancient Royal Balm of Gilead. It was considered as precious as Gold itself. It was one of the most important medicines and the coveted aroma in the Roman Empire and all of the Middle East. The oil was produced from the plant’s resin sap, branches, and leaves.
The species Commiphora gileadensis species of Balsam also known as Judaic Balsam, transplanted in Israel from Somalia, Yemen, and Ethiopia about 25 years ago by Dr. Zohar Amar, is the Chief Spice of the Temple Incense, and only this Judaic Balsam that is grown in Israel can be used for the Incense.
The liquid balsam called Balsam of Mecca is extracted from the tree Commiphora gileadensis It is designated in the Tanach by various names: bolsem, besem, ẓori, nataf, and, in Rabbinic literature, kataf, balsam, bolsum appobalsamon, and afarsemon. It was used as a perfume and as a drug.
(See pictures of resin sap with a sample of oil color)
The ancient Balm of Gilead was the first ingredient of the incense of the Temple known as Balsam and the sole component of the Holy Anointing oil during the Second Temple period.
According to ancient sources, the plant was given to the Kingdom of Judah as a gift given by the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon upon their marriage. The plant is found today natively growing in Southern Saudi Arabia.
The trees do originate from the Arabian Peninsula, however, the Jordan Valley, Ein Gedi, Dead Sea area are some of the only areas this special tree grows. Recent medical studies have shown that the Balm of Gilead also referred to as the middle east persimmon tree boasts exceptionally unique and very rare qualities.
The leaves and resin of the Middle Eastern Persimmon tree (not tradition fruit you find in the west) were one of the eleven ingredients of the temple incense (tzuri) while the oil was used for anointing the kings of Israel, the high priests, and the utensils of the Holy Temple.
The Balm of Gilead Resin Aroma was favored by the kingdom of Israel and many Nations which was also used by the daughters of Jerusalem who used the cold-pressed oil on Tu B’Av when they dawned their white dress and danced in the threshing fields. We see this in the story of Ruth when she went to Boaz on the threshing floor. The ancient Royal Balm of Gilead is considered the finest type of Resin in the world.
The Balm of Gilead is an aromatic resin used for medical purposes that were exported from Tyre and elsewhere. This is seen in scriptures where it is mentioned that the Ishmaelites who carried Joseph into Egyptian bondage were also Gilead balm traders. In some commentaries and ancient texts imply that because Joseph was sold to these spice traders was meant to be and that all 11 of the Ketoret ingredients were in the caravan to protect him and did enhance his gift to interpret dreams and visions. Preparing him for his future destiny.
Balsam trees are native to the Gilead area. Incisions in the bark of a balsam tree yield three or four drops a day from each, and left to stand the balsam becomes of a golden color and pellucid as a gem. Back in those days, this balm was so scarce that the Jericho gardens yielded only six or seven gallons yearly, which was worth twice its weight in silver.
At Hebrew University there are works says that in 1931, Margaret Grieve had the first volume of her book Modern Herbal published, and at that time then, Balm of Gilead was still referred to as being Commiphora gileadensis. She also indicated that Populus balsamifera is called Balm of Gilead in America by the Native Americans. This tree is native is also to Israel as well known as Judean Balsam. There are medicinal similarities between Judean Balsam Poplar and the Commiphora gileadensis so this may have some reason to do with taking the name Balm of Gilead also.
The word balm is derived from balsam, which originated from balsamon, which was adopted to represent the Hebrew words baal shemen, meaning “lord of oils.” These trees are called “boche” in Hebrew, indicating a tree that drips sap when it is cut, also known as a weeping tree according .
Psalm 56 says “Thou hast has taken account of my wanderings; put my tears in Thy bottle; are {they} not in Thy book? In the ancient world, when a loved one died, mourners would catch their falling tears in a bottle and bury them as a token of eternal devotion. Psalm 84 also speaks about Bacha (weeping) where it says ‘How blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee; in whose heart are the highways {to Zion} Passing through the valley of Baca, they make it a spring, the early rain also covers it with blessings. They go from strength to strength, {every one of them} appears before God in Zion.”
There is further mention of these trees in the books of second Samuel and first Chronicles where we are told the story of how David inquired of the LORD whether to go up against the enemy or not and God instructed “You shall not go {directly} up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees. And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then the LORD will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.”
Scriptures related with this oil can be found in Genesis 37:25, Ezekiel 27:17, Jeremiah 8:22, Song of Songs 4:1, Song of Songs 6:13, 2 Sam 5:22-25, 1 Chr 14:10-17, and James 5:14
This essential oil is Distilled by Guy Erlich on the Balm of Gilead Farm Almog Junction, Dead Sea, Israel where this Royal Biblical Balm of Gilead grows today. We have extremely small amounts.
See our Balm of Gilead Sod®™ Essential Oil Blend 15ml שמן אפרסמון
https://aytzchayim.com/product/balm-of-gilead-essential-oil-blend/
Pictures of Balm of Gilead taken by Rivka Sari Israel Trip 2017
Resources:
Balsam: The Most Expensive Perfume Plant in the World”, The Paths of Daniel: Studies in Judaism and Jewish Culture in Honor of Rabbi Professor Daniel Sperber (A. S. Ferziger ed.), Ramat Gan 2017, pp. 15-27 (with D. Iluz).
