Stacte

Variously translated to the Greek term (AMP: Exodus 30:34) or to an unspecified "gum resin" or similar (NIV: Exodus 30:34), it was to be mixed in equal parts with onycha (prepared from certain vegetable resins or seashell parts), galbanum and mixed with pure frankincense and they were to "beat some of it very small"[1] for burning on the altar of the tabernacle.

This incense was considered restricted for sacred purposes honoring Yahweh; the trivial or profane use of it was punishable by exile, as laid out in Exodus 30:34–38 (KJV).

The Septuagint translates nataf as stacte, a Greek word meaning "an oozing substance," which refers to various viscous liquids, including myrrh.

[2] Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel explained, "Stacte is simply the sap that drips from the tapping of the wood of the balsam tree" (Kerithot 6a).

He recorded that after having bruised the myrrh and dissolved it in oil of balanos over a gentle fire, hot water was poured over it.

The myrrh and oil would sink to the bottom like a deposit; and as soon as this has occurred, they strained off the water and squeeze the sediment in a press.

"[13] Pomet wrote that to obtain stacte one must first gather the myrrh "that flows spontaneously from the tree" and to look for portions of the resin which are "clear and transparent, apt to crumble, light."

"[14] The Gerrhaean tribute to Antiochus III in 205 BC included one thousand talents of frankincense and two hundred of "stacte myrrh."

[16] Abrahams informs that "With regard to the Tabernacle incense, most scholars agree that the term 'stacte' is of Latin and Greek origin, and that stacte represents myrrh.

This would seem to have necessitated the import of a storax such as Styrax benzoin, which is chemically similar[35] and could have scented the slight bitter note of myrrh and met the demands of making large amounts of incense described in the Bible.

Some writers believe that stacte was derived from the balsam tree, Commiphora opobalsamum, known as kataf in the Talmud, which grows wild in Yemen, around Mecca, and in Israel.

Iluz, et al., write that "researchers (Alpini, 1718; Feliks, 1995; Hepper, 1992; Linnaeus, 1764) have agreed with confidence that balsam is Commiphora gileadensis 1 (=C.

"[44] Ben-Yehoshua, et al., writing about "the most important spices used in religious ritual in ancient Israel" include opobalsamum referring to it as the "balm of Gilead, called also Judaean balsam, Hebrew—tzori, nataf, or Apharsemon (Exodus 30: 34).

"[46] In Fauna and Flora of the Bible, translators define stacte (nataf) as a resinous, aromatic gum exuding from Commiphora opobalsamum.

[47] Van Dam writes that stacte, which many equate with nataf, is a resinous aromatic gum of a balsam tree which he identifies as Commiphora opobalsamum.

"[54] The juice exudes spontaneously during the heat of summer, in resinous drops, but at other times the process is helped by making incisions in the bark.

The resin has a strong fragrant smell, with something of the lemon or citron flavour, a scent of vanilla, and the bitter, astringent aroma of Commiphora myrrha.

Many modern authorities identify stacte with the gum of this storax tree[57][58][59] and most commonly referred to by writers as Styrax officinalis.

[It] must not for a moment be confused or confounded with the Liquid Storax of commerce, which is the product of an altogether different Eastern tree .

"[60] The ancient book of Jubilees, part of the Dead Sea scroll collection found in Qumran, makes reference to storax.

[68] The name "benzoin" is probably derived from Arabic lubān jāwī (لبان جاوي, "Javan frankincense"); compare the mid-eastern terms "gum benjamin" and "benjoin".

Abrahams states that the use of benzoin in the Biblical incense is not inconceivable since Syro-Arabian tribes maintained extensive trade routes prior to Hellenism.

The large amounts of stacte needed for liturgical purposes, especially in the first temple period, would seem to have necessitated the import of a storax that could have met the demand.

[74] Rosenmeuller records that "the Greeks also called stacte, a species of storax gum, which Dioscorides describes, as transparent like a tear, and resembling myrrh.

One ancient Egyptian perfume formula (1200 BC) consisted of "storax, labdanum, galbanum, frankincense, myrrh, cinnamon, cassia, honey, raisins.

Stacte might have been the sweetly fragrant resin that used to exude spontaneously from Amyris kataf, the bark of which, in other opinions, is the biblical "cinnamon".

Jules Janick writes: "Stacte; unknown, probably oil of cinnamon or cassia or aromatic gem resins.

"[89] Groom defines balsam as simply as "a viscous, resinous exudation from certain trees and shrubs, with a consistency which is thick but not solid.

Groom describes the scent of these balsams as vanilla like and referring to Styrax benzoin, he says "the resin from it has a storax-like fragrance .

"[91] Gamaliel wrote, "Stacte is simply the sap that drips from the tapping of the wood of the balsam tree" (Kerithot 6a).