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ALOES

Succulents of the Liliaceae family. Aloes are identified primarily with subtropical assemblages of the Eritreo-Sudanian province to be found in East Africa and extending into Southern Arabia. A solitary plant, it is stemless with a distinctive rosette pattern of thick leaves. It is an African genus with more than 180 species, 20 species of which are to be found in Arabia. In Omani Dhofar only two species are commonly attested. Aloe Dhufarensis is a well-known medicinal plant used for a variety of ailments. These are treated primarily from the dried aloe juice. Four major species are known from Yemen; again although used for medicinal purposes, some have an aromatic purpose. Aloe Barbadensis has been scientifically analyzed and found to contain an antibiotic (barbaloin) active in fighting tuberculosis. Aloe Barbadensis has been equated with the widespread Aloe Vera.

In the biblical context (Cant. 4:14; Prov. 7:17) the alternating use of male or female plural endings for the plant suggests a nonfamiliarity with the product, and its inclusion with myrrh and frankincense and cinnamon suggests an exotic foreign product. Aloes are also mentioned in the NT (John 19:39) in connection with the burial rites of Christ. The aloe plants mentioned by Classical sources are clearly identified with southwest Arabia, prominently with the island of Socotra. Special fields in the region were constructed to grow dragon’s blood, frankincense, myrrh, and aloes.

Bibliography. S. A. Ghazanfar, Handbook of Arabian Medicinal Plants (Boca Raton, 1994); A. G. Miller and M. Morris, Plants of Dhofar (Muscat, 1988).

Juris Zarins

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

ALOES

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)