It has a special use about it; for as by the anointing oil Aaron was set apart for the special service of Jehovah, even so those who dwell in love are the better fitted to glorify God in his church. Verse 2. Was there anything special about Aarons beard? While Aaron was related to the Jewish people being able to worship God, the reference to Mount Zion points us to the location of Gods blessing. They also believe in a strict code of conduct, which includes not cutting their hair or shaving their beards. Importantly, Aaron is initially described as Moses prophet. On and on it goes. coming down upon . If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. As they journey through the desert, Israel grumbles about many things, the lack of food, the scarcity of water, the presence of enemies. John the Baptist is mentioned in the Bible as having a beard and longer hair. Psalm 133:2. Jesus on Adultery: Its More Controversial Than You Think. Another ancient picture of Jesus, as a beardless young man, was found in the Roman Catacombs. English Standard Version 10:24). God has put murderers with those who hate, thieves with those who lie, homosexuals with those who lust, one race with another race, parents with children, wealthy with the poor, and the lazy with the diligent. And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. King David had a beard, which represented his wisdom and power, although its hard to know if his beard was long like the one Moses or Aaron had. What Happens If A Catholic Marries A Divorced Person? This is a profound image of the priestly role within the community of faith. From this point on, Aaron adopts a ministry that is uniquely his own. It is like perfumed oil poured on the priests head and running down his beard. Is the man a believer in Christ? Jesus often articulates the themes and events of the Exodus, applying them to his messianic mission. Whats clear is that David has in mind the anointing of the high priest, a ceremony that involved oil. Though every priest was anointed, yet only the high priest was anointed on the head, and there is a tradition that this rite was omitted after the Captivity, so that there is a special stress on the name of Aaron. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times, 4 Ways the Parable of the Sower Encourages Spiritual Growth. For example, in 1 Corinthians 11:14, Paul says that if a man has long hair, its a shame to him. One day perhaps you will understood how much this meant to me to read this today. Jesus would have carefully taken care of his beard by putting oil on it, and he would have refrained from clipping the corners. Psalm 133:1-3 New Century Version (NCV) 1 It is good and pleasant. Some say that beards represent the strength and power of Christ, while others say that they represent wisdom and virtue. Some have fallen into sin to the point of routinely committing evil. In general, beards were seen as a sign of wisdom, power, and virility. Biblical characters often have an impact far beyond their own story. Though Jesus is portrayed with a beard doesnt mean he had one. With Moses delayed at the top of the mountain, Aaron is requested to cast new gods for the people. All rights reserved. You shall take the anointing oil and pour it on his head and anoint him, said God through Moses. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. All rights reserved. It is goodobjectively rightwhen there is unity between brothers, between those who are children of a common Father. Verse 2 mentions how it is like oil that ran down Aaron's beard. Remarkably, this final verse also reminds us of Israels special place with God. 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. CNN.com, From Science and Computers, a New Face of Jesus. Jeordan Legon, 2002. Hearty concord brings a benediction upon all concerned; its goodness and pleasure are shared in by the lowliest members of the household; even the servants are the better and the happier because of the lovely unity among the members of the family. The blessing. The precious ointment that ran down. In the Book of Leviticus 19:27, the Bible instructs the people of Israel on how they ought to carry themselves. He says that because the Lord is sovereign, he will come to his aid and that he wont be disgraced. The names, events, and lineages found in the Old Testament are often explored, or spoken of, in the pages of the New Testament. Aaron was set apart (sanctified) and anointed as high priest. But in the earliest images as many show a stocky and short-haired beardless man in a short tunic, who can only be identified by his context.. King Hezekiah was the king of Judah who lived in the 8th century BC. the precious oil . and onto the border of his robe. Men with Sikh hair can wear a long goatee or beard beads. If Aaron was never anointed then the people of Israel would be unable to worship the Lord acceptably. Copyright 2019-2023. In fact, the Hasidic sect of Judaism is known for its bearded men. One metaphor that has always intrigued me is at the center of one of the shortest psalmsPsalm 133. Find (NASB) Ps. He was a prophet and the leader of the Israelites. Hi! He slides into the background. It is in that line that he also requires that they do not shave their beards. Here are some people that had beards in the Bible. He is most well-known for leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. learn more . His writing can be found at Christianity.com,crosswalk.com,ibelieve.com, Renovare Canada, and many others. Welcome to the online home of Tim Challies, blogger, author, andbookreviewer. They are these --, Verse 2-3. 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. Salem Media Group. Yet more than anything, Aarons life provides a vision of what ministry before the Lord is to look like. The arrival of his older brother gave Moses the confidence to step out in faith. Knowing his older brother was there to support him, and speak for him, freed Moses to explore, and accept, the call of God. ASV. Does it Matter That I Didn't Keep My Goals for Lent? It is like the precious anointing oil running down from Aaron's head and beard, down to the collar of his robes. God heard his prayer and Hezekiah was miraculously healed. This is a chief point of comparison, that as the oil did not remain confined to the place where it first fell, but flowed down the High Priest's hair and bedewed his beard, even so brotherly love descending from the head distils and descends, anointing as it runs, and perfuming all it lights upon. --Neale and Littledale. He calls us to live in harmony and unity. God poured out his Spirit on the great and final High Priest, Jesus Christ, who is the head of the church. The Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace." This blessing is theologically rich and spiritually encouraging. Living a life dedicated to God makes as much sense as the sunshine in our world. Once set in motion it would not cease from flowing. As a Levitical priest, Aaron oversees the religious life of Israel. Shaving off a beard could be evidence of having had a skin disease. . Does not nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him?. This isnt just for the High Priest. It is like expensive oil poured over the head, running down onto the beard Aarons beard! which extended over the collar of his robes. 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. By unity the Church, as a whole, lives its life of consecration, and effectively ministers in the priesthood assigned it. Verse 2. Even today, these passages influence Orthodox Jewish men in how they wear their hair and trim their beards. Samson is also known for his beard, which is often depicted as being long and flowing. 80s wresters were the best wrestlers of all time. Like before, this may also cause us to think of abundance, especially if we remember that dew can cover large areas of land. The Biblical Timeline indicates that Aaron was born in 1574 B.C. Learn how your comment data is processed. He had loved God in a manner which exposed him to the charge of extravagance. Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. It is a holy thing, and so again is like the oil of consecration which was to be used only in the Lord's service. Is It Ok for Christians to Follow Zodiac Signs? A beard that was left unattended symbolized neglect, uncleanliness, and a carefree life. Neglecting ones beard was unusual. "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 . Take also for yourself the finest of spices: of flowing myrrh five hundred shekels, and of fragrant cinnamon half as much, two hundred and fifty, and of fragrant cane two hundred and fifty, and of cassia five hundred, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and of olive oil a hin. Psalm 133:2 Parallel Verses [ See commentary ] Psalm 133:2, NIV: 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. Moses, originally, rejects this divine commission. It is like the precious ointment upon the head. Joe R Price However, many Christian men do choose to grow beards as a sign of their faith. Such moments are only fully realized if we do have unity among ourselves. . Every picture or sculpture is an artists representation based on their perception and culture. Beards have been having a moment in the last few years, but theyre still not as popular as they were in biblical times because they require a bit more maintenance. There are several stories in Scripture that illustrate how removing a beard or part of the beard was considered shameful. Instead, they probably used a sharp sword or knife to trim their beards. It was a feature that was very likely to strike his mind; for he, too, was a wasteful man in his way. Despite being commissioned as priest for the people, Aaron is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Learning Lessons From Scandals Close to Home, New and Notable Christian Books for February 2023, Jinger Vuolos Story of Disentangling Faith from Fear, 8 Sins You Commit Whenever You Look at Porn. He is a poet who knows he can emphasize the facts with an illustration, and, as is so common in the Bible, does so through a metaphor. Psalms 133:2 Context. 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. which shows Jesus with a beard. PennyNoyes, M.Ed. He does not merely perform the sacrifices; he also blesses the people. 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. It ran down on his beard and on the collar of his robe. (See: 2 Samuel 10:3-5). 2 For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil. Aaron was the brother of Moses and he is also one of the most well-known figures in the Bible. His beard represents his wisdom and his status as a prophet. Down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments. By themselves the spices could not make a holy oil. After all, Aaron accompanied Moses into Egypt and aided in Israels liberation. "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." (Psalms 133:2) Neglecting one's beard was unusual. The Bible tells us how important beards were in Biblical times by mentioning them in over 100 verses. For harmony is as precious as the fragrant anointing oil that was poured over Aarons head and ran down onto his beard and onto the border of his robe. Here is a portion of that passage. 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; 3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for . 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. A Day In The Life Of A Catholic Priest [A Simple Guide]. Some Orthodox Jewish men grow their beards as a sign of piety and devotion to God. Perhaps the biggest legacy of Aarons life and ministry is the blessing attached to his name. Others suffer from difficulties that make them feel isolated or rejected. The oil used to anoint Aaron was holy anointing oil. Is It Ok for Christians to Follow Zodiac Signs? Cymbalaria muralis (Ivy-leaved toadflax, Kenilworth ivy), native to south and southwest Europe; Hypericum calycinum (Great St. John's-wort, Jerusalem star), widely cultivated. Verse 12. S omething happened at Asbury University. 30:23-25, 30. Aaron was the brother of Moses and he is also one of the most well-known figures in the Bible. > out how long was Aaron's beard? It is like fragrant oil on the head that runs down over the beard, over the beard of Aharon, and flows down on the collar of his robes. The Surprising Truth. This was such a significant insult that the men were instructed to stay at Jericho until their beards grew. Precious ointment upon the head. Hence, it is a personal matter. The spices were myrrh, cinnamon, cane, and cassia. 133. Is the One You Now Serve Able to Deliver You? You can follow Penny on herblogand on Instagram@pennynoyes. And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister as priests to Me. Ezra was so upset when he heard about the Israelites sin that he tore his robe, pulled out even all his hair, and shaved his beard because he was so greatly ashamed to an incredible degree. But did any of the New Testament prophets grow beards? 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. 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. Archeologists discovered it in Syria on a wall in the Dura-Europos church, one of the oldest Christian churches in the world. In a broader sense, we understand that the psalm is discussing unity among Jewish people. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The priests in the Bible played a very key role as the go between God and the people. Does the Pandemic Still Affect Church Attendance? Moses wore a beard, obviously, and Aaron's beard is specifically mentioned in Psalm 133. 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. Its like the dew on Mount Hermon flowing down the slopes of Zion. Nevertheless, beards are here to stay. Aaron was far from perfect. Aaron 's beard ( pl. Perhaps this gives rationale for Moses hesitancy to take up the call of God, and why the arrival of Aaron helped Moses accept this divine commission. Aaron was the brother of Moses and the first high priest of Israel. The scripture compares this unity to the anointing of Aaron for priesthood. This is no truer than when it comes to Aaron. 133:1-2. It ran down Aaron's beard. 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. That said, the symbolism of a beard is so strong in the Bible bordering honor on one side and shame on the other depending on how it was treated. 2 It is like perfumed oil poured on the priest's head. Other artists painted Jesus with a beard because there are many references to beards in Scripture. Isaiah talks about how he was willing to accept abuse without hiding his face. Furthermore, he usurps the divine name and declares to the people Here are your gods who lead you out of Egypt (32:4).
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