In Hebrew, Gilead means “hill of testimony” or “mound of witness.” It’s where King David fled from Absolom and the homeplace of the prophet Elijah, located near the Jordan river.

The “Balm of Gilead” refers to a healing compound made from the resin of a bush that grows in the region. Old Testament references include (Jeremiah 46:11) “Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt...” and (also from the weeping prophet) “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?” The well-known spiritual infers both the Holy Spirit and Jesus as the Balm of Gilead, and Edgar Allan Poe makes reference to the phrase in “The Raven,” in which the character believes the balm of Gilead can heal his broken heart.

What is the balm of Robinson’s Gilead? Do you think the title is ironic or symbolic or something else entirely? How does Robinson flesh this out?

"Grace is not so poor a thing that it cannot present itself in any number of ways.” A clue to me from the novel that a decent response to your
questions just might be richly multifaceted.

Marilynne Robinson has suggested that the town of Gilead is an expression of “planted” grace, of healing balm. John Ames recalls in his letter that
it was within “striking distance of Kansas” and became a retreat for those who fought slavery and “became a place to fall back on when they needed
to heal and rest.” Balm, indeed. And, in its inherent nature as a small rural town, it afforded peace. John Ames says, “To play catch of an evening,
to smell the river, to hear the train pass. These little towns were once the bold ramparts meant to shelter jut such peace.” And it provided hope
“that a harmless life could be lived here unmolested.” Balm, grace, peace.

Where is the irony? For John Ames, the preacher (parsed into the prophet as he writes) asks, “What is the purpose of a prophet except to find meaning in trouble?” and states that what will exactly be required is that God “will wipe the tears from all faces.” And young Boughton who “felt a
sense of irony at having invested hope in this sad old place, and also the cost to him of relinquishing it.”

Early on I read another lovely statement that seemed a clue to the trouble and the struggle. John Ames says that “love is holy because it is like
grace - the worthiness of its object is never really what matters.” Balm was not physically present as John Ames placed his hand on the brow of
young Boughton but healing nevertheless occurred. Not that all was well. Young Boughton had to leave Gilead, the place of blessing without full
restoration of relationship with his father and family but lifelong prayer was answered as John Ames speaks to old Boughton:

“I love him as much as you meant me to - So certain of your prayers are finally answerd, old fellow. And mine too, mine too. We had to wait a long
time, didn’t we?”

And - this was curious to me - John Ames states at an earlier stage of his life: “I didn’t feel very much at home in the world, that was a fact. Now
I do.” Finding unfathomable grace in the voice of his wife, writing an honest letter to his young son, to give blessings of honor to those he loves,
to have been useful,

that may well be the balm of Robinson’s Gilead.

Thanks for the good questions Jennifer.

I read this novel from the recommendation of Eighth Day Books, and I was not sorry.

It seems that Robinson’s balm is wrapped up somehow in enjoying mere existence, “All that is fine, but it’s your existence I love you for mainly. Existence seems to me now the most remarkable thing that could ever be imagined.”

The whole book has the theme of taking absolutely nothing for granted but rejoicing in even the most minute of details in life as a gift.

The experience of reading this book surprised me. I am not a religious person, nor do I read fiction based or seeped in spirituality. This book was highly recommended by my best friend, a woman that also happens to have an MA Theology, and a woman I have spent days and days discussing issues surrounding our common backgrounds (lapsed Catholics) and dogma of the curch with.

I was shocked at how compelling this book was, how it moved me at such a deep level, and these happened against my will. The gentle and accepting tone of John Aimes, as he prepares for his own death, his grief at never being able to see a son or wife of his “grow old,” and ... well everything he notes. Everything. Maybe the book can speak to me so well because I am in my late forties. Or maybe its because a student of mine had committed suicide and the issues addressed in this book have been very much on my mind for the past year.

I think the Balm of Gilead is that, in spite of being a 2 dimension book, it is actually a tool of grace. Every page of it struggles to bring out love and compassion and is prayerful, mindful of our human state, and mindful in a way that is neither bitter nor fearful.

Cannot recommend this book enough!