NECOTH (nek-oth'), (Heb 71`2=, nek-oa), this word occurs twice in the book of Genesis.
(1) A Syrian Product. It indicates a product of Syria, for in one case we find it carried into Egypt as an article of commerce, and in another sent as a present into the same country. It oc curs in the same passage as lodanum, which is translated myrrh in the Authorized Version. Many of the same general observations will therefore apply to both. Necoth hag unfortunately been ren dered spicery. This it is not likely to have meant, at least in the present sense of the term, for such commodities were not likely to be transported into Egypt from Gilead, though many Eastern products were, no doubt, carricd north by cara vans into Asia Minor, up the Euphrates, and by Palmyra into Syria. In the present case, however, all the articles mentioned seem to be products indigenous in Syria. But it is necessary to attend strictly to the original names, for we are apt to be misled by the English translation. Thus, in Gen. xxxvii :25, we read, 'Behold a company of Ishmaelites camc from Gilead with their camels, bearing spicery (necoth ), and balm (treri), and myrrh ((oh ), going to carry it down to Egypt.' To these men Joseph was sold by his brethren, whcn they were feeding their flocks at Dothan, supposed to be a few miles to the north of Sc baste, or Samaria. It is curious that Jacob, when desiring a present to be taken to the ruler of Egypt, enumerates nearly the samc articles (Gcn.
:1 1), 'Carry down the man a present, a little balm, (Lien.), and a little honey (debash), spiccs (necoth) and myrrh (ioth ) Bochart (Hierozoicon, ii Bk. iv. c. 12) enters into a learned exposition of the meaning of necoth, of which Dr. Harris has given an abridged view in his article on spices.
(2) Various Interpretations. Bochart shows that the true import of necoth has always been considered uncertain, for it is rendered wax by the paraphrast Jonathan, in the Arabic version of Erpenius, and in Beresith Rabba (sect. 91,
near the end). Others interprct it very differ ently. The Septuagint renders it Ougtaga, fier. fume, Aquila storax, the Syrian version resin, the Satnaritan balsam, one Arabic version klzurnoob or carob, another sumugha (or gum), Kimchi a desirable thing. Rabbi Selomo o collection of several aromatics. Bochart himself considers it to mean storox. Rosentniiller, in his Bib. Bo/. p. r65, Eng. transl., adopts trogaconth as the mean ing of ?zeroth, without expressing any doubt on the subject. Tragacanth is an exudation from several species of the genus Astrogalus, and sub division tragacantho, which is produced in Crete, but chiefly in Northcrn Persia and in Koordistan in the latter province. Dr. Dickson. of Tripoli, saw large quantities of it collected from plants, of which he preserved specimens. and gave them to Mr. Brant, British consul at Erzeroutn, by whom they were sent to Dr. Lindley. One of these, yielding the best tragacanth, proved to be A. gummifer of Labillardierc. It was found by him on Mount Lebanon. where he ascertained that tragacanth was collected by the shepherds. It might therefore have been conveyed hy Ishmaclites frotn Gilead to Egypt. It has in its favor, that it is a produce of the remote parts of Syria. is de scribed hy ancient authors, as Theophrastus. Dioscorides, etc., and has always been highly es teemed as a gum in Eastern countries; it was, therefore, very likely to be an article of commerce to Egypt in ancient timcs. (See NIYRIOI STO RAX.) J. F. R. NECRODIANCER (nek-r6-mAn'ser), (from Gr. vctcp6s, nek-ros', the dead, and pa vrcia, man-fee'ah, divination; Heb. :7".;7117?.i A'rashe may' theem', one who inquires of the dead). (See DIVINATION).