Verse 8: Aloe is a fragrant wood. When made into a powder, it was used to prepare a dead body for burial. It was often mixed with myrrh.

Cassia was a spice used to make holy oil. It may be a form of what we call cinnamon.

Myrrh was used in the ancient Israelite temple quite often. Some uses were incense, anointing oil, purification, and embalming.

Verse 9: Ophir was a place in the Bible, most likely in Southern Arabia or on the eastern coast of Africa. It was known for being rich with gold.