The Balm in Gilead

[akime6]

Has anyone ever read "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe? One of the lines mentions Gilead. Here is the stanza.

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil!--prophet still, if bird or devil!
Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate, yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted--
On this home by horror haunted--tell me truly, I implore:
Is there--is there balm in Gilead?--tell me--tell me I implore!"
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."


Curiously, Gilead is the homeland of Roland Deschain in the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. The series was inspired by the poem "Childe Roland To The Dark Tower Came" by Robert Browning. Plus, there's a website called The Balm in Gilead, but it's about AIDS. Is this just a coincidence, or is there more to it? Also, what does Poe mean by Gilead? The majority of that poem was confusing anyway. If anyone has any info, please share it.