Balm in Gilead

[Digitonomy]

I couldn’t get the hymn out of my head, “There is a balm in Gilead,” so I decided to try to figure out what it means. Incidentally, if you’d like to share in this experience, you can open this page in another browser window, and have the song play in the background until it drives you batty. Here’s what I’ve got so far…

The song itself is an African American spiritual. It refers to Jeremiah 46:11

Go up to Gilead, and take balm, O virgin daughter Egypt! In vain you have used many medicines; there is no healing for you.

This in turn refers to Jeremiah 8:22

Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of my poor people not been restored?

The notes in my Bible (New Oxford Annotated Bible NRSV with Apocrypha) define Balm in Gilead as “resin from the storax tree, produced especially in the north Transjordan region of Gilead, widely used for medicinal purposes.” It also notes Genesis 37:25

Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying gum, balm, and resin, on their way to carry it down to Egypt.

Storax: according to Merriam-Webster,

1 a : a fragrant balsam obtained from the bark of an Asian tree (Liquidambar orientalis) of the witch-hazel family that is used as an expectorant and sometimes in perfumery – called also Levant storax b : a balsam from the sweet gum that is similar to storax

So I’m still confused about the relevance. Is Jesus the balm? If so, what’s he doing over in Jordan? I guess I’m wondering if there’s something deeper I’m overlooking, or if looking for depth in this song is asking too much.

 

[Toni]

I knew a good priest who always liked this song. It is an easy one to get hooked on after you have listened to it a few times. Thanks for the info.

 

[Todd_Easton]

Digitonomy:

The song itself is an African American spiritual. It refers to Jeremiah 46:11Go up to Gilead, and take balm, O virgin daughter Egypt! In vain you have used many medicines; there is no healing for you.

It is possible that since this was a African-American song from the days of slavery and since Gilead was north of Egypt, the song’s hidden message might have been that slaves could find a balm or freedom from their slavery by going north (to Canada).

It is also possible that it is just a religious song similar to Clara M. Brooks’ “Balm in Gilead.”

 

[Digitonomy]

Todd Easton:

It is possible that since this was a African-American song from the days of slavery and since Gilead was north of Egypt, the song’s hidden message might have been that slaves could find a balm or freedom from their slavery by going north (to Canada).

I like that insight, although I haven’t come across anything to either support or undermine it.

Toni:

It is an easy one to get hooked on after you have listened to it a few times.

Actually, I really dislike this song - it strikes me as too high-pitched and plodding.