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Concept
Holy anointing oil
Summary
The holy anointing oil (shemen ha-mishchah) formed an integral part of the ordination of the priesthood and the High Priest as well as in the consecration of the articles of the Tabernacle (Exodus 30:26) and subsequent temples in Jerusalem. The primary purpose of anointing with the holy anointing oil was to sanctify, to set the anointed person or object apart as qodesh, or "holy" (Exodus 30:29).
Originally, the oil was used exclusively for the priests and the Tabernacle articles, but its use was later extended to include kings (1 Samuel 10:1). It was forbidden to be used on an outsider (Exodus 30:33) or to be used on the body of any common person (Exodus 30:32a) and the Israelites were forbidden to duplicate any like it for themselves (Exodus 30:32b).
Some segments of Christianity have continued the practice of using holy anointing oil as a devotional practice, as well as in various liturgies.
A number of religious groups have traditions of continuity of the holy anointing oil, with part of the original oil prepared by Moses remaining to this day. These groups include rabbinical Judaism, the Armenian Church, the Assyrian Church of the East, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Coptic Church, the Saint Thomas Nazrani churches, and others.
The holy anointing oil described in Exodus 30:22–25 was created from:
Pure myrrh (mār-dərōr) 500 shekels (about )
Sweet cinnamon (qīnnəmōn-besem) 250 shekels (about )
"Fragrant cane" (qənē-ḇōsem, sometimes translated as calamus) 250 shekels (about )
Cassia (qīddā) 500 shekels (about )
Olive oil (šemen zayīt) one hin (about , or )
The Hebrew term Messiah (in Greek Christos, 'Christ') means "the anointed one", and relates to anyone anointed (dedicated to God). The person thus anointed might be a king, a priest, or a prophet.
Customs varied in the cultures of the Middle East. However, anointing with special oil in Israel was either a strictly priestly or kingly right. When a prophet was anointed, it was because he was first a priest.
Official source
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