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SACRED BOTANY — BALM TREE, MYRRH, BDELLICM. 
which is translated "balm" in our Version, but which critics doubtfully admit; and basam translated 
" spices," but which is considered to refer properly to the balsam tree. All that we can infer from the 
passages, in which the latter word occurs, is : — 1. That in the early period of the Jewish monarchy, 
the balsam tree was cultivated in Palestine : " I am come into my garden ... I have gathered 
my myrrh with my spice (basam)" (Cant, v, 1) ; "My beloved is gone down into his garden to the beds 
of spices (basam)" (Cant. vi. 2). 2. That the trees were probably presented to King Solomon by the 
Queen of Sheba : " She gave the king ... of spices (basam) great abundance ; neither was 
there any such as the Queen of Sheba gave King Solomon" (2 Chron. ix, 9). 3. Balsam was not, 
however, unknown to the Israelites during their forty years' wanderings, if basam is thus correctly 
translated ; for in the enumeration of the free-gifts to the tabernacle, we read : " the rulers brought . . 
spice (basam)." (Exod. xxxv, 27, 28). This, however, might have been procured of travelling merchants, 
with whom doubtless they occasionally fell in. These passages are not sufficient to fix the identity of 
basam and the balsam tree. That basam does apply to the latter, is, however, inferred on good grounds, 
namely, the almost identity of basam, or bosem, or baal-shemen, the Hebrew word in question, with 
basham, the name applied to the balsam tree of Mecca (Balsam of Gilead), which is also, in the Arabian 
language, called abosham. One Arabic name of the tree, balesan, is no doubt the root, whence the 
Greek balsamon, and tlie modern balsam are derived. The similarity of names in different languages, 
isoften the only track along which the ancient substances can be traced; and in this case, the coincidence 
appears satisfactory. 
That the balsam tree, or as it is some- V* 
times called, Balm of Gilead, — a tree most • /.^ 
highly esteemed by the ancients, — was cul- 
tivated in Judea, is matter of record. Ac- 
cording to some accounts, there were two 
gardens in which it was reared, one in 
Gilead, the other near Jericho ; but Joscphus 
and other writers state, that it grew only in 
the plains of Jericho, where, however, two 
gardens were said to have existed. Josephus 
also expressly states, that these were stocked 
with plants presented to King Solomon 
by the Queen of Sheba. These gardens ap- 
pear to have been in existence about the 
commencement of the Christian era; for 
Pompcy (B.C. 65) and Vespasian (a.d. 79) 
are each said to have paraded a tree of the 
precious balm obtained in Juda?a, in their 
triumphal progress through the " eternal 
city," after their conquests in that country. 
Indeed, so highly prized was the balsam, 
that during the war of Titus against the 
Jews, we arc told that two fierce contests 
took place for the balsam orchards of 
Jericho, the last of which was to prevent 
the Jews from destroying the trees, lest 
they should fall into the hands of their enemies 
Palestine. 
The balsam tree (Balsamodendron gileadense) forms a small tree with ash-coloured bark, smooth at 
first, but becoming rough by age, and bearing spreading branches. The ultimate branches are short 
and thorn-like, with small, very short, abortive branchlets, which bear the leaves and flowers at their 
extremities; the former ternate or trifoliate, with obovate entire glabrous leaflets; the latter small and 
insignificant, solitary on short stalks, succeeded by pointed fleshy drupes, consisting of a viscid pulp 
enclosing a bony nut. It is supposed that B. gileadense, and B. Opobalsamum are varieties of one 
species, though the latter is described as having spiny branches, leaves of five to seven obovate entire 
shining leaflets, and flowers in pairs, or in threes, though rarely succeeded by more than one or two 
drupes. IS. gileadense— formerly called Aniyris gilcadensis, and A. Opobalsamum is a native of 
Arabia and the opposite coast of Africa, and appears to be confined to those southern latitudes. Its 
wounded hark yields Opobalsamum (balsam of Mecca, or of Gilead), the highly fragrant gum resin. 
BaUamodendron gileadenst. 
Xot a root or branch is now to lie found in 
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