Difference between revisions of "Anointing"

<p> [[Anointing]] in Holy [[Scripture]] is either: I., with oil; or II., with the Holy Ghost. I. ''With Oil.'' 1. Anointing the body or head with oil was a common practice with the Jews, as with other oriental nations. &nbsp;Deuteronomy 28:40; &nbsp;Ruth 3:3; &nbsp;Micah 6:15. [[Abstinence]] from it was a sign of mourning. &nbsp;2 Samuel 14:2; &nbsp;Daniel 10:3; &nbsp;Matthew 6:17. Anointing the head with oil or ointment seems also to have been a mark of respect sometimes paid by a host to his guests. &nbsp;Luke 7:46 and &nbsp;Psalms 23:5. The bodies of the dead were often anointed, not with a view to preserve them from corruption, but to impart a fragrancy to the linen in which the corpse was wrapped. &nbsp;Mark 14:8; &nbsp;Mark 16:1; &nbsp;Luke 23:56; &nbsp;John 19:39-40. 2. Anointing with oil was a rite of inauguration into each of the three typical offices of the Jewish commonwealth, ( ''A'' ) [[Prophets]] were occasionally anointed to their office, &nbsp;1 Kings 19:16, and are called messiahs, or anointed. &nbsp;1 Chronicles 16:22; &nbsp;Psalms 105:15. ( ''B'' ) Priests, at the first institution of the [[Levitical]] priesthood, were all anointed to their offices, the sons of Aaron as well as Aaron himself, &nbsp;Exodus 40:15; &nbsp;Numbers 3:3; but afterwards, anointing seems not to have been repeated at the consecration of ordinary priests, but to have been especially reserved for the high priest, &nbsp;Exodus 29:29; &nbsp;Leviticus 16:32; so that "the priest that is anointed," &nbsp;Leviticus 4:3, is generally thought to mean the high priest, ( ''C'' ) Kings. Anointing was the principal and divinely appointed ceremony in the inauguration of the Jewish kings. &nbsp;1 Samuel 9:16; &nbsp;1 Samuel 10:1; &nbsp;1 Kings 1:34; &nbsp;1 Kings 1:39. The rite was sometimes performed more than once. David was thrice anointed to be king. After the separation into two kingdoms, the kings both of Judah and of [[Israel]] seem still to have been anointed. &nbsp;2 Kings 9:3; &nbsp;2 Kings 11:12. ( ''D'' ) Inanimate objects also were anointed with oil in token of their being set apart for religious service. Thus Jacob anointed a pillar at Bethel, &nbsp;Genesis 31:13; and at the introduction of the [[Mosaic]] economy, the tabernacle and all its furniture were consecrated by anointing. &nbsp;Exodus 30:26 to &nbsp;Exodus 28:3. Ecclesiastical. Anointing with oil in the name of the Lord is prescribed by James to be used together with prayer, by the elders of the church, for the recovery of the sick. &nbsp;James 5:14. Analogous to this is the anointing with oil practised by the twelve. &nbsp;Mark 6:13. II. ''With The Holy Ghost.'' 1. In the Old [[Testament]] a [[Deliverer]] is promised under the title of Messiah, or Anointed, &nbsp;Psalms 2:2; &nbsp;Daniel 9:24-26; and the nature of his anointing is described to be spiritual, with the Holy Ghost. &nbsp;Isaiah 61:1; see &nbsp;Luke 4:18. In the New Testament Jesus of [[Nazareth]] is shown to be the Messiah or Christ, or anointed of the Old Testament, &nbsp;John 1:41; &nbsp;Acts 9:22; &nbsp;Acts 17:2-3; &nbsp;Acts 18:4-5; &nbsp;Acts 18:28; and the historical fact of his being anointed with the Holy Ghost is asserted and recorded. &nbsp;Acts 10:38; &nbsp;Acts 4:27; &nbsp;John 1:32-33. 2. [[Spiritual]] anointing with the Holy Ghost is conferred also upon [[Christians]] by God. &nbsp;2 Corinthians 1:21, and they are described as having an unction from the Holy One, by which they know all things. &nbsp;1 John 2:20; &nbsp;1 John 2:27. </p>

<p> '''Anointing.''' Anointing in Holy Scripture, is either, I. Material - with oil - or II. Spiritual - with the Holy Ghost. </p> <p> I. '''Material.''' </p> <p> 1. '''Ordinary.''' Anointing the body or head with oil was a common practice with the Jews, as with other Oriental nations.; &nbsp;Ruth 3:3; &nbsp;Micah 6:15. Anointing the head with oil or ointment seems also to have been a mark of respect sometimes paid by a host to his guests. &nbsp;Luke 7:46 and &nbsp;Psalms 23:5. </p> <p> 2. '''Official.''' It was a rite of inauguration into each of the three typical offices of the Jewish commonwealth. </p> <p> a. Prophets were occasionally anointed to their office, &nbsp;1 Kings 19:16, and were called messiahs, or anointed. &nbsp;1 Chronicles 16:22; &nbsp;Psalms 105:15. </p> <p> b. Priests, at the first institution of the Levitical priesthood, were all anointed to their offices, &nbsp;Exodus 40:15; &nbsp;Numbers 3:3, but afterwards anointing seems to have been specially reserved for the high priest, &nbsp;Exodus 29:29; &nbsp;Leviticus 16:32, so that "the priest that is anointed," &nbsp;Leviticus 4:3, is generally thought to mean the high priest. </p> <p> c. Kings. Anointing was the principal and divinely-appointed ceremony in the inauguration of the Jewish Kings. &nbsp;1 Samuel 9:16; &nbsp;1 Samuel 10:1; &nbsp;1 Kings 1:34; &nbsp;1 Kings 1:39. The rite was sometimes performed more than once. David was thrice anointed. </p> <p> d. Inanimate objects also were anointed with oil, in token of their being set apart for religious service. Thus Jacob anointed a pillar at Bethel. (&nbsp;Genesis 31:13; &nbsp;Exodus 30:26-28. </p> <p> 3. '''Ecclesiastical.''' Anointing with oil is prescribed by St. James to be used for the recovery of the sick. &nbsp;James 5:14. Analogous to this is the anointing with oil practiced by the twelve. &nbsp;Mark 6:13. </p> <p> II. '''Spiritual.''' </p> <p> In the Old Testament, a Deliverer is promised under the title of [[Messiah]] , or Anointed, &nbsp;Psalms 2:2; &nbsp;Daniel 9:25-26, and the nature of his anointing is described to be spiritual, with the Holy Ghost. &nbsp;Isaiah 61:1. See &nbsp;Luke 4:18. </p> <p> In the New Testament, '''Jesus of Nazareth''' is shown to be the [[Messiah]] , or [[Christ]] , or [[Anointed]] , of the Old Testament, &nbsp;John 1:41; &nbsp;Acts 9:22; &nbsp;Acts 17:2-3; &nbsp;Acts 18:4; &nbsp;Acts 18:28, and the historical fact of his being anointed with the Holy Ghost is asserted and recorded. &nbsp;John 1:32-33; &nbsp;Acts 4:27; &nbsp;Acts 10:38. [[Christ]] was anointed as prophet priest and king. </p> <p> Spiritual anointing with the Holy Ghost is conferred also upon Christians by God. &nbsp;2 Corinthians 1:21. "Anointing" expresses the sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit upon Christians who are priests and kings unto God. </p>

<p> ''''' a ''''' - ''''' noint´ing ''''' : A distinction was made by the ancient Hebrews between anointing with oil in private use, as in making one's toilet (סוּך , <i> ''''' ṣūkh ''''' </i> ), and anointing as a religious rite (משׁח , <i> ''''' māshaḥ ''''' </i> ). </p> 1. [[Ordinary]] Use <p> (1) As regards its secular or ordinary use, the native olive oil, alone or mixed with perfumes, was commonly used for toilet purposes, the very poor naturally reserving it for special occasions only (Rth 3:3). The fierce protracted heat and biting lime dust of [[Palestine]] made the oil very soothing to the skin, and it was applied freely to exposed parts of the body, especially to the face (&nbsp;Psalm 104:15 ). </p> <p> (2) The practice was in vogue before David's time, and traces of it may be found throughout the Old Testament (see &nbsp;Deuteronomy 28:40; Rth 3:3; &nbsp;2 Samuel 12:20; &nbsp;2 Samuel 14:2; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 28:15; &nbsp;Ezekiel 16:9; &nbsp;Micah 6:15; &nbsp;Daniel 10:3 ) and in the New Testament (&nbsp;Matthew 6:17 , etc.). Indeed it seems to have been a part of the daily toilet throughout the East. </p> <p> (3) To abstain from it was one token of mourning (&nbsp;2 Samuel 14:2; compare &nbsp;Matthew 6:17 ), and to resume it a sign that the mourning was ended (&nbsp;2 Samuel 12:20; &nbsp;2 Samuel 14:2; &nbsp;Daniel 10:3; [[Judith]] 10:3). It often accompanied the bath (Rth 3:3; &nbsp;2 Samuel 12:20; &nbsp;Ezekiel 16:9; [[Susanna]] 17), and was a customary part of the preparation for a feast (&nbsp;Ecclesiastes 9:8; &nbsp;Psalm 23:5 ). One way of showing honor to a guest was to anoint his head with oil (&nbsp;Psalm 23:5; &nbsp;Luke 7:46 ); a rarer and more striking way was to anoint his feet (&nbsp;Luke 7:38 ). In &nbsp;James 5:14 , we have an instance of anointing with oil for medicinal purposes, for which see Oil . </p> 2. [[Religious]] Use <p> Anointing as a religious rite was practiced throughout the ancient East in application both to persons and to things. </p> <p> (1) It was observed in [[Canaan]] long before the Hebrew conquest, and, accordingly, Weinel (Stade's <i> Zeitschrift </i> , Xviii , 50ff) holds that, as the use of oil for general purposes in Israel was an agricultural custom borrowed from the Canaanites, so the anointing with sacred oil was an outgrowth from its regular use for toilet purposes. It seems more in accordance with the known facts of the case and the terms used in description to accept the view set forth by Robertson Smith ( <i> Religion of the Semites </i> , 2nd ed., 233, 383ff; compare Wellhausen, <i> Reste des arabischen Heidenthums </i> , 2nd ed., 125ff) and to believe that the <i> ''''' ṣūkh ''''' </i> or use of oil for toilet purposes, was of agricultural and secular origin, and that the use of oil for sacred purposes, <i> ''''' māshaḥ ''''' </i> , was in origin nomadic and sacrificial. Robertson Smith finds the origin of the sacred anointing in the very ancient custom of smearing the sacred fat on the altar ( <i> ''''' maccēbhāh ''''' </i> ), and claims, rightly it would seem, that from the first there was a distinct and consistent usage, distinguishing the two terms as above. </p> <p> (2) The primary meaning of <i> ''''' māshaḥ ''''' </i> in Hebrew, which is borne out by the Arabic, seems to have been "to daub" or "smear." It is used of painting a ceiling in &nbsp;Jeremiah 22:14 , of anointing a shield in &nbsp;Isaiah 21:5 , and is, accordingly, consistently applied to sacred furniture, like the altar, in &nbsp;Exodus 29:36 and &nbsp; Daniel 9:24 , and to the sacred pillar in &nbsp;Genesis 31:13 : "where thou <i> anointedst </i> a pillar." </p> <p> (3) The most significant uses of <i> ''''' māshaḥ ''''' </i> , however, are found in its application, not to sacred <i> things </i> , but to certain sacred <i> persons </i> . The oldest and most sacred of these, it would seem, was the anointing of the <i> king </i> , by pouring oil upon his head at his coronation, a ceremony regarded as sacred from the earliest times, and observed religiously not in Israel only, but in Egypt and elsewhere (see &nbsp;Judges 9:8 , &nbsp;Judges 9:15; &nbsp;1 Samuel 9:16; &nbsp;1 Samuel 10:1; &nbsp;2 Samuel 19:10; &nbsp;1 Kings 1:39 , &nbsp;1 Kings 1:45; &nbsp;2 Kings 9:3 , &nbsp;2 Kings 9:6; &nbsp;2 Kings 11:12 ). Indeed such anointing appears to have been reserved exclusively for the king in the earliest times, which accounts for the fact that "the Lord's anointed" became a synonym for "king" (see &nbsp;1 Samuel 12:3 , &nbsp;1 Samuel 12:5; &nbsp;1 Samuel 26:11; &nbsp;2 Samuel 1:14; &nbsp;Psalm 20:6 ). It is thought by some that the practice originated in Egypt, and it is known to have been observed as a rite in Canaan at a very early day. <i> Tell el-Amarna [[Letters]] </i> 37 records the anointing of a king. </p> <p> (4) Among the Hebrews it was believed not only that it effected a transference to the anointed one of something of the holiness and virtue of the deity in whose name and by whose representative the rite was performed, but also that it imparted a special endowment of the spirit of [[Yahweh]] (compare &nbsp;1 Samuel 16:13; &nbsp;Isaiah 61:1 ). Hence the profound reverence for the king as a sacred personage, "the anointed" (Hebrew, <i> ''''' meshı̄aḥ ''''' </i> <i> YHWH </i> ), which passed over into our language through the Greek <i> ''''' Christos ''''' </i> , and appears as "Christ". </p> <p> (5) In what is known today as the Priestly Code, the high priest is spoken of as "anointed" (&nbsp;Exodus 29:7; &nbsp;Leviticus 4:3; &nbsp;Leviticus 8:12 ), and, in passages regarded by some as later additions to the Priestly Code, other priests also are thus spoken of (&nbsp;Exodus 30:30; &nbsp;Exodus 40:13-15 ). [[Elijah]] was told to anoint [[Elisha]] as a prophet (&nbsp;1 Kings 19:16 ), but seems never to have done so. &nbsp;1 Kings 19:16 gives us the only recorded instance of such a thing as the anointing of a prophet. &nbsp; Isaiah 61:1 is purely metaphorical (compare [[Dillmann]] on &nbsp; Leviticus 8:12-14 with <i> ICC </i> on &nbsp; Numbers 3:3; see also Nowack, <i> Lehrbuch der hebraischen Archaologie </i> , II, 124). </p> Literature <p> <i> Jewish Encyclopedia </i> , article "Anointing"; <i> BJ </i> , IV, ix, 10, <i> DB </i> , article "Anointing," etc. </p>