ISRAEL - Source of Biblical Balm?
The resin of a tree germinated from a mysterious 1,000-year-old seed found in a Judean Desert cave could be the source of the biblical tsori, a type of medicinal balm, according to newly published research.
Dr. Sarah Sallon, director of the Louis Borick Natural Medicine Research Center at the Hadassah Medical Organization in Jerusalem, found the seed in the Institute of Archaeology of Jerusalem’s Hebrew University. Prof. Joseph Patrich had excavated it from Wadi el Makkuk in the mid-1980s.
Sallon in the past also located an unconnected batch of 1,900-year-old date seeds. The first to be germinated was nicknamed Methuselah, a biblical figure reputed to have died aged 969.
DNA sequencing, phylogenetic, and phytochemical analyses (phyto means plant in Greek) were carried out by experts worldwide. The archaeological, historical, and phytogeographic sources came from Sallon’s research center.
If fragrant—which tests so far suggest it is not—it could have been a candidate for the legendary Judean balsam or “Balm of Judea,” which no longer exists. Prized for its exquisite perfume and medicinal qualities in ancient times, this was a non-native plant cultivated at oases around the Dead Sea for 1,000 years until the 9th century CE.
-www.timesofisrael.com, 18 September 2024
Arno's Commentary
Scientists, geologists, and archaeologists, when doing research in Israel, will always be confronted with the Bible.
A Google search reveals: “The tree and its fruit caused Jericho to become a major population center and are praised in the Hebrew Bible possibly several times indirectly, such as in Psalms (Psalms 92:12–15), ‘The righteous himself will blossom forth as a palm tree does,’ and date clusters (אַשְׁכֹּלֽוֹת) are mentioned in the Song of Songs.” Bible Odyssey adds: “David is instructed to mount an attack on Philistine positions from the rear ‘opposite the balsam trees’ (2 Sam. 5:23). He is then to time his attack ‘when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees’ (2 Sam. 5:24) as a sign that the Lord had preceded him into battle (1 Chr. 14:14-15).”
In summary, Israel is repeatedly being reminded of their Biblical roots.
History proves God’s prophetic Word, and so does the present. That’s also applicable to the future: “Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished” (Jeremiah 46:28).
Arno Froese is the executive director of Midnight Call Ministries and editor-in-chief of the acclaimed prophetic magazines Midnight Call and News From Israel. He has authored a number of well-received books, and has sponsored many prophecy conferences in the U.S., Canada, and Israel. His extensive travels have contributed to his keen insight into Bible prophecy, as he sees it from an international perspective.
