I365: Farmer revives the Biblical Balm of Gilead and Temple Incense
( via Wikipedia)
Israel365 News reported the following:
Farmer revives the Biblical Balm of Gilead and Temple Incense
August 30, 2023
One very special farmer in the Holy Land is raising rare and endangered plants in an effort to bring back the Biblical Balm of Gilead and the Temple incense.
In 2008, Guy Ehrlich was driven to recreate the Biblical Balm of Gilead, renowned for its healing properties. Incredibly rare even in Biblical times, growing only in the extreme heat and saline soil of the Dead Sea area, it disappeared from the region in the sixth century. A German scientist smuggled a single shoot out of Saudi Arabia, and some plants were at the Botanical Garden in Jerusalem. Unfortunately, the climate of Jerusalem was too cold for the desert-loving plants. Fortunately, before they all died, the garden sent some to Dr. Elaine Solowey, director of the Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Kibbutz Ketura. She provided Ehrlich with a beginning for his six-acre Biblical farm. The plants thrived in the Dead Sea climate, and his farm now has about five thousand balsam plants.
His passion for this semi-mythical balm led him to name his farm after it: the Balm of Gilead Farm. …
Its healing properties were first hinted at by the Prophet Jeremiah:
Is there no balm in Gilead? Can no physician be found? Why has healing not yet Come to my poor people? Jeremiah 8:22 …
It is believed that the Balm of Gilead was so important that the Bible referred to it simply as generic by the generic names ‘balm,’ or, in Hebrew ẓori צֳרִי or ‘perfume’ (bosem בֹּשֶׂם). As such, it is believed by some Biblical commentators to have been carried by the caravan that received Joseph from the pit (Gen. 37:25). When Jacob dispatched his embassy into Egypt, his present to the unknown ruler included “a little balm” (Gen. 43:11). Balm was one of the commodities which Hebrew merchants carried to the market of Tyre ( Ezekiel 27:17) and, according to 1 Kings 10:10, balsam was among the many precious gifts of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon.
The balm was made from the tree known scientifically as Commiphora gileadensis. The sap of the balsam tree is released by cutting the bark. …
Ehrlich also cultivates myrrh.
His trees have been certified by the Temple Institute for use in the Third Temple, which want to make sure the raw materials of the incense will be available when the Temple is rebuilt. https://www.israel365news.com/375067/farmer-revives-the-biblical-balm-of-gilead-and-temple-incense/
The Temple Institute has been working to get everything it thinks it needs in order to begin regular sacrifices.
For example, notice the following:
Crimson worm-dye, a key element for red heifer sacrifice; Developed in preparation for 3rd Temple
June 28, 2022
On Monday, the Temple Institute completed its study of the Biblical crimson dye with a practical demonstration. The study is part of the institute’s ongoing Red Heifer project led by Rabbi Yisrael Ariel and his son, Rabbi Azariah Ariel, as the crimson wool is a necessary element in the preparation of the ashes of the red heifer:
The cow shall be burned in his sight—its hide, flesh, and blood shall be burned, its dung included—and the Kohen shall take cedar wood, hyssop, and crimson stuff and throw them into the fire consuming the cow. Numbers 19:5-6
The study was concluded at an auspicious time as Jews worldwide are currently reading this section of the Torah concerning the Red Heifer. The ceremony of the Red Heifer is one of the most mysterious and inexplicable of all the ceremonies. A perfectly red heifer is slaughtered and burned entirely outside of the temple. The ashes are necessary to purify Jews who have been rendered ritually impure by contact or proximity to a dead body. Though the Temple service can be reinstated without the ashes of the red heifer, personal sacrifices will only be possible after the ceremony is reinstated.
The dye is referred to in the Bible as תּוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי (Tola’at Shani). This term is usually translated as crimson wool, but the actual term refers to the insect, which is the source of the dye. The dye produces a unique shade of red used for the Temple curtain, as well as the High Priest’s garments. https://www.israel365news.com/270895/crimson-worm-dye-a-key-element-for-red-heifer-sacrifice-developed-in-preparation-for-temple/
Manufacturing of unique red dye for Third Temple begins
July 26, 2021
Bringing back the Temple service requires attention to the multitude of details described in the Bible. תּוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי (Tola’at shani) is usually translated as crimson wool but the actual term refers to the worm which is the source of the dye used for the Temple curtain, as well as the garments of the High Priest:
As for the Mishkan, make it of ten strips of cloth; make these of fine twisted linen, of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, with a design of cherubim worked into them. Exodus 26:1
The ephod was made of gold, blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and fine twisted linen. Exodus 39:2
It was an essential element as Tola’at shani is mentioned 25 times throughout the sections of the Torah dealing with the Tabernacle.
It was also was added to the ashes of the red heifer and for purifying lepers …
In rabbinic literature, the dye is referred to as zehorit, which was extracted from the body of the “crimson worm” (carmine), the Kermes biblicus. In Israel, this worm can be found on the branches of the oak Quercus ithaburensis. In the early spring, when the females filled with red eggs and became pea-shaped, the dye was squeezed out of them. …
Orna Hirshberg, a resident of Itamar in Samaria, has dedicated herself to bringing back this necessary component of the Temple as part of the Temple-related work that is specific to women. …
“We went out yesterday and all of us together gathered five grams, a tiny amount,” Hirshberg said. “I think one day we will wake up and there will be suddenly one day, a huge amount of the insects that produce a large amount of dye,” she told Israel365 News. “That will be a sign that the Third Temple is about to be built.” https://www.israel365news.com/195266/manufacturing-of-unique-red-dye-for-third-temple-begins/
So, some feel that this dye is needed related to the ‘hoped for red heifer’ and that a lot of it will be a sign that a massive third temple will be built in Jerusalem.
Related to the dye, a reader sent me the following today:
The importance of this crimson worm dye directly relates to its life cycle. This is specifically shown by Jesus Christ in Ps. 22:6 saying “I am a worm” (Strong’s 8438). This dye is used in the Tabernacle for crimson/scarlet thread. … this tie of the “worm, crimson/scarlet dye and Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death” … Eventually some of Jewish leaders may be shown the true meaning of this dye, red heifer, temple location and crucifixion location
So, the dye has a connection to Jesus that the Jews do not realize.
As far as a red heifer goes, five candidates were brought to Israel last September (watch 5 Red Heifers and Year 5783?) and some hope to have one sacrificed in the Spring of 2024 (watch Red Heifer Sacrifice Ready April 2024?).
In 2004, a “reconstituted Sanhedrin” was formed. It is affiliated with the Temple Institute. In late 2016, they appointed Rabbi Baruch Kahane as the next Kohen Gadol–high priest (see Reconstituted Sanhedrin names high priest in preparation for the restoration of sacrifices; to begin as early as the Day of Atonement?). More on the Sanhedrin can be found in the article Nascent Sanhedrin structure and high priest: The plan is to start animal sacrifices–this would fulfill prophecy!
Some Jews, like those affiliated with the Temple Institute and the Sanhedrin, want to resume animal sacrifices. They tend to believe having the dye, various implements, the ‘balm of Gilead,’ and finally a qualified ‘red heifer’ will be a sign that the time is right. Furthermore, an agreed-upon red heifer may increase pressure on the government of Israel to allow such sacrifices.
Back in 2018, without having sacrificed a red heifer, the Sanhedrin had a sacrifice to dedicate an altar for future sacrifices. We covered that in the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:
Sanhedrin makes burnt offering to dedicate altar!
The Reconstituted Sanhedrin performed a ceremony on December 10, 2018 to dedicate a new altar for the use of daily sacrifices. High Priest Rabbi Baruch Kahane officiated. How does this align with Bible prophecy? Daniel wrote three times that the daily sacrifices must stop, hence they first must resume. The Great Tribulation will begin shortly after these sacrifices stop. In this video Dr. Thiel, who has also been to Israel and spoken with The Temple Institute quotes several scriptures and explains why the actions by the Sanhedrin align with prophecy and the end times.
Here is a link to our video: Sanhedrin makes burnt offering to dedicate altar!
Christians realize that Jesus was the sacrifice for sins and that God does not require animal sacrifices at this time (see Hebrews chapters 9-11)–but since Jews do not accept Jesus’ sacrifice, they believe they are to still have animal sacrifices.
That said, the biblical reality is that a massive Jewish Temple is not required at this time for those sacrifices. This is even something that representatives of both the Sanhedrin and Temple Institute told me personally many years ago, and that is still their position.
While many do wish to build another temple and have again recently taken steps, it should be pointed out that:
1. Biblical prophecies do not require that a Jewish temple be built in Jerusalem before Jesus returns (for details, see Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required?).
2. There is no biblical requirement for a temple to be built for sacrifices to resume. For over many years, animal sacrifices were offered without a Jewish temple. Even after the first Jerusalem temple was built and left in ruins, the Bible itself specifically shows that sacrifices were made in the time of Ezra BEFORE the second temple was ready:
6 From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid. (Ezra 3:6)
3. Jewish leaders have long recognized the second point (see also Nascent Sanhedrin structure and high priest: The plan is to start animal sacrifices–this would fulfill prophecy!)–which is part of why there have been animal sacrifices this century.
4. The Bible also tells of daily sacrifices being stopped (Daniel 9:27, 11:31; 12:11)–and since they have not started, their start is a prophetic event to look out for.
The fact that the Temple Institute wants a red heifer, the balm of Gilead, has a high priest, has an altar, and has some insect dye basically shows that some Jews will resume sacrifices when they can.
But a massive third temple is not required for that.
An altar is required, but the Jews have that as well as temporary, portable housing.
That being said, yes, certain ones in Israel are taking steps that will help result in the resumption of animal sacrifices.
Since the Bible shows that one important end-time sign is that the sacrifices will stop (cf. Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11), they obviously must start first.
Certifying a source for the balm of Gilead appears to be another small step towards making that happen.
We are getting closer.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required? Although people like Timothy LaHaye teach a third Jewish temple is required, who is ‘the temple of God” in the New Testament? Does the Bible require a rebuilt Jewish Temple? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Por qué no se requiere un templo judío en Jerusalén? Here is a link to two sermons The Temple, Prophecy, and the Work and God’s Temple in Prophecy. And here is a version of the latter one in the Spanish: El templo de Dios en profecía.
Nascent Sanhedrin and Prophecy The reconstituted Sanhedrin wants the reimplementation of animal sacrifices. A related video is titled Sanhedrin pushing animal sacrifices. And a newer one is: Sanhedrin makes burnt offering to dedicate altar!
The Red Heifer, Jewish Beliefs, and the End of the World The Temple Institute is watching a ‘red heifer.’ Why might this be important in the sequence of end time events? Here is a related link in the Spanish language Novilla roja descubierta en EE.UU. e Instituto del Templo está interesado en ella. Here are links to three related videos in English: Red Heifers and the Fate of the World and The Red Heifer and the End of the World and 5 Red Heifers and Year 5783? and Red Heifer Sacrifice Ready April 2024?
Proof Jesus is the Messiah This free book has over 200 Hebrew prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus. Plus, His arrival was consistent with specific prophecies and even Jewish interpretations of prophecy. Here are links to seven related sermons: Proof Jesus is the Messiah, Prophecies of Jesus’ birth, timing, and death, Jesus’ prophesied divinity, 200+ OT prophecies Jesus filled; Plus prophecies He made, Why Don’t Jews Accept Jesus?, Daniel 9, Jews, and Jesus, and Facts and Atheists’ Delusions About Jesus. Plus the links to two sermonettes: Luke’s census: Any historical evidence? and Muslims believe Jesus is the Messiah, but … We also have the book translated in the Spanish PRUEBA de que JESÚS es el MESÍAS and French PREUVES QUE JÉSUS EST LE MESSIE languages.
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