A brief history lesson: In Biblical times, Gilead was the land of the Gileadites, a city near Mizpah and a fertile, mountainous region North East of the Dead Sea. The land was allotted to Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh and was noted for its spices, myrrh, and balm. It was the home of Jair, Jephthah, and Elijah, and here Jacob met Laban; Ishbosheth was once its king, and in it David found refuge from Absalom. After the partition of Israel it became part of the northern kingdom.
We are indebted to Jo Cotter for the following article:
'The Balm of Gilead'
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