Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
(Heb. ‘ahalim), a fragrant wood (Num. 24:6; Ps. 45:8; Prov. 7:17; Cant. 4:14), the Aquilaria agallochum of botanists, or, as some suppose, the costly gum or perfume extracted from the wood. It is found in China, Siam, and Northern India, and grows to the height sometimes of 120 feet. This species is of great rarity even in India. There is another and more common species, called by Indians aghil, whence Europeans have given it the name of Lignum
aquile, or eagle-wood. Aloewood was used by the Egyptians for embalming dead bodies. Nicodemus brought it (pounded aloe-wood) to embalm the body of Christ (John 19:39); but whether this was the same as that mentioned elsewhere is uncertain. The bitter aloes of the apothecary is the dried juice of the leaves Aloe vulgaris.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898) & Schaff's Bible Dictionary
AL'OES. Ps 45:8;Song of Solomon 4:14. We may infer that aloes was some fragrant and costly wood or gum entirely different from the medicine which we know by that name. It is believed to have been brought from India, and was used in embalming the dead. John 19:39. Lign-aloes — that is, wood-aloes, Num 24:6 — is a translation of the same Hebrew word, but probably means a different plant. Balaam appears to refer to a well-known tree whose
qualities might illustrate the condition of the Israelites — possibly, to some kind of odoriferous cedar. Aloes (Aquilaria agallocha. After Dr. Birdwood.)