(CP) Horticulturists are celebrating the expansion of a 1,000 12 months old “Tsori” seed, discovered nearly 30 years ago, which is believed to provide a balm resin mentioned several times within the Bible.
The seed was present in a natural cave in Lower Wadi el-Makkuk by archaeologists on the Hebrew University of Jerusalem within the northern Judean desert during cave surveys from 1986 to 1989.
The 1.8cm long seed, weighing 0.565g, was stored on the university until chosen by Sarah Sallon, a member of the Middle East Medicinal Plant Project (MEMP) and founding father of the Louis Borick Natural Medicine Research Center (NMRC) on the Hadassah University Hospital-Ein Kerem in Jerusalem.
In 2010, she planted the seed, nicknamed “Sheba,” inside a greenhouse within the Center for Sustainable Agriculture in Israel and it grew right into a tree in a pot, with help from her colleagues.
Sallon, a natural medicine enthusiast, told The Jerusalem Post that the traditional seed is a “strong contestant for the source of the enigmatic Tsori.”
Radiocarbon dating estimates the seed originated between 993 AD and 1202 AD, based on Communications Biology. Scientific evaluation also involved DNA sequencing and chemical evaluation, amongst other tests conducted. The species is identified as Commiphora, belonging to the identical family as Frankincense and Myrrh.
“Several hypotheses are offered to elucidate the origins, implications and ethnobotanical significance of this unknown Commiphora, to the very best of our knowledge the primary identified from an archaeological site on this region, including identification with a resin producing tree mentioned in biblical sources and possible agricultural relationship with the historic Judean Balsam,” stated Communications Biology.
The study “refuted” an initial approach that Sheba was linked to a Judean Balsam known to be cultivated in precedent days and so moved to a second hypothesis for the seed’s identity — that it represented the presumed extinct species of Commiphora, as mentioned above.
The species was unlikely to have been used for fragrant, smelling purposes because phytochemical evaluation of the resin and leaves lacked “volatile fragrant compounds,” based on the study. However, “pentacyclic triterpenes” present within the plant mean it likely was used for medicinal purposes, resembling healing wounds, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral and anti-tumoral activities.
Tsori translates from Hebrew into “balm” in English. It is mentioned in Genesis 37:25: “As they sat right down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, they usually were on their strategy to take them right down to Egypt.”
It can be mentioned in Genesis 43:11: “Then their father Israel said to them, ‘If it should be, then do that: Put a few of the very best products of the land in your bags and take them right down to the person as a present — just a little balm and just a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds.'”
Further references are in Jeremiah 8:22: “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?” in addition to Jeremiah 46:11: “Go as much as Gilead and get balm, Virgin Daughter Egypt. But you are attempting many medicines in vain; there isn’t any healing for you.”
Another reference is in Jeremiah 51:8: “Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if that’s the case be she could also be healed.”
Lastly, this species can be mentioned in Ezekiel 27:17: “Judah and Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat from Minnith and confections, honey, olive oil and balm in your wares.”
“Biblical “tsori,” almost certainly the product of an area species, was related to the historical region of Gilead within the Dead Sea-Jordan Rift valley, a mountainous, richly forested area in antiquity with a lower fertile valley (ghor) intensively cultivated throughout history,” stated Communications Biology.
“Located on the east bank of the Jordan river between the Yarmuk river and northern end of the DeadSea, Gilead today occupies the northwest region of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.”
