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Topic:
Thoughts And Things Of The Bible -- Anoint
The practice of anointing with perfumed oil was common among the
Hebrews.
(1.) The act of anointing was significant of consecration to a holy or
sacred use; hence the anointing of the high priest (Ex. 29:29; Lev. 4:3)
and of the sacred vessels (Ex. 30:26). The high priest and the king are
thus called "the anointed" (Lev. 4:3, 5, 16; 6:20; Ps.
132:10). Anointing a king was equivalent to crowning him (1 Sam. 16:13;
2 Sam. 2:4, etc.). Prophets were also anointed (1 Kings 19:16; 1 Chr.
16:22; Ps. 105:15). The expression, "anoint the shield" (Isa.
21:5), refers to the custom of rubbing oil on the leather of the shield
so as to make it supple and fit for use in war.
(2.) Anointing was also an act of hospitality (Luke 7:38, 46). It was
the custom of the Jews in like manner to anoint themselves with oil, as
a means of refreshing or invigorating their bodies (Deut. 28:40; Ruth
3:3; 2 Sam. 14:2; Ps. 104:15, etc.). This custom is continued among the
Arabians to the present day.
(3.) Oil was used also for medicinal purposes. It was applied to the
sick, and also to wounds (Ps. 109:18; Isa. 1:6; Mark 6:13; James 5:14).
(4.) The bodies of the dead were sometimes anointed (Mark 14:8; Luke
23:56).
(5.) The promised Deliverer is twice called the "Anointed" or
Messiah (Ps. 2:2; Dan. 9:25, 26), because he was anointed with the Holy
Ghost (Isa. 61:1), figuratively styled the "oil of gladness"
(Ps. 45:7; Heb. 1:9). Jesus of Nazareth is this anointed One (John 1:41;
Acts 9:22; 17:2, 3; 18:5, 28), the Messiah of the Old Testament.
Derived from Easton's and Smith's Bible Dictionaries
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