Topical Bible: Ointment: Sacred: Compounded by Bezaleel

◄ Ointment: Sacred: Compounded by Bezaleel ►

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The sacred ointment, also known as the holy anointing oil, holds a significant place in the religious practices and rituals of ancient Israel as described in the Old Testament. This ointment was meticulously compounded by Bezaleel, a craftsman endowed with divine wisdom and skill, as part of the instructions given to Moses for the consecration of the Tabernacle and its furnishings.

Biblical Instructions and Composition

The formulation of the sacred ointment is detailed in the Book of Exodus. God commanded Moses to create this holy anointing oil using specific ingredients, which were to be blended according to a sacred formula. The instructions are found in Exodus 30:22-25 :

"Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Take the finest 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.'"

Purpose and Use

The sacred ointment was used to anoint the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. This anointing was a means of consecrating these items, setting them apart as holy and dedicated to the service of the LORD. The anointing oil was also used to consecrate Aaron and his sons, marking their ordination into the priesthood.

Exodus 30:26-30 describes this process:

"Use this oil to anoint the Tent of Meeting, the Ark of the Testimony, the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its accessories, 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."

Restrictions and Significance

The sacred ointment was not to be replicated for personal use, and its composition was to remain unique to its holy purpose. The LORD explicitly commanded that this oil was not to be poured on anyone's body, nor was anyone to make a blend like it for themselves. This restriction underscored the sanctity and exclusivity of the anointing oil. Exodus 30:31-33 states:

"Tell the Israelites, ‘This will be My sacred anointing oil for the generations to come. It must not be used to anoint an ordinary person, and you must not make anything like it with the 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.’"

Bezaleel's Role

Bezaleel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, was divinely chosen and filled with the Spirit of God to carry out the intricate work of crafting the Tabernacle and its sacred objects, including the holy anointing oil. His role as the chief artisan is highlighted in Exodus 31:1-5 :

"Then the LORD said to Moses, 'See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in all kinds of craftsmanship, to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every craft.'"

Bezaleel's craftsmanship and adherence to divine instructions ensured that the sacred ointment was prepared according to God's precise specifications, maintaining its sanctity and purpose within the religious life of Israel.

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Exodus 37:1,29
And Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half was the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it:
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