Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 8:22

22 Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no Physitian there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered.

Gilead was eminent for Balm, Gen. 43.11. taken for Rosin, or T[illegible: 1 letter]rpentine, which is a kind of more liquid Rosin, and either flowes, or drops from certain trees of its own accord, or their juice flowes from several holes pierced into them, as from the Pin[illegible: 1 letter], Ce[illegible: 1 letter]ar, Cypress, or Terebinth Tree. Heb. T[illegible: 1 letter]eri. Gr. [non-Latin text not transcribed] from [non-Latin text not transcribed] to flow, or run. Lat. resina. Engl. Rosin. A near affinity of the words in e[illegible: 1 letter]ch language, the nature whereof is to dissolve hardness, to clear, and close up wounds.

Or Chirurgion, probably in a Country where were such plenty of remedies, there could not want Artists, whereby their cures might be facilitated, by means of which the Gileadites and Arabians did excel there.

Heb. gone up; the like expression, 2 Chron. 24.13. the work was perfected, Heb. the healing, went up upon the work, and so Neh. 4.7. the Prophet expresseth his grievous complaint by way of admiration, by a Metaphor, implying the inveteracy, and obstinacy of their hearts, that either would not come to the Physitian or that they should be thus incurable, where they wanted not for Prophets and Teachers, or for all spiritual means, flowing down daily upon them, can Ierusalem, and Judea be without spiritual Physitians? some understand it by way of Sarcasme, q. d. where are your Medicines, your Arms, your Counsels, your con[illegible: 1 letter]ederacies? and where are your Physiti[illegible: 2 letters]s, your Prin[illegible: 1 letter]es and Priests, that promised you Relief? without God, you see, no help in any means; But the former more natural, and agrees best with the beginning of the next Chapter.

Marginal references: Gen. 37.25. chap. 46.11. & 51.8.; Heb. go[illegible: 1 letter]e up.