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Biblical Medicine.—Moses, who evidently borrowed from the writings and teachings of the Egyptians, gives us in his “five books” information of their anatomic knowledge. In the narrative of the twin birth of Esau and Jacob it is related that the latter grasped the former's heel (Genesis 25:26); and in the description of Jacob wrestling with the angel it is remarked that the angel touched Jacob's hollow of the thigh, and put it out of joint (Genesis 32:25); and in the same chapter, verse 32, the “sinew that shrank” is spoken of.
In Exodus (Chapters 28, 29) the heart, brow, shoulder, breast, lobe of the ear, hand, finger and thumb are mentioned. In Exodus (29:17) dissection is mentioned, “and thou shalt cut the ram into sections”; some of the visceral portions are also mentioned, such as inwards, caul, liver, fat kidneys; skin also occurs. In Deuteronomy (32:10) the apple of the eye is mentioned, the lids (Ps. 11:4), and eyes (Exodus 21:24); bones (Gen. 2:23), and sinews (Gen. 30:32); teeth (Gen. 49:12); palate, temple (Cant. 2:3; 6:7). In Job (16:13) we read of pouring out his “gall” on the ground.
The Bible tells us of physicians (Gen. 1, 2): “And Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm his father.” Isaiah (3:7) mentions particularly a healer: “I will not be a healer.” We also find that the Jewish prophets, as well as the Egyptian prophets, practiced the art of healing. This may be seen from the narration of a man of God who restored the paralyzed hand of King Jeroboam (I Kings, 13:4-6). Elijah brought to life a child, apparently dead (I Kings 17:17-22); and his disciple, Elisha (II Kings 4:18-20, 34-35) performed similar miraculous cures. Isaiah (II Kings 20:7) cured King Hezekiah of an inflammation by applying a plaster made of figs.
The Bible likewise mentions surgeons and surgery of wounds and injuries in different parts of the body, caused by various weapons—sword, arrow, hammer, etc. (II Sam. 2:23; 3:27; 4:6; 18:14; 20:10; Num. 25:8; Judges 3:21; 5:24; I Kings, 22:34; II Chron. 35:23; and many other places). Inflammation and abscesses (Deut. 28:25, 27) are also mentioned. Wounds were treated by the application of wine or oil, bandages or sutures (Isa. 1:6; Jer. 8:22; 46, 2; 51:8; Deut. 28:27). Gangrene and putrid discharges (Ps. 38:6; Prov. 12:4; 14:30; II Macc. 9:9) are spoken of.
It is also evident that Moses acquired a knowledge of chemistry from the Egyptians. As Boerhaave aptly remarks, the fact that Moses knew how to reduce gold to powder so as to render it miscible with water, and by this means potable, shows he had acquired a knowledge of chemistry only to be attained by the highest masters of science and art.
The fact that apothecaries (Rakha) are mentioned in the books of Moses (Exodus 30:25-35, “after the art of the apothecary”; Exodus 37:29, “according to the work of an apothecary”; Ecclesiastes 10:1, “the ointment of the apothecary;” II Chronicles 16:14, “prepared by the apothecaries art”), and the compounded prescriptions in the Ebers Papyrus, furnish us evidence that a distinct class of apothecaries existed among the ancient Egyptians, who were cultivated pharmacists.
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