SPICE, SPICES.1. bâsâm, Son_5:2, RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] balsam; bôsem [once, Exo_30:23, besem], plur. bĕsâmîm. In Exo_30:23 is a list of various aromatic substances Included under the name bĕsâmîm. These were stored in the Temple (1Ch_9:29), and in Hezekiahs treasure-house (2Ki_20:13); they were used for anointing the dead (2Ch_16:14), and also as perfumes for the living (Son_4:10 etc.). 2. sammim, Exo_30:34 sweet spices; and, along with incense, Exo_30:7; Exo_40:27, Lev_4:7, Num_4:16 etc. In the first passage the sweet spices are enumerated as stacte, onycha, and galbanum (all of which see). 3. nĕkôth, Gen_37:25 spicery (RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] gum tragacanth or storax), Gen_43:11 (RV [Note: Revised Version.] spicery). The gum tragacanth is the product of the Astragalus gummifer, of which several species are known in Syria. The storax (Styrax officinalis), a shrub with beautiful white flowers, also affords an aromatic gum valued by the ancients. Whether nĕkôth corresponded definitely to one of these, or was a generic term for perfumes, is an open question. 4. 5. Gr. arômata (Mar_16:1, EV [Note: English Version.] spices) and amômon (Rev_18:13, RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] amomum, RV [Note: Revised Version.] spice, AV [Note: Authorized Version.] omits) are probably both generic.
E. W. G. Masterman.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909