Summer is gardening season for many in the Northern hemisphere. Learning about plants used in Bible times has been an interest for around fifteen years. Therefore, I was very pleased to find the following book:
Vincenzina Krymow. Healing Plants of the Bible. St. Anthony Messenger Press. 2002.
This book is divided into four sections. The first provides an excellent discussion on the “Land of the Bible”. Information on how the landscape has changed since the early Israelites inherited the land God provided for them. It was interesting to learn that Israel has two seasons, summer and winter! The land is mountainous, and consists of many different vegetation zones, making it possible to grow a wide variety of food or medicinal plants.
The second section discusses early medicines and healing practices in the Biblical lands. Then, these plants are illustrated and discussed in section three. You can learn about everything from onions to watercress. Each plant is discussed and then followed by a meditation. These discussions would make excellent daily devotionals. If you are inclined to creating a “scripture garden”, part four provides the needed information.
Recommendation
I find Krymow’s writing interesting. Enough information is provided on each plant discussed, that I would feel comfortable in growing it myself and possibly, using it in herbal medicine. His writing style is easy to read. Here is a sample:
In the early days of Christianity, the church dedicated the Madonna Lily to the Virgin Mary. She is often depicted holding a lily in her hand in old church paintings. The archangel Gabriel carries the flower in medieval paintings of the Annunciation. Lilies bloom on July 2, formerly the feast of the Visitation, are are thus associated also with that event. [Page 121.]
Everyone with an interest in learning more about the plants and medicinal practices of Bible times will appreciate this book. Perhaps it would make a gift for a birthday or other holiday for someone special to you. The book may be carried by your local bookstore or it may be ordered directly from the publisher.
