Topical Bible: Anointing Oil: Formula of, Given by Moses

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The anointing oil, as prescribed by God through Moses, holds significant importance in the religious and ceremonial practices of ancient Israel. This sacred oil was used to consecrate the tabernacle, its furnishings, and the priests, setting them apart for divine service. The formula for this holy anointing oil is detailed in the Book of Exodus, reflecting its sanctity and the care with which it was to be prepared and used.

Biblical Reference:

The specific instructions for the preparation of the anointing oil are found in Exodus 30:22-25 :

"Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Take the following fine spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant cane, 500 shekels of cassia—all according to the sanctuary shekel—and a hin of olive oil. Prepare from these a holy anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer; it will be a sacred anointing oil.'"

Components and Symbolism:

1. Liquid Myrrh (500 shekels): Myrrh, a resinous gum, was valued for its fragrance and preservative qualities. Symbolically, it represents purification and was often used in embalming, pointing to the sanctifying and preserving power of God.

2. Fragrant Cinnamon (250 shekels): Cinnamon, known for its sweet and spicy aroma, signifies the sweetness and attractiveness of a life dedicated to God. It also represents the warmth and fervor of divine love.

3. Fragrant Cane (250 shekels): Also known as calamus, this aromatic reed symbolizes uprightness and integrity. It reflects the moral and spiritual rectitude expected of those consecrated to God's service.

4. Cassia (500 shekels): Cassia, similar to cinnamon, was used for its fragrance and medicinal properties. It signifies humility and submission, as the plant grows low to the ground, reminding the anointed of their humble service to God.

5. Olive Oil (a hin): Olive oil serves as the base of the anointing oil, representing the Holy Spirit's presence and empowerment. It was a common symbol of joy, health, and the richness of God's blessings.

Usage and Restrictions:

The anointing oil was to be used exclusively for sacred purposes. Exodus 30:26-30 outlines its application:

"Use this oil to anoint the Tent of Meeting, the Ark of the Testimony, the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its utensils, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. You are to consecrate them so that they will be most holy. Whatever touches them will be holy. Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them to serve Me as priests."

The oil was not to be replicated for personal use, as stated in Exodus 30:32-33 :

"It must not be poured on the bodies of ordinary men, and you must not make anything with this same formula. It is holy, and it must be holy to you. Anyone who mixes perfume like it or puts it on an outsider shall be cut off from his people."

Theological Significance:

The anointing oil symbolizes the setting apart of people and objects for God's exclusive use, underscoring the holiness required in worship and service. It prefigures the anointing of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, where believers are consecrated and empowered for ministry. The careful adherence to the formula and its restricted use highlight the reverence and obedience expected in approaching the divine.

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Exodus 30:22-25,31-33
Moreover the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
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Library

The Deputation from Jerusalem - the Three Sects of the Pharisees ...
... undertook, is probably only a rhetorical enlargement of some simple formula. ... meat
and wine, even from the common Eastern anointing with oil; used mystic ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ii the deputation from.htm

Appendix xvi. On the Jewish views About Demons' and the Demonised ...
... are washed in the morning, as well as in regard to oil for anointing, which must ...
water), but they are to be accompanied by the following formula: Qapa, Qapa ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix xvi on the jewish.htm

The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit
... symbols used in speaking of the Spirit are oil, fire, water ... as that in connection
with the Baptismal Formula, just cited. ... This anointing stands for three things ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrine of the holy.htm

The Holy Spirit in Relation to the Father and the Son. ...
... This surprises us alike by its anticipation of a later formula, and by ... from God,
the throne of the everlasting kingdom, and the oil of anointing above His ...
/.../the demonstration of the apostolic preaching/chapter 2 the holy spirit 2.htm

The Epistle of St. James
... 16 Make no mistake about this, my beloved brothers: ^17 all we are given is good,
and all our endowments are faultless, descending from above, from the Father ...
/.../moffat/the general epistles james peter and judas/the epistle of st james.htm

Adoption --The Spirit and the Cry
... distinct as if it were expressed in a set formula. ... him the Holy Spirit dwelt without
measure, anointing him for ... Spirit he was anointed with the oil of gladness ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 24 1878/adoptionthe spirit and the cry.htm

Selections from the Work against Heresies by Irenaeus, Bishop of ...
... up to the moment of death, pouring oil and water ... as it now is, might be the Trinitarian
formula in Aramaic ... for this rite would be the Christian anointing of the ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/selections from the work against 2.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... accompanying the figures contain a religious formula together with ... vines which had
supplied him with oil and wine ... of this migration, which is given summarily in ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm