Shemen (bible)
Shemen (
Cooking oil
In
In the Deuteronomy 8:8 it is mentioned as eretz zeit shemen in the description of the "good land": "A land of wheat and barley and the vine and figs and pomegranates, a land of olives for oil, and (date) honey".[1] Based on this verse and additional descriptions given in
Genesis 49:20 describes the wealth of the lands of Asher: "From Asher shall come fat bread [rich foods], and he will provide delicacies of a king".[3] The relationship between fat (Hebrew: שמנה, shemeneh) and oil (Hebrew: שהנ, shemen) has been discussed by Ibn Ezra.[4] The blessings of Asher's exceptionally fertile lands is given by Moses in Deuteronomy 33:24: "May he dip his foot in oil".[5]
Describing the hardships of the wilderness, in Numbers 11:8 the Israelites have only manna to eat, which they prepare into flat cakes called uggah (עוגה) that according to the passage tasted like lesad hassamen (לשד השמן). Translated as rich cream by the JPS, the certain meaning is not known. Aside from Psalms 32:4, this verse is the only known use of lesad. It was translated into Greek as cake with oil (ενκρις εζ ελαιου), enkris having also been used for the Hebrew tzappihhit in place of wafers in Exodus 16:31 (where the taste is described "like a cake made with honey").[6]
Ritual uses
In
It is used for anointing oil in conjunction with Bethel and other sites that were "anointed" in the narrative of Jacob's Ladder and subsequent second visit to Bethel (Genesis 35:9–15).[7][8] It is one of the offerings God demands of the Israelites for the Tabernacle in Exodus 25:3–8 in the context of spices to be used to make anointing oil and incense, as well as for use in lamps.[7] It is also used in the context of offerings in Micah 6:7: "Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, With ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my first born for my transgression, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"[9]
Leviticus 24:1–9 discusses Israel's obligations to provide the daily oil for the lamps at the Tabernacle, and the weekly bread for the priests.[2]
There are various additional rules on the use of oil for lighting in different contexts such as searching for
Trade
According to Ezekiel 27:17 oil is exchanged with Tyre: "Judah, and the land of Israel, they were thy merchants: they traded in thy market wheat of Minnith, and Pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm." Hosea 12:1 discusses the context of relations between Ephraim and Egypt: "Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt".[5]
Perfume or cosmetic oil
There are several biblical references to non-ritual cosmetic use.[7]
References
- ^ a b Gelbard, Shemuʼel Pinḥas. Rite and Reason: 1050 Jewish Customs and Their Sources, Volume 1. Feldheim. p. 283. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
- ^ a b Milgrom, Jacob. Leviticus: A Book of Ritual and Ethics : a Continental Commentary. Fortress. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
- ^ Polter, Moshe. השבטים במקרא. Targum Press. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
- ^ Stickman, H. Norman. Ibn Ezra's Commentary on the Pentateuch. Menorah Publishers. p. 439.
- ^ a b Bar, Shaul. A Nation Is Born: The Jacob Story. Wipf. p. 146. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
- ^ Ashley, Timothy R. The Books of Numbers. Eerdman's. p. 209. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
- ^ a b c d Renn, Stephen D. Expository Dictionary of Bible Words: Word Studies for Key English Bible Words Based on the Hebrew and Greek Texts. Hendrickson Publishers. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
- ^ Stickman, H. Norman. Ibn Ezra's Commentary on the Pentateuch. Menorah Publishers. p. 333.
- ^ Stickman, H. Norman. Ibn Ezra's Commentary on the Pentateuch. Menorah Publishers. p. 266.