Spice, Spices
Heb. basam, besem or bosem . In (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 (Song of Solomon 1:13; 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 .
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. Necoth . (Genesis 37:25; 43:11) The most probable explanation is that which refers the word to the Arabic naku’at i.e. “the gum obtained from the tragacanth” (Astragalus).
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, (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 .
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Spice, Spices
Spice; Spices spis, spi'-sis, -sez: (1) (besem (Ex 30:23), bosem, plural besamim, all from root "to attract by desire," especially by smell): The list of spices in Ex 30:23 includes myrrh, cinnamon, "sweet calamus cassia." These, mixed with olive oil, made the "holy anointing oil." Officials of the temple had charge of the spices (1Ch 9:29). Among the treasures of the temple shown by Hezekiah to the messengers of Babylon were the spices (2Ki 20:13). They were used in the obsequies of kings (2Ch 16:14) and in preparation of a bride for a royal marriage (Es 2:12, "sweet-odors" = balsam). Spices are frequently mentioned in Song (Es 4:10,14,16; 5:1, margin and the King James Version "balsam"; Song 5:13; 6:2, "bed of spices," margin "balsam"; Song 8:14). These passages in Song may refer in particular to balsam, the product of the balsam plant, Balsamodendron opobalsamum, a plant growing in Arabia. According to Josephus it was cultivated at Jericho, the plant having been brought to Palestine by the Queen of Sheba (Ant., VIII, vi, 6; see also XIV , iv, 1;XV , iv, 2;BJ , I, vi, 6). See MYRRH…
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible on Spice, Spices
Three Heb. words are so translated in OT. 1. D-sp sammim. This is a treneric word (peril, loan-word from Arabic) for Odoriferous substances. It is used alone in Ex SO*- (LXX 7,SiV/«ira), and with n-ap ;.c 0'* 2 Ch 32-''), and were given as tokens ot royal favour (1 K 10^ etc.). They were objects of com- merce (Ezk 27=2). Asa was laid in a bed of spices ('>Ch IG" AV- RV 'sweet odours'). Some nave supiiosed that the expression ' and they made a vev "reat burning for him' mdicates that Asa was cremated. As the previous part of the verse says, however, that they buried hmi in t e sepulchre, and laid him in a bed of spices, the better explanation of the burning is that it was a bonlire m his honour. Such hres are favourite expressions of popular enthusiasm on least days m Bible lands. Spices were stored in the temple (1 Ch 9-n, and used for the purifying of wonien (Esf^'- Ca4"'etc.). ' Mountains ot spices (La, 8 ) may refer to the hillsides around Jerusalem, ^vhere were Solomons Botanical Gardens, containing beds of spices (5" 6;). Bcscn and bosem m^y have signified originally the same as…
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia