With cinnamon, we finally get to an aromatic plant that is used primarily
for its smell. It is mentioned in the Bible as a component of both incense
and perfume. Two varieties are named in the Bible : cinnamon (KINAMON)
and cassia (KEDA or KEZIA). In both cases, we are dealing with the same
spice as today's cinnamon : cinnamomum zeylanicum. The cinnamon is the
outer bark, and the cassia the inner one. Maimonides explains that cinnamon
is "a reed as thin as straw that comes from the Indian Islands". It
is one of the 11 mandated components of the incense [see Appendix],
as well as used in the (infused) Oil of Annointing.
Notes relevant to this article will go here.