Ark of the Covenant - Bible History Online
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spices Summary and Overview

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spices in Easton's Bible Dictionary

aromatic substances, of which several are named in Ex. 30. They were used in the sacred anointing oil (Ex. 25:6; 35:8; 1 Chr. 9:29), and in embalming the dead (2 Chr. 16:14; Luke 23:56; 24:1; John 19:39, 40). Spices were stored by Hezekiah in his treasure-house (2 Kings 20:13; Isa. 39:2).

spices in Schaff's Bible Dictionary

SPI'CERY The word occurs in Gen 37:25, and should be the rendering instead of "spices" in Gen 43:11. It is believed to denote gum-tragacanth, the product of several species of Astragalus, shrubby and exceedingly thorny plants very abundant in Palestine. This gum had medicinal value. The term "spices," the translation of two other words, as used by the sacred writers, is much more comprehensive than the modern use of it. With them it includes not only fragrant gums, as myrrh, and also roots and barks, as cassia, cinnamon, cane, etc., but the odors of flowers and various perfumes. Song 4:14. Spices were imported into Judaea chiefly from Southern Arabia. Sweet spices, Mark 16:1, are merely aromatic substances used in embalming. The word "spices" fully expressed the meaning of the original word, without the adjective.

spices in Fausset's Bible Dictionary

basam. Not pungent, as pepper, ginger, etc., but aromatic woods, seeds, or gums (Song of Solomon 6:2; Song of Solomon 5:1). Balsam or balm of Gilead, Amyris opobalsamum; a tropical plant that grew in the plains of Jericho and the hot valleys of southern Israel. KJV translated not basam, but tseri or tsori, "balm". (See BALM.) The balm of Gilead tree is not more than 15 ft. high, with straggling branches and scanty foil age. The balsam is procured from the bark by incision, and from the green and ripe berries. The nekoth, "spicery" Genesis 37:25, is the storax or gum of the styrax tree (Speaker's Commentary). Arabic nekaat, the gum exuding from the tragacanth (astragalus); when exposed to the air it hardens into lumps or worm-like spires (Smith's Bible Dictionary). In 2 Kings 20:13 margin, "house of spicery" expresses the original design of the house; but it was used ultimutely for storing Hezekiah's other "precious things." Sammim, a general term for aromatics used in preparing the holy anointing oil. Certain Levites especially "oversaw the frankincense and spices" (1 Chronicles 9:29-30). Myrrh and aloes were among the spices wrapped with Jesus' body (John 19:39-40; compare also 2 Chronicles 16:4; Mark 16:1; Luke 23:56; Luke 24:1).