{"id":87872,"date":"2025-09-19T06:00:02","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T10:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/?p=87872"},"modified":"2025-09-17T09:28:00","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T13:28:00","slug":"biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/","title":{"rendered":"Biblical Balm from a Resurrected Seed"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_87873\" style=\"width: 460px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/attachment\/sheba-the-tree-producing-a-biblical-balm-sallon-et-al_\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-87873\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-87873\" class=\"wp-image-87873 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2024\/09\/Sheba-the-tree-producing-a-biblical-balm.-Sallon-et-al_-300x134.jpg.avif\" alt=\"biblical balm\" width=\"450\" height=\"201\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2024\/09\/Sheba-the-tree-producing-a-biblical-balm.-Sallon-et-al_-300x134.jpg.avif 300w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2024\/09\/Sheba-the-tree-producing-a-biblical-balm.-Sallon-et-al_-1024x456.jpg.avif 1024w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2024\/09\/Sheba-the-tree-producing-a-biblical-balm.-Sallon-et-al_-768x342.jpg.avif 768w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2024\/09\/Sheba-the-tree-producing-a-biblical-balm.-Sallon-et-al_-1536x685.jpg.avif 1536w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Sheba-the-tree-producing-a-biblical-balm.-Sallon-et-al_.jpg 1750w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 450px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 450\/201;\" data-original-sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" data-smush-avif-fallback=\"{&quot;data-src&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/Sheba-the-tree-producing-a-biblical-balm.-Sallon-et-al_-300x134.jpg&quot;,&quot;data-srcset&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/Sheba-the-tree-producing-a-biblical-balm.-Sallon-et-al_-300x134.jpg 300w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/Sheba-the-tree-producing-a-biblical-balm.-Sallon-et-al_-1024x456.jpg 1024w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/Sheba-the-tree-producing-a-biblical-balm.-Sallon-et-al_-768x342.jpg 768w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/Sheba-the-tree-producing-a-biblical-balm.-Sallon-et-al_-1536x685.jpg 1536w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/Sheba-the-tree-producing-a-biblical-balm.-Sallon-et-al_.jpg 1750w&quot;}\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-87873\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">&#8220;Sheba&#8221; the tree producing a biblical balm. <em> Sallon et al. <\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>While it is not the first time that the team at the <a href=\"https:\/\/arava.org\/about-our-community\/about-arava\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Arava Institute<\/a> has brought an ancient seed back to life, this time is no less exciting, as it might be the rediscovery of a biblical balm. Publishing in the journal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s42003-024-06721-5\"><em>Communication Biology<\/em><\/a>, the team cataloged the amazing journey of a small seed discovered in an archaeological excavation in the Judean Desert in 1986.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n\n\t\t<div id=\"mailing_list_ebook_page\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class='gravity_form_mailing_list'>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"downloadFormSec esolshortwrap\">\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-3 col-sm-3 mb-4 mb-md-0\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img data-src='https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/holy-bible-buyers-guide-ebook.jpg' class='esolsetnewimg smush-dimensions lazyload' width='160' style='--smush-image-width: 160px; --smush-image-aspect-ratio: 160\/213;' src='data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==' data-srcset='https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/holy-bible-buyers-guide-ebook.jpg 160w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2014\/01\/holy-bible-buyers-guide-ebook-80x108.jpg.avif 80w' data-sizes='auto' data-original-sizes='(max-width: 160px) 100vw, 160px' data-smush-avif-fallback='{&quot;data-srcset&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2014\\\/01\\\/holy-bible-buyers-guide-ebook.jpg 160w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2014\\\/01\\\/holy-bible-buyers-guide-ebook-80x108.jpg 80w&quot;}'>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-9 col-sm-9\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-sm-12\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>FREE ebook: <strong>The Holy Bible: A Buyer's Guide<\/strong> 42 different Bible versions, addressing content, text, style and religious orientation.\r\n<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\nvar gform;gform||(document.addEventListener(\"gform_main_scripts_loaded\",function(){gform.scriptsLoaded=!0}),document.addEventListener(\"gform\/theme\/scripts_loaded\",function(){gform.themeScriptsLoaded=!0}),window.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){gform.domLoaded=!0}),gform={domLoaded:!1,scriptsLoaded:!1,themeScriptsLoaded:!1,isFormEditor:()=>\"function\"==typeof InitializeEditor,callIfLoaded:function(o){return!(!gform.domLoaded||!gform.scriptsLoaded||!gform.themeScriptsLoaded&&!gform.isFormEditor()||(gform.isFormEditor()&&console.warn(\"The use of gform.initializeOnLoaded() is deprecated in the form editor context and will be removed in Gravity Forms 3.1.\"),o(),0))},initializeOnLoaded:function(o){gform.callIfLoaded(o)||(document.addEventListener(\"gform_main_scripts_loaded\",()=>{gform.scriptsLoaded=!0,gform.callIfLoaded(o)}),document.addEventListener(\"gform\/theme\/scripts_loaded\",()=>{gform.themeScriptsLoaded=!0,gform.callIfLoaded(o)}),window.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",()=>{gform.domLoaded=!0,gform.callIfLoaded(o)}))},hooks:{action:{},filter:{}},addAction:function(o,r,e,t){gform.addHook(\"action\",o,r,e,t)},addFilter:function(o,r,e,t){gform.addHook(\"filter\",o,r,e,t)},doAction:function(o){gform.doHook(\"action\",o,arguments)},applyFilters:function(o){return gform.doHook(\"filter\",o,arguments)},removeAction:function(o,r){gform.removeHook(\"action\",o,r)},removeFilter:function(o,r,e){gform.removeHook(\"filter\",o,r,e)},addHook:function(o,r,e,t,n){null==gform.hooks[o][r]&&(gform.hooks[o][r]=[]);var d=gform.hooks[o][r];null==n&&(n=r+\"_\"+d.length),gform.hooks[o][r].push({tag:n,callable:e,priority:t=null==t?10:t})},doHook:function(r,o,e){var t;if(e=Array.prototype.slice.call(e,1),null!=gform.hooks[r][o]&&((o=gform.hooks[r][o]).sort(function(o,r){return o.priority-r.priority}),o.forEach(function(o){\"function\"!=typeof(t=o.callable)&&(t=window[t]),\"action\"==r?t.apply(null,e):e[0]=t.apply(null,e)})),\"filter\"==r)return e[0]},removeHook:function(o,r,t,n){var e;null!=gform.hooks[o][r]&&(e=(e=gform.hooks[o][r]).filter(function(o,r,e){return!!(null!=n&&n!=o.tag||null!=t&&t!=o.priority)}),gform.hooks[o][r]=e)}});\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n\n                <div class='gf_browser_unknown gform_wrapper gform-theme gform-theme--foundation gform-theme--framework gform-theme--orbital' data-form-theme='orbital' data-form-index='0' id='gform_wrapper_3' ><style>#gform_wrapper_3[data-form-index=\"0\"].gform-theme,[data-parent-form=\"3_0\"]{--gf-color-primary: #204ce5;--gf-color-primary-rgb: 32, 76, 229;--gf-color-primary-contrast: #fff;--gf-color-primary-contrast-rgb: 255, 255, 255;--gf-color-primary-darker: #001AB3;--gf-color-primary-lighter: #527EFF;--gf-color-secondary: #fff;--gf-color-secondary-rgb: 255, 255, 255;--gf-color-secondary-contrast: #112337;--gf-color-secondary-contrast-rgb: 17, 35, 55;--gf-color-secondary-darker: #F5F5F5;--gf-color-secondary-lighter: #FFFFFF;--gf-color-out-ctrl-light: rgba(17, 35, 55, 0.1);--gf-color-out-ctrl-light-rgb: 17, 35, 55;--gf-color-out-ctrl-light-darker: rgba(104, 110, 119, 0.35);--gf-color-out-ctrl-light-lighter: #F5F5F5;--gf-color-out-ctrl-dark: #585e6a;--gf-color-out-ctrl-dark-rgb: 88, 94, 106;--gf-color-out-ctrl-dark-darker: #112337;--gf-color-out-ctrl-dark-lighter: rgba(17, 35, 55, 0.65);--gf-color-in-ctrl: #fff;--gf-color-in-ctrl-rgb: 255, 255, 255;--gf-color-in-ctrl-contrast: #112337;--gf-color-in-ctrl-contrast-rgb: 17, 35, 55;--gf-color-in-ctrl-darker: #F5F5F5;--gf-color-in-ctrl-lighter: #FFFFFF;--gf-color-in-ctrl-primary: #204ce5;--gf-color-in-ctrl-primary-rgb: 32, 76, 229;--gf-color-in-ctrl-primary-contrast: #fff;--gf-color-in-ctrl-primary-contrast-rgb: 255, 255, 255;--gf-color-in-ctrl-primary-darker: #001AB3;--gf-color-in-ctrl-primary-lighter: #527EFF;--gf-color-in-ctrl-light: rgba(17, 35, 55, 0.1);--gf-color-in-ctrl-light-rgb: 17, 35, 55;--gf-color-in-ctrl-light-darker: rgba(104, 110, 119, 0.35);--gf-color-in-ctrl-light-lighter: #F5F5F5;--gf-color-in-ctrl-dark: #585e6a;--gf-color-in-ctrl-dark-rgb: 88, 94, 106;--gf-color-in-ctrl-dark-darker: #112337;--gf-color-in-ctrl-dark-lighter: rgba(17, 35, 55, 0.65);--gf-radius: 3px;--gf-font-size-secondary: 14px;--gf-font-size-tertiary: 13px;--gf-icon-ctrl-number: url(\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg width='8' height='14' viewBox='0 0 8 14' fill='none' xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%3E%3Cpath fill-rule='evenodd' clip-rule='evenodd' d='M4 0C4.26522 5.96046e-08 4.51957 0.105357 4.70711 0.292893L7.70711 3.29289C8.09763 3.68342 8.09763 4.31658 7.70711 4.70711C7.31658 5.09763 6.68342 5.09763 6.29289 4.70711L4 2.41421L1.70711 4.70711C1.31658 5.09763 0.683417 5.09763 0.292893 4.70711C-0.0976311 4.31658 -0.097631 3.68342 0.292893 3.29289L3.29289 0.292893C3.48043 0.105357 3.73478 0 4 0ZM0.292893 9.29289C0.683417 8.90237 1.31658 8.90237 1.70711 9.29289L4 11.5858L6.29289 9.29289C6.68342 8.90237 7.31658 8.90237 7.70711 9.29289C8.09763 9.68342 8.09763 10.3166 7.70711 10.7071L4.70711 13.7071C4.31658 14.0976 3.68342 14.0976 3.29289 13.7071L0.292893 10.7071C-0.0976311 10.3166 -0.0976311 9.68342 0.292893 9.29289Z' fill='rgba(17, 35, 55, 0.65)'\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\");--gf-icon-ctrl-select: url(\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg width='10' height='6' viewBox='0 0 10 6' fill='none' xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%3E%3Cpath fill-rule='evenodd' clip-rule='evenodd' d='M0.292893 0.292893C0.683417 -0.097631 1.31658 -0.097631 1.70711 0.292893L5 3.58579L8.29289 0.292893C8.68342 -0.0976311 9.31658 -0.0976311 9.70711 0.292893C10.0976 0.683417 10.0976 1.31658 9.70711 1.70711L5.70711 5.70711C5.31658 6.09763 4.68342 6.09763 4.29289 5.70711L0.292893 1.70711C-0.0976311 1.31658 -0.0976311 0.683418 0.292893 0.292893Z' fill='rgba(17, 35, 55, 0.65)'\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\");--gf-icon-ctrl-search: url(\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg width='640' height='640' xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%3E%3Cpath d='M256 128c-70.692 0-128 57.308-128 128 0 70.691 57.308 128 128 128 70.691 0 128-57.309 128-128 0-70.692-57.309-128-128-128zM64 256c0-106.039 85.961-192 192-192s192 85.961 192 192c0 41.466-13.146 79.863-35.498 111.248l154.125 154.125c12.496 12.496 12.496 32.758 0 45.254s-32.758 12.496-45.254 0L367.248 412.502C335.862 434.854 297.467 448 256 448c-106.039 0-192-85.962-192-192z' fill='rgba(17, 35, 55, 0.65)'\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\");--gf-label-space-y-secondary: var(--gf-label-space-y-md-secondary);--gf-ctrl-border-color: #686e77;--gf-ctrl-size: var(--gf-ctrl-size-md);--gf-ctrl-label-color-primary: #112337;--gf-ctrl-label-color-secondary: #112337;--gf-ctrl-choice-size: var(--gf-ctrl-choice-size-md);--gf-ctrl-checkbox-check-size: var(--gf-ctrl-checkbox-check-size-md);--gf-ctrl-radio-check-size: var(--gf-ctrl-radio-check-size-md);--gf-ctrl-btn-font-size: var(--gf-ctrl-btn-font-size-md);--gf-ctrl-btn-padding-x: var(--gf-ctrl-btn-padding-x-md);--gf-ctrl-btn-size: var(--gf-ctrl-btn-size-md);--gf-ctrl-btn-border-color-secondary: #686e77;--gf-ctrl-file-btn-bg-color-hover: #EBEBEB;--gf-field-img-choice-size: var(--gf-field-img-choice-size-md);--gf-field-img-choice-card-space: var(--gf-field-img-choice-card-space-md);--gf-field-img-choice-check-ind-size: var(--gf-field-img-choice-check-ind-size-md);--gf-field-img-choice-check-ind-icon-size: var(--gf-field-img-choice-check-ind-icon-size-md);--gf-field-pg-steps-number-color: rgba(17, 35, 55, 0.8);}<\/style><div id='gf_3' class='gform_anchor' tabindex='-1'><\/div><form method='post' enctype='multipart\/form-data'  id='gform_3'  action='\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87872#gf_3' data-formid='3' novalidate>\n                        <div class='gform-body gform_body'><div id='gform_fields_3' class='gform_fields top_label form_sublabel_above description_below validation_below'><div id=\"field_3_1\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-email gfield--input-type-email gfield--width-half gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_above gfield--no-description field_description_below hidden_label field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label' for='input_3_1'>Email<span class=\"gfield_required\"><span class=\"gfield_required gfield_required_text\">(Required)<\/span><\/span><\/label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_email'>\n                            <input name='input_1' id='input_3_1' type='email' value='' class='large'   placeholder='E-mail' aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\"  \/>\n                        <\/div><\/div><div id=\"field_3_11\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-html gfield--input-type-html gfield--width-half gfield_html gfield_html_formatted gfield_no_follows_desc field_sublabel_above gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  ><button onclick=\"gform.submission.handleButtonClick(this);\">REQUEST FREE BOOK<\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n        <div class='gform-footer gform_footer top_label'> <input type='submit' id='gform_submit_button_3' class='gform_button button' onclick='gform.submission.handleButtonClick(this);' data-submission-type='submit' value='SIGN ME UP'  \/> \n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_submission_method' data-js='gform_submission_method_3' value='postback' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_theme' data-js='gform_theme_3' id='gform_theme_3' value='orbital' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_style_settings' data-js='gform_style_settings_3' id='gform_style_settings_3' value='[]' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='is_submit_3' value='1' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_submit' value='3' \/>\n            \n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_currency' data-currency='USD' value='MDwFT8UCcZhNOzYe0pBgoliPhd4N+rdJaC2srQynTbejDkUa06hVWsOd\/SzYU8NFvDltZPYkxheozymHtRkGpJODLXZO\/eFZqz98fa6FuPcBLro=' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_unique_id' value='' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='state_3' value='WyJbXSIsIjkyNzBiOTg0YTQ4ZGVkZGVmN2IzODQ3NzdhM2I4YzVlIl0=' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' autocomplete='off' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_target_page_number_3' id='gform_target_page_number_3' value='0' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' autocomplete='off' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_source_page_number_3' id='gform_source_page_number_3' value='1' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' name='gform_field_values' value='' \/>\n            \n        <\/div>\n                        <\/form>\n                        <\/div><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n gform.initializeOnLoaded( function() {gformInitSpinner( 3, 'https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/gravityforms\/images\/spinner.svg', false );jQuery('#gform_ajax_frame_3').on('load',function(){var contents = jQuery(this).contents().find('*').html();var is_postback = contents.indexOf('GF_AJAX_POSTBACK') >= 0;if(!is_postback){return;}var form_content = jQuery(this).contents().find('#gform_wrapper_3');var is_confirmation = jQuery(this).contents().find('#gform_confirmation_wrapper_3').length > 0;var is_redirect = contents.indexOf('gformRedirect(){') >= 0;var is_form = form_content.length > 0 && ! is_redirect && ! is_confirmation;var mt = parseInt(jQuery('html').css('margin-top'), 10) + parseInt(jQuery('body').css('margin-top'), 10) + 100;if(is_form){jQuery('#gform_wrapper_3').html(form_content.html());if(form_content.hasClass('gform_validation_error')){jQuery('#gform_wrapper_3').addClass('gform_validation_error');} else {jQuery('#gform_wrapper_3').removeClass('gform_validation_error');}setTimeout( function() { \/* delay the scroll by 50 milliseconds to fix a bug in chrome *\/ jQuery(document).scrollTop(jQuery('#gform_wrapper_3').offset().top - mt); }, 50 );if(window['gformInitDatepicker']) {gformInitDatepicker();}if(window['gformInitPriceFields']) {gformInitPriceFields();}var current_page = jQuery('#gform_source_page_number_3').val();gformInitSpinner( 3, 'https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/gravityforms\/images\/spinner.svg', false );jQuery(document).trigger('gform_page_loaded', [3, current_page]);window['gf_submitting_3'] = false;}else if(!is_redirect){var confirmation_content = jQuery(this).contents().find('.GF_AJAX_POSTBACK').html();if(!confirmation_content){confirmation_content = contents;}jQuery('#gform_wrapper_3').replaceWith(confirmation_content);jQuery(document).scrollTop(jQuery('#gf_3').offset().top - mt);jQuery(document).trigger('gform_confirmation_loaded', [3]);window['gf_submitting_3'] = false;wp.a11y.speak(jQuery('#gform_confirmation_message_3').text());}else{jQuery('#gform_3').append(contents);if(window['gformRedirect']) {gformRedirect();}}jQuery(document).trigger(\"gform_pre_post_render\", [{ formId: \"3\", currentPage: \"current_page\", abort: function() { this.preventDefault(); } }]);        if (event && event.defaultPrevented) {                return;        }        const gformWrapperDiv = document.getElementById( \"gform_wrapper_3\" );        if ( gformWrapperDiv ) {            const visibilitySpan = document.createElement( \"span\" );            visibilitySpan.id = \"gform_visibility_test_3\";            gformWrapperDiv.insertAdjacentElement( \"afterend\", visibilitySpan );        }        const visibilityTestDiv = document.getElementById( \"gform_visibility_test_3\" );        let postRenderFired = false;        function triggerPostRender() {            if ( postRenderFired ) {                return;            }            postRenderFired = true;            gform.core.triggerPostRenderEvents( 3, current_page );            if ( visibilityTestDiv ) {                visibilityTestDiv.parentNode.removeChild( visibilityTestDiv );            }        }        function debounce( func, wait, immediate ) {            var timeout;            return function() {                var context = this, args = arguments;                var later = function() {                    timeout = null;                    if ( !immediate ) func.apply( context, args );                };                var callNow = immediate && !timeout;                clearTimeout( timeout );                timeout = setTimeout( later, wait );                if ( callNow ) func.apply( context, args );            };        }        const debouncedTriggerPostRender = debounce( function() {            triggerPostRender();        }, 200 );        if ( visibilityTestDiv && visibilityTestDiv.offsetParent === null ) {            const observer = new MutationObserver( ( mutations ) => {                mutations.forEach( ( mutation ) => {                    if ( mutation.type === 'attributes' && visibilityTestDiv.offsetParent !== null ) {                        debouncedTriggerPostRender();                        observer.disconnect();                    }                });            });            observer.observe( document.body, {                attributes: true,                childList: false,                subtree: true,                attributeFilter: [ 'style', 'class' ],            });        } else {            triggerPostRender();        }    } );} ); \n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t<!-- download link -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div id=\"eBook_download_link\" name=\"eBook_download_link\">\n\n\t\t\t<button onclick=\"location.href='https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Bible-Buyers-Guide-revised-2020-2.pdf'\">DOWNLOAD EBOOK<\/button>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<hr \/>\n<h4>Growing Antiquity<\/h4>\n<p>The biblical balm (<em>tsori<\/em> in Hebrew) has long been a source of mystery, with some scholars believing it is simply a synonym for the Judean Balsam or the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/biblical-topics\/hebrew-bible\/searching-for-the-balm-of-gilead\/\">Balm of Gilead<\/a>. However, some questions might now be answered by a tiny seed, nicknamed Sheba. Uncovered in a cave in Wadi el-Makkuk in the West Bank, the seed sat in the basement of the Hebrew University for decades before it was picked out by a member of the Arava team, along with a collection of other seeds. The goal: to see if they could get these millennia-old seeds to sprout and grow. And grow they did. Sheba, which was radiocarbon dated to the late 11th to early 13th centuries CE, now stands nearly 10 feet tall in the Arava Institute\u2019s greenhouse.<\/p>\n<p>However, this story is about more than just bringing an ancient seed to life, something that the Arava team had done before when they resurrected a grove\u2019s worth of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/tasting-revived-extinct-date-palm\/\">2,000-year-old date palm seeds<\/a> found at Masada. The tree that sprouted from Sheba is now a leading candidate for the source of biblical <em>tsori<\/em>. A member of the same family as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/people-cultures-in-the-bible\/jesus-historical-jesus\/why-did-the-magi-bring-gold-frankincense-and-myrrh\/\">frankincense and myrrh<\/a>, the tree produces a clear resin that has a wide range of medicinal purposes, including healing wounds and serving as an anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, antiviral, and even anti-tumoral substance. Although the seed managed to make its way into a desert cave nearly a thousand years ago\u2014likely helped by rodents\u2014the plant that it sprouted does not match any other known today.<\/p>\n<p>According to the team, this makes Sheba a great candidate for the biblical balm, mentioned in numerous biblical sources and noted for its healing properties. The balm extracted from these trees would have been incredibly valuable during the biblical period and afterward. However, like other plants mentioned in the Bible, it has either gone extinct in the region or been largely forgotten.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><small><em>This article was first published in Bible History Daily on September 23, 2024.<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h4 style=\"margin-bottom:1em;\">Related reading in\u00a0<em>Bible History Daily<\/em><\/h4>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"sc4nOia9RR\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/uncategorized\/searching-for-the-balm-of-gilead\/\">Searching for the Balm of Gilead<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Searching for the Balm of Gilead&#8221; &#8212; Biblical Archaeology Society\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/uncategorized\/searching-for-the-balm-of-gilead\/embed\/#?secret=qYhPQPCKl9#?secret=sc4nOia9RR\" data-secret=\"sc4nOia9RR\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"MVi6DZjntc\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/daily-life-and-practice\/harvesting-the-balm-of-gilead\/\">Harvesting the Balm of Gilead\u00a0<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Harvesting the Balm of Gilead\u00a0&#8221; &#8212; Biblical Archaeology Society\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/daily-life-and-practice\/harvesting-the-balm-of-gilead\/embed\/#?secret=MGMFBZLBr0#?secret=MVi6DZjntc\" data-secret=\"MVi6DZjntc\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"7IVWnCVZv6\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/tasting-revived-extinct-date-palm\/\">Tasting the Past<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Tasting the Past&#8221; &#8212; Biblical Archaeology Society\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/tasting-revived-extinct-date-palm\/embed\/#?secret=iSxGBMTiOl#?secret=7IVWnCVZv6\" data-secret=\"7IVWnCVZv6\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"kbzGkdwrwO\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/uncategorized\/biblical-persimmon-depicted-in-ancient-jerusalem-seal\/\">Biblical Persimmon Depicted in Ancient Jerusalem Seal<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Biblical Persimmon Depicted in Ancient Jerusalem Seal&#8221; &#8212; Biblical Archaeology Society\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/uncategorized\/biblical-persimmon-depicted-in-ancient-jerusalem-seal\/embed\/#?secret=368mh7wYUZ#?secret=kbzGkdwrwO\" data-secret=\"kbzGkdwrwO\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"kjbOcrVEKM\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-egypt\/egyptian-scent-of-eternity\/\">The Egyptian \u201cScent of Eternity\u201d<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;The Egyptian \u201cScent of Eternity\u201d&#8221; &#8212; Biblical Archaeology Society\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-egypt\/egyptian-scent-of-eternity\/embed\/#?secret=Iw3HDesSgc#?secret=kjbOcrVEKM\" data-secret=\"kjbOcrVEKM\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h4 style=\"margin:2em 0;\">All-Access members, read more in the\u00a0<em>BAS Library<\/em><\/h4>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"hBLQBxhdcG\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/article\/plants-as-biblical-metaphors\/\">Plants as Biblical Metaphors<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Plants as Biblical Metaphors&#8221; &#8212; The BAS Library\" src=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/article\/plants-as-biblical-metaphors\/embed\/#?secret=qdbtTWZWSz#?secret=hBLQBxhdcG\" data-secret=\"hBLQBxhdcG\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"I9ncilPrkX\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/article\/living-plants-as-archaeological-artifacts\/\">Living Plants as Archaeological Artifacts<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Living Plants as Archaeological Artifacts&#8221; &#8212; The BAS Library\" src=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/article\/living-plants-as-archaeological-artifacts\/embed\/#?secret=rJgXtY2Pky#?secret=I9ncilPrkX\" data-secret=\"I9ncilPrkX\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"BVhLxuTr9L\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/department\/balm-of-gilead\/\">Balm of Gilead<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Balm of Gilead&#8221; &#8212; The BAS Library\" src=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/department\/balm-of-gilead\/embed\/#?secret=nNz8QQ1O1K#?secret=BVhLxuTr9L\" data-secret=\"BVhLxuTr9L\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"CuONDr0ZJY\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/article\/ancient-medicine\/\">Ancient Medicine<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Ancient Medicine&#8221; &#8212; The BAS Library\" src=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/article\/ancient-medicine\/embed\/#?secret=hq6qVlbx43#?secret=CuONDr0ZJY\" data-secret=\"CuONDr0ZJY\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"JCZpZ9tltv\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/article\/weeds-seeds\/\">Weeds &#038; Seeds<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Weeds &#038; Seeds&#8221; &#8212; The BAS Library\" src=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/article\/weeds-seeds\/embed\/#?secret=7SeOEdpyUW#?secret=JCZpZ9tltv\" data-secret=\"JCZpZ9tltv\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"Tj8ilDYdOA\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/department\/arch-tech-new-fruit-from-old-seeds\/\">Arch-Tech: New Fruit from Old Seeds<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Arch-Tech: New Fruit from Old Seeds&#8221; &#8212; The BAS Library\" src=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/department\/arch-tech-new-fruit-from-old-seeds\/embed\/#?secret=LHtU4R7Fel#?secret=Tj8ilDYdOA\" data-secret=\"Tj8ilDYdOA\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div style=\"margin:2em 0;\">\n<p><strong>Not a <em>BAS<\/em> Library or All-Access Member yet? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/subscribe-new\/?utm_term=W26009B0\">Join today.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While it is not the first time that the team at the Arava Institute has brought an ancient seed back to life, this time is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":55,"featured_media":87880,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[376],"tags":[23313,21288,23312,23314],"class_list":["post-87872","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ancient-israel","tag-balm","tag-balm-of-gilead","tag-biblical-balm","tag-seeds"],"acf":[],"nelio_content":{"autoShareEndMode":"never","automationSources":{"useCustomSentences":false,"customSentences":[]},"efiAlt":"","efiUrl":"","followers":[55,62],"highlights":[],"isAutoShareEnabled":true,"networkImageIds":[],"permalinkQueryArgs":[],"series":[],"suggestedReferences":[]},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.0 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Biblical Balm from a Resurrected Seed - Biblical Archaeology Society<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"While not the first time an ancient seed has been brought back to life, this time it might be the rediscovery of a biblical balm.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Biblical Balm from a Resurrected Seed\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"While it is not the first time that the team at the Arava Institute has brought an ancient seed back to life, this time is no less exciting, as it might\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Biblical Archaeology Society\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BibArch\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-09-19T10:00:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Sheba-the-tree-producing-a-biblical-balm.-Sallon-et-al_.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1750\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"780\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Nathan Steinmeyer\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@BibArch\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@BibArch\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Nathan Steinmeyer\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Nathan Steinmeyer\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/#\/schema\/person\/8dd937a582af2511d58a3eb599206794\"},\"headline\":\"Biblical Balm from a Resurrected Seed\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-19T10:00:02+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/\"},\"wordCount\":509,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Sheba-the-tree-producing-a-biblical-balm.-Sallon-et-al_square.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Balm\",\"Balm of Gilead\",\"Biblical Balm\",\"Seeds\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Ancient Israel\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/\",\"name\":\"Biblical Balm from a Resurrected Seed - Biblical Archaeology Society\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Sheba-the-tree-producing-a-biblical-balm.-Sallon-et-al_square.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-19T10:00:02+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/#\/schema\/person\/8dd937a582af2511d58a3eb599206794\"},\"description\":\"While not the first time an ancient seed has been brought back to life, this time it might be the rediscovery of a biblical balm.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Sheba-the-tree-producing-a-biblical-balm.-Sallon-et-al_square.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Sheba-the-tree-producing-a-biblical-balm.-Sallon-et-al_square.jpg\",\"width\":601,\"height\":601,\"caption\":\"\\\"Sheba\\\" the tree producing a biblical balm. Sallon et al.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Biblical Balm from a Resurrected Seed\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/\",\"name\":\"Biblical Archaeology Society\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/#\/schema\/person\/8dd937a582af2511d58a3eb599206794\",\"name\":\"Nathan Steinmeyer\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/author\/nathan\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Biblical Balm from a Resurrected Seed - Biblical Archaeology Society","description":"While not the first time an ancient seed has been brought back to life, this time it might be the rediscovery of a biblical balm.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Biblical Balm from a Resurrected Seed","og_description":"While it is not the first time that the team at the Arava Institute has brought an ancient seed back to life, this time is no less exciting, as it might","og_url":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/","og_site_name":"Biblical Archaeology Society","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BibArch\/","article_published_time":"2025-09-19T10:00:02+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1750,"height":780,"url":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Sheba-the-tree-producing-a-biblical-balm.-Sallon-et-al_.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Nathan Steinmeyer","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@BibArch","twitter_site":"@BibArch","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Nathan Steinmeyer","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/"},"author":{"name":"Nathan Steinmeyer","@id":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/#\/schema\/person\/8dd937a582af2511d58a3eb599206794"},"headline":"Biblical Balm from a Resurrected Seed","datePublished":"2025-09-19T10:00:02+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/"},"wordCount":509,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Sheba-the-tree-producing-a-biblical-balm.-Sallon-et-al_square.jpg","keywords":["Balm","Balm of Gilead","Biblical Balm","Seeds"],"articleSection":["Ancient Israel"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/","url":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/","name":"Biblical Balm from a Resurrected Seed - Biblical Archaeology Society","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Sheba-the-tree-producing-a-biblical-balm.-Sallon-et-al_square.jpg","datePublished":"2025-09-19T10:00:02+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/#\/schema\/person\/8dd937a582af2511d58a3eb599206794"},"description":"While not the first time an ancient seed has been brought back to life, this time it might be the rediscovery of a biblical balm.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Sheba-the-tree-producing-a-biblical-balm.-Sallon-et-al_square.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Sheba-the-tree-producing-a-biblical-balm.-Sallon-et-al_square.jpg","width":601,"height":601,"caption":"\"Sheba\" the tree producing a biblical balm. Sallon et al."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/biblical-balm-from-a-resurrected-seed\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Biblical Balm from a Resurrected Seed"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/","name":"Biblical Archaeology Society","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/#\/schema\/person\/8dd937a582af2511d58a3eb599206794","name":"Nathan Steinmeyer","url":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/author\/nathan\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87872","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/55"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=87872"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87872\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/87880"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=87872"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=87872"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=87872"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}