Not the extremity of them, as our version inclines to; for not so great a quantity of oil was poured upon him; nor would it have been decent to have his clothes thus greased from top to bottom; but the upper part of his garment, the top of his coat, on which the beard lay, as Zarchi; the neck or collar of it, as Kimchi and Ben Melech; the hole in which the head went through when it was put on, about which there was a band, that it might not be rent: Exodus 28:32 39:23; where the Septuagint use the same word as here. Aaron is not simply the sidekick to Moses. Another explanation is that beards were seen as a sign of masculinity and virility. It will be on the seventh day that he shall shave off all his hair: he shall shave his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair. Magnificence, misnamed by churls extravagance and waste, is the invariable attribute of all true love. It is like precious oil on the head, descending to the beard even to Aarons beard and flowing down to the edge of his robes. So who had beards in the Bible? Brotherly love comes from the head, but falls to the feet. --Thomas Adams. This week we are continuing our study of the shorter psalms, and considering number 133 this time. We read the words, for there Yahweh gives the blessing right after David speaks of the hills of Zion. This garden favorite is in leaf all year long, while the flowering period happens between June and September, followed by the ripening of the seeds in the early fall season. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! All Rights Reserved. John the Baptist is mentioned in the Bible as having a beard and longer hair. By the anointing, Aaron became consecrated, and officially qualified to act as priest. The answer is found in Psalm 133:2: "It is like the precious ointment upon Aaron 's beard s) A common name for several plants, which have tufts of stamens. He acted together with his brother in the desperate situation of the Israelites in Egypt and took an active part in the Exodus, their liberation from bondage there. Furthermore, he usurps the divine name and declares to the people Here are your gods who lead you out of Egypt (32:4). This article looks back at some of the most iconic bearded 80s singers and what they are up to now. Importantly, Aaron is initially described as Moses prophet. Much of the Law dealt with living in a community. One law (Leviticus 14:8-9) commanded that men who had been healed from a skin disease were to shave off their hair to prove to the priest and the people in the camp that they were disease-free. The lesson of Aarons oily beard is a lesson of unity. This downward movement demonstrates that the source of unity is above and beyond the priesthoodit is extrinsic to them. Despite being commissioned as priest for the people, Aaron is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. --Alfred Edersheim, Verse 2. One day perhaps you will understood how much this meant to me to read this today. In Psalm 133, one of the songs of ascents, the Bible says this in verse 1 and 2. (NASB) Ex. 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! In the following sections, we shall look at the symbolism of the beard in the biblical context. This seems to suggest that most of the New Testament prophets probably didnt have beards. However, it isnt just plain olive oil. By unity the Church, as a whole, lives its life of consecration, and effectively ministers in the priesthood assigned it. Several instances of his life testify to an insecurity within him. Its way is downward. And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister as priests to Me. He had neither taken care of his feet nor trimmed his beard nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came back in safety. (2 Samuel 19:24). Yet more than anything, Aarons life provides a vision of what ministry before the Lord is to look like. They likely didnt use a professional barbers razor. It will help you learn to structure your life to do the most good to the glory of God. Aarons beard which was part of his identity as a priest had to be aligned to the collar of his robes so that the anointing oil could flow seamlessly. In Ezekiel 5:1, we see that God told Ezekiel to shave his head and beard as a sign of mourning. In this way, their lives will be different from the surrounding nations and God will set them apart for a blessing. Here is a portion of that passage. It is like the precious oil upon the head, That ran down upon the beard, Even Aaron's beard; That came down upon the skirt of his garments; AMP. The vessel was emptied on the High Priest's person, so that its contents flowed clown from the head upon the beard, and even to the skirts of the sacerdotal robes. Men with Sikh hair can wear a long goatee or beard beads. Any suggestions? Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). The Bible has mentioned beards so many times and with every mention is a context and a command. 1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! 6:9-11. For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aarons head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. His writing can be found at Christianity.com,crosswalk.com,ibelieve.com, Renovare Canada, and many others. Verse 2.Down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments.Not the extremity of them, as our version inclines to; for not so great a quantity of oil was poured upon him; nor would it have been decent to have his clothes thus greased from top to bottom; but the upper part of his garment, the top of his coat, on which the beard lay, as Zarchi; the neck or . Wesley's Psalms 133:2 Bible Commentary. Verse 2 mentions how it is like oil that ran down Aarons beard. As with the other laws in this chapter, God does not give a detailed explanation as to why the children of Israel must not shave their beards. Those who receive a divine commission from the Lord do not leave their flawed humanity behind. In of itself, this worship was a great blessing, but the psalm ends with something else. In fact, many scholars believe that the words beard and authority share their roots in the Latin word auro, which means both to gild somethingto make goldand to rule over somethingto govern.. The Roman style to shave off beards may have influenced the artists who depicted Jesus in the catacombs of Rome. New International Version (NIV). The names, events, and lineages found in the Old Testament are often explored, or spoken of, in the pages of the New Testament. Remarkably, this final verse also reminds us of Israels special place with God. By 400 C.E., most artists were depicting Jesus with a beard. How can we know the Messiah would be God incarnate? It is goodobjectively rightwhen there is unity between brothers, between those who are children of a common Father. He explained to his followers, Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17). Jewish Men Took Care of Their Beards Except in Unusual Circumstances. That ran down that went down, etc. He was a prophet and the leader of the Israelites. Thinking about unity for us today, we should have an appreciation and desire for it as Christians! 133 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 3 It is like the dew of Mount Hermon. The blessing. Furthermore, as Aaron is born of the tribe of Levi, this means he is the first Levitical priest on record. As the good oil on the head, Coming down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, That cometh down on the skirt of his robes. The answer is found in Exodus 30:22-33. It was objective reality for them and it is an objective reality for us. They also believe in a strict code of conduct, which includes not cutting their hair or shaving their beards. A psalm of David. The scripture compares this unity to the anointing of Aaron for priesthood. the precious oil . That being the person of Jesus Christ. It is like perfumed oil poured on the priest's head and running down his beard. 6 Things to Know about Aaron in the Bible. The people of Israel would bring their prayer items to the priests and the priest would present them before the Lord at the altar. It is a picture of very different people, yet people who are united. 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. Beards are mentioned numerous times throughout the Bible, usually in reference to the facial hair of prophets, kings, and other important figures. Anointing is used elsewhere in the Bible to set people apart for service. He is best known for his religious reforms and for his extensive building projects. Hi! He had loved God in a manner which exposed him to the charge of extravagance. Even for us as believers going through similar challenges, we must not give up but instead be hopeful knowing that he who vindicates us is near. It is so good, such a blessing to us and such a pleasure to God, when we diligently and deliberately live like children of a common Father. It ran down on his beard and on the collar of his robe. This is no truer than when it comes to Aaron. Was Aaron desperate to be liked? As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Does the Pandemic Still Affect Church Attendance? Proverbs 27:9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. Its like the dew on Mount Hermon flowing down the slopes of Zion. Verse 2. That ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard. http://www.bibleanswer.com Verse 2. Aaron was the brother of Moses and he is also one of the most well-known figures in the Bible. 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 like the precious oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard. Here are some examples: You shall not cut the hair on the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.. He is a person with a ministry, and an impact, all his own. Copyright 2019-2023. He says that because the Lord is sovereign, he will come to his aid and that he wont be disgraced. Please read our PRIVACY POLICY. And while they may not be as popular today, theres no doubt that they still have a place in our history and culture. It is not enough for the psalmist to simply state this as fact. What a picture of unity. Neglecting ones beard was unusual. Was there anything special about Aarons beard? when brothers live together in harmony! Some people see them as a symbol of masculinity and power, while others see them as unhygienic or simply outdated. As a faithful, law-abiding Jewish man, Jesus would have had a beard except in unusual circumstances. > Faith". Many artists represented their culture and societal norms in their art. Yes, thats where. We often focus on Moses when we read the story of the Exodus. It also doesnt mean that your beard contributes to your wisdom. . The gospel of Luke records that John the baptizer is born to a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and his wife Elizabeth, also a descendant of Aaron (Luke 1:5). Christ's grace is so diffusive of itself, that it conveys holiness to us, "running down from the head to the skirts", to all his members. Psalm 133:1-3 New Century Version (NCV) 1 It is good and pleasant. History.com, What Did Jesus Look Like? Sarah Pruitt, 2019. Because of this critical role, God had specific requirements for the priests who in the Old Testament came from the tribe of Levi. --J. F. It is good in every way when Gods people experience unity. It "ran down", and it" went down": love for the brethren condescends to men of low estate, it is not puffed up, but is lowly and meek. If Aaron was never anointed then the people of Israel would be unable to worship the Lord acceptably. Some people believe that beards were seen as a symbol of holiness in biblical times, and that shaving them was considered sinful. All of these are blessings of having a life together with our brothers and sisters in the faith. This is recognizable by references to Aarons beard and the hills of Zion. 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. Beards have been associated with Christianity since the time of the early church fathers. Aaron is no mere sidekick. 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.
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