Jeremiah 8:22

“Is there no balm in Gilead? etc.] Which was famous for it; (see <013725> Genesis 37:25), or rather turpentine or rosin, a gum which drops from pine trees and the like; since balm or balsam grew on this side Jordan, near Jericho and Engedi, and not beyond Jordan, in the land of Gilead; and rosin is good for healing. Some render it “treacle”, but very wrongly, since, as Calvin observes, that is a composition of many things, Is there no physician there? or surgeon, anyone that heals wounds and bruises; very probably there were many such lived in Gilead, since it was a place where proper medicines were to be got and applied: this may be understood of prophets and teachers, who, in a moral and…”

“balm--balsam; to be applied to the wounds of my people. Brought into Judea first from Arabia Felix, by the queen of Sheba, in Solomon's time [JOSEPHUS, Antiquities, 8.2]. The opobalsamum of PLINY; or else [BOCHART] the resin drawn from the terebinth. It abounded in Gilead, east of Jordan, where, in consequence, many "physicians" established themselves (Jer 46:11; Jer 51:8; Gen 37:25; Gen 43:11). health . . . recovered--The Hebrew is literally, "lengthening out . . . gone up"; hence, the long bandage applied to bind up a wound. So the Arabic also [GESENIUS]. Next: Jeremiah Chapter 9”

“No physician there - i. e., in Gilead. Balm used to grow in Israel for the healing of the nations. Her priests and prophets were the physicians. Has Israel then no balm for herself? Is there no physician in her who can bind up her wound? Gilead was to Israel what Israel spiritually was to the whole world. Why then is not the health ... recovered? - Or, “why then has no bandage,” or plaster of balsam, “been laid upon my people?” return to 'Top of Page' Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliographical Information Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on Jeremiah 8". "Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnb/jeremiah-8.html. 1870.…”

“8:22 The medicine in Gilead consisted of sticky sap that oozed from cuts made in the trunks or branches of small evergreen trees in the highlands east of the Jordan River. Merchants who sold this resin to the people claimed that it had healing powers. • Jeremiah saw the people’s need for God to heal their deep spiritual sickness. The people saw only the physical manifestations of God’s judgment against them and refused to acknowledge that their spiritual rebellion was the source of their problems. The African-American spiritual “There Is a Balm in Gilead” points to Jesus as the ultimate balm for our souls.”

“no balm: Jer 46:11, Jer 51:8; Gen 37:25, Gen 43:11 no physician: Mat 9:11, Mat 9:12; Luk 5:31, Luk 5:32, Luk 8:43 why: Jer 30:12-17 recovered: Heb. gone up, Isa 1:5, Isa 1:6 Next: Jeremiah Chapter 9”