Some Orthodox Jewish men grow their beards as a sign of piety and devotion to God. In fact, until the 20th century, most men in most cultures had beards, and it was only in the last century or so that beards have become less popular. > Faith". Aarons staff blossoms (Numbers 17:8). It is like oil of great worth poured on the head, flowing down through the hair on the face, even the face of Aaron, and flowing down to his coat. In personal life he is a proud father of a boy and twin girls. King Hezekiah is mentioned in the Bible as having a beard. By unity the Church, as a whole, lives its life of consecration, and effectively ministers in the priesthood assigned it. Psalms 133:2 Context. They likely didnt use a professional barbers razor. It ran down Aarons beard and on to the collar of his robes. In the Book of Leviticus 19:27, the Bible instructs the people of Israel on how they ought to carry themselves. Whether for fashion, religion, or simply because they were more common in those days, beards were a big part of the biblical world. The Lord is not likely to use for his glory those who are devoid of love; they lack the anointing needful to make them priests unto the Lord. In the same verse, the Bible talks of the cuttings in the flesh. 1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! Today, a small white mosque stands on top Mount Hor, on the spot said to be the burial place of Aaron. It ran down on his beard and on the collar of his robe. Why? Was Aaron tired of being in the shadow of his younger brother? It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down on the collar of his robe. Joe Whether or not to grow a beard is a personal decision for each man. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! The oil was diffusive; it rested not on Aaron's head, but flowed down to the skirts of his garments. The answer is found in Psalm 133:2: "It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments.." (KJV) I'd say it was pretty long, right? This can make it difficult to keep track of everyone in the bible, and why they are important to the faith. Beards were seen as a sign of masculinity, virility, and eternal life, and most men wanted to take advantage of that. Not much is known about him prior to this point. Thank you! Thereafter, he gives him various laws, one of which concerns cutting hair. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. It was objective reality for them and it is an objective reality for us. Joseph also had a crumb-catcher until the Pharaoh turned him into a sassy Egyptian. And it is more than objectively good, it is also experientially pleasant, pleasing to the hearts of both God and man. "And he [Moses] poured some of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him in order to make him holy." (Lev 8:12) In the ancient Near East, priests were the religious functionaries, the ones . Verse 2. Moses is the man sent by God; Moses receives the law; Moses leads the Israelites to the Promised Land. --Alexander Balmain Bruce, in "The Training of the Twelve", 1877. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled out the hair from my head and beard, and sat down appalled.. Wesley's Psalms 133:2 Bible Commentary. (NASB) Ps. The answer is found in Exodus 30:22-33. It is like the precious ointment upon the head. He was a priest and he played a key role in leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. John stands in the line of the Levitical priesthood. Pulling or shaving off a beard could be a sign of being a captive or in mourning. Aaron was far from perfect. Is this fair? . The Reverend Dr. Kyle Norman is the Rector of St. Pauls Cathedral, located in Kamloops BC, Canada. Abraham, Moses, and Jesus were all considered strong and powerful men, and beards may have been seen as a way to express that power. It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes. King Hezekiah was the king of Judah who lived in the 8th century BC. Moses wore a beard, obviously, and Aaron's beard is specifically mentioned in Psalm 133. Does the Pandemic Still Affect Church Attendance? Proud member John the Baptist was a prophet who lived in the 1st century BC. . Yes, thats where. One day perhaps you will understood how much this meant to me to read this today. The fact that the symbol of Aarons priestly calling is placed alongside the divine Law and the miraculous manna is a testimony to the importance of this man for Israels history and the establishment of their religious sacrificial system. God could have used just one spice, but He did not do that. Verse 2. Unity will, in time, make its way from a few to the whole, especially from the leaders in a church to the rest of its members. That ran down that went down, etc. A beard with uncut corners signified to everyone that Jesus was Jewish. Some people see them as a symbol of masculinity and power, while others see them as unhygienic or simply outdated. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times, 4 Ways the Parable of the Sower Encourages Spiritual Growth. At his birth, Zechariah declares that John will be the prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him (Luke 1:76). It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! Precious ointment upon the head. Its possible that this meant it was never to be shaved, or that it was only to be trimmed in a certain way, meaning that even Aarons beard probably didnt know a barbers razor. Magnificence, misnamed by churls extravagance and waste, is the invariable attribute of all true love. The spices were mixed together in olive oil. Largely they are filled with the names of people we never read about. He is also known for his long, flowing beard. If you would like to write a letter to the editor, you can do so here. Most men can grow some sort of facial hair, but the thickness and fullness of beards vary from person to person. . It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, Even Aaron's beard: That went down to the It is good and pleasant when God's people live together in peace! BibleStudyTools.com, Nazirite. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. 133:2 Ointment It is no less grateful and refreshing than that oil which was poured forth upon Aaron's head at the time of his consecration to the priestly office. This blessing is theologically rich and spiritually encouraging. Beards were seen as a sign of wisdom in biblical times, and many of the most important figures in the Bible such as Abraham, Moses, and Jesus were bearded men. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. It is. Below are 6 things that you should know about this important biblical character. In contrast, Romans often shaved their facial hair. Furthermore, as Aaron is born of the tribe of Levi, this means he is the first Levitical priest on record. Thank you. Grumbling was a common occurrence during the Exodus. This oil was both liquid and fragrantit would flow and it would smell, and it seems that both properties included an element of symbolism. View all posts by James Hutton. Long hair was seen as a disgrace in ancient times, which is why Paul says that it is a dishonor for a man to have long hair. It is the common anointing which flows down even to the skirts of the garment of our High Priest which marks our being brethren. Some people believe that beards were also seen as a sign of holiness in biblical times. It also doesnt mean that your beard contributes to your wisdom. 133:1-2. coming down upon . What a sacred thing must brotherly love be when it can be likened to an oil which must never be poured on any man but on the Lord's high priest alone! You can follow Penny on herblogand on Instagram@pennynoyes. The second Scripture is found in Psalm 133: "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Was there anything special about Aarons beard? > to no avail. It is like fragrant ointment poured on the head, running down upon the beard, running down upon the beard of Aaron, and flowing on the collar of his robes. It is like the precious oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard. It was a feature that was very likely to strike his mind; for he, too, was a wasteful man in his way. 33:1. On and on it goes. Individuals who had taken a Nazirite pledge (Numbers 6) did not use a razor on any part of their head. The manna declares Gods miraculous sustenance for the people, the tablets of the 10 commandments contain the divine law which would serve to govern their lives in the Promised Land, and Aarons staff testified to the spiritual priesthood the Lord raised up for the people. Beards In affliction Was shorn Jeremiah 41:5 Verse Concepts He has mixed different spices together and called it the body of Jesus Christ the church Christians! The precious ointment that ran down. If you have any questions, please feel free to send me a message. This budding staff is then placed in the ark of the covenant. Some have fallen into sin to the point of routinely committing evil. He was not only anointed himself, but he is our anointer. He holds a doctorate in Spiritual formation and is a sought-after writer, speaker, and retreat leader. At one point in their journey, however, a group of Levites revolt against Moses and Aaron believing that the two brothers have unduly exalted themselves. Aarons Blessing is found in Numbers 6:22-26. What Miracles Did Pope John Paul II Perform? Aaron's beard (Hypericum calycinum) is an evergreen shrub worth growing for its beautiful foliage and bright yellow, cup-shaped flowers. The oil was poured on Aarons head and flowed downward, from the top of the head, to the beard, to the collar, and beyond. They are these --, Verse 2-3. Even today these words convey Gods blessing upon the beloved community of faith. Archeologists discovered it in Syria on a wall in the Dura-Europos church, one of the oldest Christian churches in the world. His beard is mentioned in Leviticus 10:6 as being specially consecrated. 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