02.16. Balm in Gilead?

Balm in Gilead? When the people of Israel first entered Canaan, two and a half tribes appealed to Moses, and later Joshua, to allow them to settle in the good pasturelands east of Jordan rather than in Canaan itself. Israel had already conquered the Amorite kings who previously occupied this area, so the two and a half tribes were allowed to leave their families there while the men went across the river to help conquer Canaan. They then returned and settled down to build a homeland.¹ This eastern territory was a broad tableland, broken by deep valleys through which streams flowed into the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. It stretched from Bashan in the north to the Arnon River in the south, but was a source of repeated conflict with the original owners, Ammon (to the north) and Moab (to the south).²

Just beyond the area occupied by Israel was Ammon’s chief city, Rabbah, also called Rabbath-Ammon. It is today known as Amman and is capital of the present-day nation of Jordan.³ Though Jordan is an Islamic nation, it pursues a policy of religious freedom for all. The law forbids discrimination, but also forbids proselytism.

One region within the eastern part of Old Testament Israel was known as Gilead, a name that was sometimes used of an entire tribe or even of Israel’s entire eastern territory. The name also became associated with healing. Middle Eastern people have always been well known for their skill in producing oils, perfumes and medicines from plants, and Gilead became famous for a balm believed to have healing properties.⁴

Though Gilead was a good place to live, it was exposed to attack. It had no natural boundaries to the north and east and was often attacked by hostile neighbours. Its tribes were among the first to go into foreign captivity.⁵

1. Numbers 21:13; Numbers 21:21-26; Numbers 21:31-35; Numbers 32:1-5; Numbers 8:1-26; Numbers 9:1-23; Numbers 10:1-36; Numbers 11:1-35; Numbers 12:1-16 2. These nations, descendants of Lot, were related to Israel; Genesis 19:36-38 3. Deuteronomy 3:11; 2 Samuel 11:1; 2 Samuel 12:26-31 4. Jeremiah 8:22; Jeremiah 46:11 5. 2 Kings 15:29

Amman, capital of Jordan