ANOINTING IN THE BIBLE
Anointing the head was an ancient Israelite practice of crowning a new king by pouring a jar of oil over his head. This ceremony served to set someone apart as sacred or divinely chosen. Not only kings (1 Sam. 16:13), but prophets (1 Kgs 19:16) and priests (Ex. 28:41) were anointed. Even sacred objects such as the altar and the utensils in the Tabernacle were anointed (Lev 8:10). Why was pouring oil over the head the primary means of indicating a person’s holiness?
A SURPRISING STORY OF ORIGINS
Amazingly, the anointing of kings’ heads likely derived from the soldierly practice of anointing one’s shield before battle. This is described in Isaiah 21:5. Ancient Israelite shields were made of thick leather stretched over a wooden frame. Lathering the leather with oil made it more supple, thus less likely to tear and more effective in combat. The king of Israel was anointed just as the warrior’s shield in the hope that he would be a supple and effective defender of the people.
STUDY THE HEBREW BIBLE
Jesus was announced to be the defender and the savior of humanity. By understanding Biblical Hebrew and the written word, you can appreciate truly what it means to be Christian. Study the Bible in Hebrew and discover the Holy Scriptures from a whole new perspective. Enroll today!
