In biblical times, beds were not only functional items for rest but also symbols of luxury and comfort, often enhanced with perfumes and fragrances. The use of perfumes on beds is mentioned in several passages, reflecting the cultural practices and values of the ancient Near East.

Scriptural References:

1. Proverbs 7:17 · "I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, with aloes, and with cinnamon." This verse illustrates the seductive allure associated with a perfumed bed, used here in the context of temptation and immorality. The mention of myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon highlights the use of costly and exotic spices, indicating wealth and indulgence.

2. Song of Solomon 3:6-7 · "Who is this coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the fragrant powders of the merchant? Behold, it is Solomon’s carriage, escorted by sixty warriors from the valiant of Israel." While this passage primarily describes a royal procession, it underscores the cultural significance of perfumes, which were also used to scent beds and other personal spaces, enhancing the atmosphere of opulence and romance.

3. Esther 2:12 · "Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics." Although this verse does not directly mention beds, it provides context for the extensive use of perfumes in personal grooming and living spaces, including beds, especially in royal settings.

Cultural Context:

In ancient Israel and surrounding regions, the use of perfumes and aromatic substances was a common practice among the wealthy and the elite. Perfumed beds were a luxury, signifying not only personal wealth but also a desire for comfort and sensory pleasure. The ingredients used, such as myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon, were often imported and expensive, making them accessible primarily to those of high status.

The practice of perfuming beds can be seen as part of a broader cultural appreciation for fragrances, which were used in various aspects of life, including religious rituals, personal grooming, and domestic settings. The emphasis on fragrance in the biblical text reflects a worldview that values beauty, sensuality, and the enjoyment of God's creation.

Moral and Spiritual Implications:

From a moral and spiritual perspective, the biblical references to perfumed beds often carry a dual message. On one hand, they reflect the legitimate enjoyment of God's blessings, including the beauty and pleasure of the senses. On the other hand, they serve as a caution against the misuse of such pleasures, as seen in Proverbs 7:17, where the perfumed bed becomes a symbol of temptation and moral downfall.

The Bible encourages believers to enjoy the good things God has provided while maintaining a heart of gratitude and a life of holiness. The use of perfumes and other luxuries should be balanced with a commitment to righteousness and a focus on spiritual rather than merely material wealth.Proverbs 7:17
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezekiel 23:41
And sat on a stately bed, and a table prepared before it, whereupon you have set my incense and my oil.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Joy
... 1:1. This made the martyrs' flames beds of roses ... Other joys, when in excess, often
cause loathing, we are apt ... with rosebuds, and bathe in the perfumed waters of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/8 joy.htm

The Seventh Commandment
... an emblem of a harlot; who is perfumed with powders ... A play-house is often a preface
to a whorehouse ... observes, that many have on their death-beds confessed, with ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 7 the seventh commandment.htm

The Talking Book
... signed with our own Father's hand, and perfumed with our ... And how often the book has
answered enquiries ... It lay like a slumbering angel amidst the beds of spices ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the talking book.htm

The Talking Book
... signed with our own Father's hand, and perfumed with our ... And, how often the book
has answered enquiries ... It lay like a slumbering angel amidst the beds of spices ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the talking book.htm

The Redeemer's Prayer
... his censer, and waving it before him, he perfumed the air ... of frankincense, which
grow in the beds of spices ... we have remembered, that though we often draw near ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the redeemers prayer.htm

The Royal Pair in their Glorious Chariot
... which are at the same time chariots and beds. ... of the wilderness like pillars of smoke,
perfumed with myrrh ... It often happens that oriental monarchs of immense ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/the royal pair in their.htm

Altogether Lovely
... and the songs which mingle on the dying beds of saints ... Yea, he is altogether lovely."
It has often been thus ... them now and then, but it has perfumed all their ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/altogether lovely.htm

The Best Things Work for Good to the Godly
... and the sun is almost setting, God often causes a ... Christian, whose life is enriched
and perfumed with mercy. ... angels are about the saints' sick beds to comfort ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a divine cordial/the best things work for.htm

The Close of the Theban Empire --(Continued)
... The prescribed gold ring was often replaced by ... linen, folding and arm chairs,
state-beds, and sometimes ... shoulder, asperged the crowd with perfumed water; and ...
/.../chapter ithe close of the.htm

The Resurrection
... we are not so sure to rise out of our beds as we ... In this life there is often a defect
of members: the eye is lost ... Are you perfumed with this sweet spice of love ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/3 the resurrection.htm

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