Gum

GUM (נְכֹאת; LXX θυμίαμα, G2592, incense) KJV SPICERY (Gen 37:25); KJV, SPICES (Gen 43:11). A gummy or resinous substance used as incense. It is the product of the Astragalus tragacantha, a fair sized shrub with small pale yellow blossoms. It grows over a wide area in Pal. and the Near E. The gum is gathered by rubbing the plant with a ball of cotton. This gum was one of the goods carried to Egypt by the Ishmaelite traders who bought Joseph (Gen 37:25). It was also among the “choice fruits” of S Pal. sent by Jacob to Joseph in Egypt (Gen 43:11).

Bibliography

W. Walker, All the Plants of the Bible (n.d.), 194.