Reference: Perfumes
American
The use of perfumes was common among the Hebrews and the Orientals generally, before it was known to the Greeks and Romans. Moses also speaks of the art of the perfumer, in the English Bible "apothecary;" and gives the composition of two perfumes, of which one was to be offered to the Lord on the golden altar, Ex 30:34-38. And the other to be used for anointing the high priest and his sons, the tabernacle, and the vessels of divine service, Ex 30:23-33. The Hebrews had also perfumes for embalming their dead. The composition is note exactly known, but they used myrrh, aloes, and other strong and astringent drugs proper to prevent infection and corruption. See EMBALMING, and OINTMENT.
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Take also unto you the finest spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet-smelling cinnamon half as much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet-smelling cane two hundred and fifty shekels, And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of olive oil a hin: read more. And you shall make it an oil of holy anointing, an ointment compounded after the art of the perfumer: it shall be a holy anointing oil. And you shall anoint the tabernacle of meeting with it, and the ark of the testimony, And the table and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense, And the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the laver and its base. And you shall sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever touches them shall be holy. And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office. And you shall speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be a holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations. Upon man's flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall you make any other like it, after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you. Whosoever compounds any like it, or whosoever puts any of it upon a foreigner, shall even be cut off from his people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto you sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be the same amount: And you shall make it an incense, a compound after the art of the perfumer, mixed together, pure and holy: And you shall beat some of it very fine, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of meeting, where I will meet with you: it shall be unto you most holy. And as for the incense which you shall make, you shall not make it for yourselves according to the composition of it: it shall be unto you holy for the LORD. Whosoever shall make any like that, to smell it, shall even be cut off from his people.
Easton
were used in religious worship, and for personal and domestic enjoyment (Ex 30:35-37; Pr 7:17; Song 3:6; Isa 57:9); and also in embalming the dead, and in other funeral ceremonies (Mr 14:8; Lu 24:1; Joh 19:39).
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And you shall make it an incense, a compound after the art of the perfumer, mixed together, pure and holy: And you shall beat some of it very fine, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of meeting, where I will meet with you: it shall be unto you most holy. read more. And as for the incense which you shall make, you shall not make it for yourselves according to the composition of it: it shall be unto you holy for the LORD.
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
Who is this that comes out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the fragrant powders of the merchant?
And you went to the king with ointment, and did increase your perfumes, and did send your messengers far off, and did debase yourself even unto sheol.
She has done what she could: she has come beforehand to anoint my body for burying.
Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others came with them.
And there came also Nicodemus, who at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pound weight.
Smith
Perfumes.
The free use of perfumes was peculiarly grateful to the Orientals,
whose olfactory nerves are more than usually sensitive to the offensive smells engendered by the heat of their climate. The Hebrews manufactured their perfumes chiefly from spices imported from Arabia though to a certain extent also from aromatic plants growing in their own country. Perfumes entered largely into the temple service, in the two forms of incense and ointment.
Nor were they less used in private life; not only were they applied to the person, but to garment,
and to articles of furniture, such as beds.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Moreover the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, Take also unto you the finest spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet-smelling cinnamon half as much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet-smelling cane two hundred and fifty shekels, read more. And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of olive oil a hin: And you shall make it an oil of holy anointing, an ointment compounded after the art of the perfumer: it shall be a holy anointing oil. And you shall anoint the tabernacle of meeting with it, and the ark of the testimony, And the table and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense, And the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the laver and its base. And you shall sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever touches them shall be holy. And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office. And you shall speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be a holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations. Upon man's flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall you make any other like it, after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you. Whosoever compounds any like it, or whosoever puts any of it upon a foreigner, shall even be cut off from his people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto you sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be the same amount: And you shall make it an incense, a compound after the art of the perfumer, mixed together, pure and holy: And you shall beat some of it very fine, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of meeting, where I will meet with you: it shall be unto you most holy. And as for the incense which you shall make, you shall not make it for yourselves according to the composition of it: it shall be unto you holy for the LORD. Whosoever shall make any like that, to smell it, shall even be cut off from his people.
All your garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, by which they have made you glad.
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so does the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
Your lips, O my spouse, drop like the honeycomb: honey and milk are under your tongue; and the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.