A sticky substance from the Astragalus plant, used in medicine and food.
About Gum Tragacanth
Neko’th (“gum”) is the first of three spices mentioned in GEN 37:25 as being carried by the Ishmaelites along with tsori (“balm”) and lot (mistranslated as “myrrh”) to Egypt. In GEN 43:11 Jacob urges his sons to carry some neko’th to Egypt as a gift to the Pharaoh. It was an important ingredient of incense and was probably used for medicine as well. The Hebrew word neko’th refers to tragacanth. Most the eighteen hundred species of tragacanth (commonly called “milk vetches”) of the genus Astragalus produce tragacanth gum, but the ones growing in Judea and Gilead (Astragalus gummifer and Astragalus bethlehemiticus) are outstanding in their production.
Key References
And as they sat down to eat a meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying spices, balm, and myrrh on their way down to Egypt.
Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your packs and carry them down as a gift for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.
All Scripture References (2)
Genesis (2)
And as they sat down to eat a meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying spices, balm, and myrrh on their way down to Egypt.
Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your packs and carry them down as a gift for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.