Tafsiran Yeremia 8:22: Tze'enah Ure'enah & Rashi

“Is there no balm in Gilead?” [8:22]. Is there no remedy from the apothecary from the city of Gilead, to heal Israel? Why are my people Israel not healed? Were there water in my head and would the water flow into my eyes that I should have with what to shed tears, to cry. I would dearly want to cry day and night, but I have no tears with which to cry. Were that I would live in the desert, that I should not see Israel in their troubles. I see that they are full of sins and falsehood. One gossips about the other one, for one to do evil things to the other. They do not recognize Me, God, and they give false judgments. They pursue slander and hypocrisy. Therefore, the Holy One said: I will make them good and make them pious, refine them like silver, refined through troubles from their enemies that they will have to suffer. They will become pious and I will accept them again. They should not think that they would be lost forever. They are called My people.

Is there no balm in Gilead For balm comes from there, as it is said (infra 46:11) “Go up to Gilead and take balm.” That is to say, Did they not have any righteous men from whom to learn so that they should improve their ways?

the health of lit. the cure of, (emplatre in O.F.), plaster, dressing.