Don't miss an episode! Subscribe to the Madlik podcast:
Link to Transcript here: https://madlik.com/2025/03/26/how-the-israelites-gave-us-self-care-daily-rituals/
(טו) וְיַ֤יִן ׀ יְשַׂמַּ֬ח לְֽבַב־אֱנ֗וֹשׁ לְהַצְהִ֣יל פָּנִ֣ים מִשָּׁ֑מֶן וְ֝לֶ֗חֶם לְֽבַב־אֱנ֥וֹשׁ יִסְעָֽד׃
(15) wine that cheers the hearts of men, oil that makes the face shine, and bread that sustains man’s life.
(א) ט֥וֹב שֵׁ֖ם מִשֶּׁ֣מֶן ט֑וֹב וְי֣וֹם הַמָּ֔וֶת מִיּ֖וֹם הִוָּלְדֽוֹ׃
(1) A good name is better than fragrant oil, and the day of death than the day of birth.
(מ) זֵיתִ֛ים יִהְי֥וּ לְךָ֖ בְּכׇל־גְּבוּלֶ֑ךָ וְשֶׁ֙מֶן֙ לֹ֣א תָס֔וּךְ כִּ֥י יִשַּׁ֖ל זֵיתֶֽךָ׃
(40) Though you have olive trees throughout your territory, you shall have no oil for anointment, for your olives shall drop off.
(ג) וְרָחַ֣צְתְּ ׀ וָסַ֗כְתְּ וְשַׂ֧מְתְּ (שמלתך) [שִׂמְלֹתַ֛יִךְ] עָלַ֖יִךְ (וירדתי) [וְיָרַ֣דְתְּ] הַגֹּ֑רֶן אַל־תִּוָּדְעִ֣י לָאִ֔ישׁ עַ֥ד כַּלֹּת֖וֹ לֶאֱכֹ֥ל וְלִשְׁתּֽוֹת׃
(3) So bathe, anoint yourself, dress up, and go down to the threshing floor. But do not disclose yourself to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.
(כ) וַיָּ֩קׇם֩ דָּוִ֨ד מֵהָאָ֜רֶץ וַיִּרְחַ֣ץ וַיָּ֗סֶךְ וַיְחַלֵּף֙ שִׂמְלֹתָ֔ו וַיָּבֹ֥א בֵית־יְהֹוָ֖ה וַיִּשְׁתָּ֑חוּ וַיָּבֹא֙ אֶל־בֵּית֔וֹ וַיִּשְׁאַ֕ל וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ ל֛וֹ לֶ֖חֶם וַיֹּאכַֽל׃
(20) Thereupon David rose from the ground; he bathed and anointed himself, and he changed his clothes. He went into the House of the LORD and prostrated himself. Then he went home and asked for food, which they set before him, and he ate.
(ב) וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יוֹאָב֙ תְּק֔וֹעָה וַיִּקַּ֥ח מִשָּׁ֖ם אִשָּׁ֣ה חֲכָמָ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵ֠לֶ֠יהָ הִֽתְאַבְּלִי־נָ֞א וְלִבְשִׁי־נָ֣א בִגְדֵי־אֵ֗בֶל וְאַל־תָּס֙וּכִי֙ שֶׁ֔מֶן וְהָיִ֕ית כְּאִשָּׁ֗ה זֶ֚ה יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֔ים מִתְאַבֶּ֖לֶת עַל־מֵֽת׃
(2) so Joab sent to Tekoa and brought a clever woman from there. He said to her, “Pretend you are in mourning; put on mourning clothes and don’t anoint yourself with oil; and act like a woman who has grieved a long time over a departed one.
(יד) הָאֹמֵ֗ר אֶבְנֶה־לִּי֙ בֵּ֣ית מִדּ֔וֹת וַעֲלִיּ֖וֹת מְרֻוָּחִ֑ים וְקָ֤רַֽע לוֹ֙ חַלּוֹנָ֔י וְסָפ֣וּן בָּאָ֔רֶז וּמָשׁ֖וֹחַ בַּשָּׁשַֽׁר׃
(14) Who thinks: I will build me a vast palace With spacious upper chambers, Provided with windows, Paneled in cedar, Painted with vermilion!
(יג) אָנֹכִ֤י הָאֵל֙ בֵּֽית־אֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר מָשַׁ֤חְתָּ שָּׁם֙ מַצֵּבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָדַ֥רְתָּ לִּ֛י שָׁ֖ם נֶ֑דֶר עַתָּ֗ה ק֥וּם צֵא֙ מִן־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את וְשׁ֖וּב אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ מוֹלַדְתֶּֽךָ׃
(13) I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now, arise and leave this land and return to your native land.’”
(ב) רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמשֶׁה לֵךְ וּמַנֵּה לִי כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל, אָמַר לְפָנָיו רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם מֵאֵיזֶה שֵׁבֶט, אָמַר לוֹ מִשֵּׁבֶט לֵוִי. וּבַמֶּה אֲנִי מוֹשְׁחוֹ, אָמַר לוֹ בְּשֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה שָׂמַח משֶׁה, אָמַר כָּךְ שִׁבְטִי חָבִיב לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא חַיֶּיךָ לֹא שִׁבְטְךָ הוּא אֶלָּא אָחִיךָ הוּא, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שמות כח, א): וְאַתָּה הַקְרֵב אֵלֶיךָ. וּמְשִׁיחָתוֹ מִשֶּׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כט, ז): וְלָקַחְתָּ מִשֶּׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה, אֲבָל עֲבוֹדָתוֹ אֵינָהּ עֲבוֹדָה וְנִתְחַיֵּב, אִלּוּלֵי שֶׁשְּׁמוֹתָן שֶׁל שְׁבָטִים חֲקוּקִים עַל לִבּוֹ,
(2) The Rabbis say: The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘Go and appoint a High Priest for Me.’ [Moses] said before Him: ‘Master of the universe, from which tribe?’ He said to him: ‘From the tribe of Levi.’ [Moses asked:] ‘With what will I anoint him?’ He said to him: ‘With the anointing oil.’ At that moment, Moses was joyful; he said: ‘My tribe is so beloved before the Holy One blessed be He.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘By your life, it is not your tribe, but it is your brother’ – that is what is written: “And you, bring [Aaron your brother] near to you” (Exodus 28:1). His anointing with the anointing oil, from where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “You shall take the anointing oil […and anoint him]” (Exodus 29:7). However, his service is not service and he has liability unless the names of the tribes are engraved on his heart,
(ט) וְלָקַחְתָּ֙ אֶת־שֶׁ֣מֶן הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה וּמָשַׁחְתָּ֥ אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן וְאֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־בּ֑וֹ וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ֥ אֹת֛וֹ וְאֶת־כׇּל־כֵּלָ֖יו וְהָ֥יָה קֹֽדֶשׁ׃ (י) וּמָשַׁחְתָּ֛ אֶת־מִזְבַּ֥ח הָעֹלָ֖ה וְאֶת־כׇּל־כֵּלָ֑יו וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ֙ אֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ וְהָיָ֥ה הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ קֹ֥דֶשׁ קׇֽדָשִֽׁים׃ (יא) וּמָשַׁחְתָּ֥ אֶת־הַכִּיֹּ֖ר וְאֶת־כַּנּ֑וֹ וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ֖ אֹתֽוֹ׃ (יב) וְהִקְרַבְתָּ֤ אֶֽת־אַהֲרֹן֙ וְאֶת־בָּנָ֔יו אֶל־פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וְרָחַצְתָּ֥ אֹתָ֖ם בַּמָּֽיִם׃ (יג) וְהִלְבַּשְׁתָּ֙ אֶֽת־אַהֲרֹ֔ן אֵ֖ת בִּגְדֵ֣י הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ וּמָשַׁחְתָּ֥ אֹת֛וֹ וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ֥ אֹת֖וֹ וְכִהֵ֥ן לִֽי׃ (יד) וְאֶת־בָּנָ֖יו תַּקְרִ֑יב וְהִלְבַּשְׁתָּ֥ אֹתָ֖ם כֻּתֳּנֹֽת׃ (טו) וּמָשַׁחְתָּ֣ אֹתָ֗ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר מָשַׁ֙חְתָּ֙ אֶת־אֲבִיהֶ֔ם וְכִהֲנ֖וּ לִ֑י וְ֠הָיְתָ֠ה לִהְיֹ֨ת לָהֶ֧ם מׇשְׁחָתָ֛ם לִכְהֻנַּ֥ת עוֹלָ֖ם לְדֹרֹתָֽם׃ (טז) וַיַּ֖עַשׂ מֹשֶׁ֑ה כְּ֠כֹ֠ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֧ה יהוה אֹת֖וֹ כֵּ֥ן עָשָֽׂה׃ {ס}
(9) You shall take the anointing oil and anoint the Tabernacle and all that is in it to consecrate it and all its furnishings, so that it shall be holy. (10) Then anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils to consecrate the altar, so that the altar shall be most holy. (11) And anoint the laver and its stand to consecrate it. (12) You shall bring Aaron and his sons forward to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting and wash them with the water. (13) Put the sacral vestments on Aaron, and anoint him and consecrate him, that he may serve Me as priest. (14) Then bring his sons forward, put tunics on them, (15) and anoint them as you have anointed their father, that they may serve Me as priests. This their anointing shall serve them for everlasting priesthood throughout the ages. (16) This Moses did; just as יהוה had commanded him, so he did.
(ט) וְתִסַּב יַת מִשְׁחָא דִרְבוּתָא וּתְרַבֵּי יַת מַשְׁכְּנָא וְיַת כָּל דְּבֵיהּ וּתְקַדֵּשׁ יָתֵיהּ מְטוּל כְּלִיל דְּמַלְכוּתָא דְבֵית יְהוּדָה וּמַלְכָּא מְשִׁיחָא דְעָתִיד לְמִפְרַק יַת יִשְרָאֵל בְּסוֹף יוֹמַיָא
(9) And thou shalt take the consecration-oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt sanctify it, on account of the crown of the kingdom of the house of Jehudah, and of the King Meshiha, who is to redeem Israel at the end of the days.
The word משחה means anointment, cream which is smeared on the body, sometimes to soothe and other times to cleanse. Hebrew speakers also borrow the word קְרֶם (krem) from English.
Three practical usages of משחה are:
מִשְׁחָה לָעוֹר – cream for the skin – (meesh-KHAH lah-OHR)
מִשְׁחַת יָדַיִם – hand cream (literally, cream of hands) – (meesh-KHAHT yah-DAH-yeem)
מִשְׁחַת שִׁנַּיִם – toothpaste (literally, cream of teeth) – (meesh-KHAHT shee-NAH-yeem)
2. and 3. are examples of two (or more) words connected in an “of relationship” – the construct state or סְמִיכוּת (smee-KHOOT), which is why the ה (heh) from the word משחה becomes a ת (tav).
The root of משחה is מ.ש.ח (m.sh.kh), the same as that of the word מָשִׁיחַ (mah-SHEE-ahkh) – messiah or, literally, the anointed one. see: https://ulpan.com/how-to-say-cream-in-hebrew/
(ז) וְלָֽקַחְתָּ֙ אֶת־שֶׁ֣מֶן הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה וְיָצַקְתָּ֖ עַל־רֹאשׁ֑וֹ וּמָשַׁחְתָּ֖ אֹתֽוֹ׃
(7) Take the anointing oil and pour it on his head and anoint him.
(א) ומשחת אתו. אַף מְשִׁיחָה זוֹ כְּמִין כִי, נוֹתֵן שֶׁמֶן עַל רֹאשׁוֹ וּבֵין רִסֵּי עֵינָיו וּמְחַבְּרָן בְּאֶצְבָּעוֹ (כריתות ה'):
(1) ומשחת אתו AND THOU SHALT ANOINT HIM — This anointing also, was in the form of a X: he put a drop of oil on his head and another drop between his eyebrows and joined them with his finger into this shape (Keritot 5b).
אָמַר מָר: אֵין מוֹשְׁחִין מֶלֶךְ בֶּן מֶלֶךְ. מְנָלַן? אָמַר רַב אַחָא בַּר יַעֲקֹב, דִּכְתִיב: ״לְמַעַן יַאֲרִיךְ יָמִים עַל מַמְלַכְתּוֹ הוּא וּבָנָיו כׇּל הַיָּמִים״ – יְרוּשָּׁה הִיא. וּמִפְּנֵי מָה מָשְׁחוּ אֶת שְׁלֹמֹה? מִפְּנֵי מַחְלוֹקֶת אֲדוֹנִיָּה. מְנָלַן דְּכִי אָתֵי מַחְלוֹקֶת בָּעֵי מְשִׁיחָה, וְלָא כׇּל דְּבָעֵי מַלְכָּא מוֹרֵית לֵיהּ מַלְכוּתָא? אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא, אָמַר קְרָא: ״בְּקֶרֶב יִשְׂרָאֵל״ – בִּזְמַן שֶׁשָּׁלוֹם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל.
The Master said earlier: But one does not anoint a king, the son of a king. The Gemara asks: From where do we derive this halakha? Rav Aḥa bar Ya’akov said that this is as it is written: In order that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his sons, all the days in the midst of Israel (see Deuteronomy 17:20). The mention of a king’s sons teaches that the kingdom is an inheritance, which does not need to be confirmed by anointing. The baraita further taught: And for what reason did they anoint King Solomon? Due to the dispute over the throne instigated by his older brother Adonijah. The Gemara asks: From where do we derive that in a situation where there is a dispute the new king requires anointing, and the current king cannot simply grant the kingship as an inheritance to whomever he desires? Rav Pappa said that the verse states: “He and his children in the midst of Israel” (Deuteronomy 17:20). At a time when there is peace in Israel the monarchy transfers smoothly to the king’s son, but not when there is a dispute.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: מוֹשְׁחִין אֶת הַמְּלָכִים כְּמִין נֵזֶר, וְאֶת הַכֹּהֲנִים כְּמִין ״כִּי״. אָמַר רַב מְנַשְּׁיָה: כְּמִין ״כִּי״ יְוָנִי. תָּנֵי חֲדָא: בַּתְּחִלָּה מַצִּיק שֶׁמֶן עַל רֹאשׁוֹ וְאַחַר כָּךְ נוֹתֵן לוֹ שֶׁמֶן בֵּין רִיסֵי עֵינָיו, וְתָנֵי אַחֲרִיתִי: בַּתְּחִלָּה נוֹתֵן לוֹ שֶׁמֶן בֵּין רִיסֵי עֵינָיו וְאַחַר כָּךְ מַצִּיק לוֹ שֶׁמֶן עַל רֹאשׁוֹ! תַּנָּאֵי הִיא, אִיכָּא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר מְשִׁיחָה עֲדִיפָא, וְאִיכָּא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר יְצִיקָה עֲדִיפָא. מַאי טַעְמָא דְּמַאן דְּאָמַר יְצִיקָה עֲדִיפָא – שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּצֹק מִשֶּׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה עַל רֹאשׁ אַהֲרֹן״, וּמַאן דְּאָמַר מְשִׁיחָה עֲדִיפָא – קָסָבַר: שֶׁכֵּן נִתְרַבָּה אֵצֶל כְּלֵי שָׁרֵת.
§ The Sages taught in a baraita: One anoints the kings by placing the oil around the head in a shape similar to a crown, and one anoints the High Priests by placing the oil upon the head in the shape similar to chi. In explanation of this statement, Rav Menashya says: It is placed in a shape similar to the Greek letter chi, which looks like the letter Χ. It is taught in one baraita: First, one pours oil on the head of the High Priest, and afterward one places oil between his eyelashes. And it is taught in another baraita: First, one places oil between his eyelashes, and afterward one pours oil on his head. The baraitot contradict each other. The Gemara explains: This is a matter of dispute between tanna’im, as there is a tanna who says: Anointing between his eyelashes is preferable to pouring on the head and therefore comes first, and there is a tanna who says that pouring on the head is preferable to anointing between his eyelashes, and therefore comes first. What is the reasoning of the one who says that pouring on the head is preferable? As it is stated: “And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head and anointed him to sanctify him” (Leviticus 8:12), which indicates that pouring is first, followed by anointing. And as for the one who says that anointing between his eyelashes is preferable to pouring on the head and precedes it, he holds that anointing is preferable in that its use is increased, i.e., it is performed on the service vessels, whereas pouring is not mentioned with regard to the service vessels.
As to the mode of anointment, an old rabbinical tradition relates (Hor. 12a, Ker. 5b) that "the kings were anointed in the form of a crown; that is, all around the head; and the high priests in the form of a Greek Chi (χ). In other words, in anointing the priests the oil was poured first upon the head and then upon the eyebrows (see Rashi, and "'Aruk," s.v. ; and, as against Kohut's dissertation, compare Plato, "Timæus," chap. xxxvi., referred to by Justin Martyr, "First Apology," lx.: "He impressed the soul as an unction in the form of the letter χ (chiasma) upon the universe." It is not unlikely that, owing to their opposition to the Christian cross, the Jewish interpreters adopted the kaph form instead of the χ—the original tav of Ezek. ix. 4. see: ANOINTING. Jewish Encyclopedia, By: George A. Barton, Kaufmann Kohler see also: Encyclopedia Judaica, Anointing, Jacob Milgrom and Louis Isaac Rabinowitz
(ל) וַֽיַּעֲשׂ֛וּ אֶת־צִ֥יץ נֵֽזֶר־הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁ זָהָ֣ב טָה֑וֹר וַיִּכְתְּב֣וּ עָלָ֗יו מִכְתַּב֙ פִּתּוּחֵ֣י חוֹתָ֔ם קֹ֖דֶשׁ לַיהוה׃
(30) They made the frontlet for the holy diadem of pure gold, and incised upon it the seal inscription: “Holy to יהוה.”
אָמַר מָר: מַלְכֵי בֵּית דָּוִד מוֹשְׁחִין, וְאֵין מַלְכֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מוֹשְׁחִין. מְנָלַן? דִּכְתִיב: ״קוּם מְשָׁחֵהוּ כִּי זֶה הוּא״ – זֶה טָעוּן מְשִׁיחָה, וְאֵין אַחֵר טָעוּן מְשִׁיחָה.
The Master said earlier: One anoints the kings of the house of David with the anointing oil, but one does not anoint the kings of Israel. The Gemara asks: From where do we derive this halakha? It is derived from a verse, as it is written with regard to the anointing of David: “Arise, anoint him; for this is he” (I Samuel 16:12). This king, i.e., any king from the house of David, requires anointing, but another king, i.e., from the kingdom of Israel, whose kings were not descendants of the house of David, does not require anointing.
וּמִי הֲוָה שֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה? וְהָתַנְיָא: מִשֶּׁנִּגְנַז אָרוֹן נִגְנַז צִנְצֶנֶת הַמָּן, וּצְלוֹחִית שֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה, וּמַקְלוֹ שֶׁל אַהֲרֹן שְׁקֵדִים וּפְרָחִים,
§ The Gemara raises a difficulty with regard to the statement that Jehoahaz was anointed: And was there anointing oil in the days of Jehoahaz? But isn’t it taught in a baraita (Tosefta, Yoma 2:15) that from when the Ark was sequestered, along with it was sequestered the jar of manna that was next to it (see Exodus 16:33), and the flask of the anointing oil, and Aaron’s staff with its almonds and blossoms (see Numbers 17:23).
(כב) וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יהוה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ (כג) וְאַתָּ֣ה קַח־לְךָ֮ בְּשָׂמִ֣ים רֹאשׁ֒ מׇר־דְּרוֹר֙ חֲמֵ֣שׁ מֵא֔וֹת וְקִנְּמׇן־בֶּ֥שֶׂם מַחֲצִית֖וֹ חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים וּמָאתָ֑יִם וּקְנֵה־בֹ֖שֶׂם חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים וּמָאתָֽיִם׃ (כד) וְקִדָּ֕ה חֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת בְּשֶׁ֣קֶל הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ וְשֶׁ֥מֶן זַ֖יִת הִֽין׃ (כה) וְעָשִׂ֣יתָ אֹת֗וֹ שֶׁ֚מֶן מִשְׁחַת־קֹ֔דֶשׁ רֹ֥קַח מִרְקַ֖חַת מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה רֹקֵ֑חַ שֶׁ֥מֶן מִשְׁחַת־קֹ֖דֶשׁ יִהְיֶֽה׃ (כו) וּמָשַׁחְתָּ֥ ב֖וֹ אֶת־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וְאֵ֖ת אֲר֥וֹן הָעֵדֻֽת׃ (כז) וְאֶת־הַשֻּׁלְחָן֙ וְאֶת־כׇּל־כֵּלָ֔יו וְאֶת־הַמְּנֹרָ֖ה וְאֶת־כֵּלֶ֑יהָ וְאֵ֖ת מִזְבַּ֥ח הַקְּטֹֽרֶת׃ (כח) וְאֶת־מִזְבַּ֥ח הָעֹלָ֖ה וְאֶת־כׇּל־כֵּלָ֑יו וְאֶת־הַכִּיֹּ֖ר וְאֶת־כַּנּֽוֹ׃ (כט) וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ֣ אֹתָ֔ם וְהָי֖וּ קֹ֣דֶשׁ קׇֽדָשִׁ֑ים כׇּל־הַנֹּגֵ֥עַ בָּהֶ֖ם יִקְדָּֽשׁ׃ (ל) וְאֶת־אַהֲרֹ֥ן וְאֶת־בָּנָ֖יו תִּמְשָׁ֑ח וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ֥ אֹתָ֖ם לְכַהֵ֥ן לִֽי׃ (לא) וְאֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל תְּדַבֵּ֣ר לֵאמֹ֑ר שֶׁ֠מֶן מִשְׁחַת־קֹ֨דֶשׁ יִהְיֶ֥ה זֶ֛ה לִ֖י לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ (לב) עַל־בְּשַׂ֤ר אָדָם֙ לֹ֣א יִיסָ֔ךְ וּ֨בְמַתְכֻּנְתּ֔וֹ לֹ֥א תַעֲשׂ֖וּ כָּמֹ֑הוּ קֹ֣דֶשׁ ה֔וּא קֹ֖דֶשׁ יִהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶֽם׃ (לג) אִ֚ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִרְקַ֣ח כָּמֹ֔הוּ וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר יִתֵּ֛ן מִמֶּ֖נּוּ עַל־זָ֑ר וְנִכְרַ֖ת מֵעַמָּֽיו׃ {ס}
(22) יהוה spoke to Moses, saying: (23) Next take choice spices: five hundred weight of solidified myrrh, half as much—two hundred and fifty—of fragrant cinnamon, two hundred and fifty of aromatic cane, (24) five hundred—by the sanctuary weight—of cassia, and a hin of olive oil. (25) Make of this a sacred anointing oil, a compound of ingredients expertly blended, to serve as sacred anointing oil. (26) With it anoint the Tent of Meeting, the Ark of the Pact, (27) the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and all its fittings, the altar of incense, (28) the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the laver and its stand. (29) Thus you shall consecrate them so that they may be most holy; whatever touches them shall be consecrated. (30) You shall also anoint Aaron and his sons, consecrating them to serve Me as priests. (31) And speak to the Israelite people, as follows: This shall be an anointing oil sacred to Me throughout the ages. (32) It must not be rubbed on any person’s body, and you must not make anything like it in the same proportions; it is sacred, to be held sacred by you. (33) Any party who compounds its like, or puts any of it on a lay person, shall be cut off from kin.
פיסקה שש עשרה: שמן המשחה (ל', כ"ב–ל"ג)פיסקה זו על שמן המשחה סודרה כאן אולי מפני סמיכות עניין הרחצה לעניין הסיכה בשמן הטוב. המשיחה בשמן לשם הקדשה היתה נהוגה גם בקרב העמים השכנים, ומכיון שאין בה שום יסוד מתנגד לאמונה הישראלית, נמשכה גם בישראל. לפי מנהג זה ניתנות כאן למשה הוראות להכין שמן שישמש למשוח את המשכן ואת כל כליו ואת הכהנים לסימן הקדשתם:
This paragraph dealing with the anointing oil was placed here
possibly on account of the connection between washing and anointing
with precious oil.
Anointing with oil for the purpose of consecration was likewise
customary among the neighboring peoples, and since the
practice is in no way contrary to Israel's faith, it continued also
among the Israelites. In accordance with this custom instructions
are here given to Moses to prepare oil to serve for anointing the
Tabernacle, its vessels and the priests, as a mark of their consecration:
כמה מפרשים מצאו קושי בזה, שמידת השמן מועטת מאד ביחס למשקל הבשמים, המגיע בסך הכל ל־1500 שקל. משקלו של השמן אינו אלא כחלק רביעי או חמישי של משקל הבשמים בכללם, ואם תינתן בתוך ההין של שמן כמות כה רבה של בשמים, התרכובת תהיה מעין מקפה, ולא שמן שאפשר יהיה ליצוק אותו בקלות כפי שדרוש למשיחת הכהנים (כ"ט, ז'). אבל מי שהקשה קושיה זו לא שם לב לדבר, שלא היו מערבים בשמן את כל חומר הבשמים, אלא שהיו מעבדים אותם בעבודה ארוכה ומסובכת של שרייה במים ושל הרתחה באש וכו' וכו' במשך ימים רבים, כפי שמלמדות אותנו תעודות אכדיות המתארות את דרכי עשיית שמן משחה (עי' את הביבליוגרפיה שבסוף הספר), וכפי שמרומז גם במסורת חז"ל (השווה כריתות יהוה, א'־ב'; הוריות, י"א, ב'), ובסוף העבודה היה נשאר בתוך השמן רק ריחם של כה הבשמים, ולא חמרם הגלמי.
Many
commentators have found it difficult to understand why the quantity
of oil is so very small relative to the weight of the spices, which
totals 1500 shekels. The weight of the oil is only about a quarter
or a fifth of the spices taken together, and if so large a quantity
of spices was put into the hin of oil, the resultant mixture would
be a thick mass, not oil that could easily be poured, such as would
be required for anointing the priests (xxix 7). But those who raise
this objection have overlooked the fact that the entire aromatic
material was not mixed with the oil, but the spices were subjected
to a long and complicated process of soaking in water and boiling
etc., over a period of many days, as we are informed by the
Akkadian documents that describe the making of the anointing
oil (see the bibliography at the end of this volume), and as is in
dicated also in rabbinic tradition (compare Kerithoth 5:1-2;
Horayoth 11:2), and at the end of the distillation only the fragrance
of the spices remained in the oil, not the raw material.
גם בזה נתקשו כמה מפרשים, מכיון שסברו שלא תוכל כמותו המצומצמת של השמן להספיק לתכלית זו. אבל נתחלפה להם משיחה במריחה, ובוודאי אין הכוונה שיש למרוח בשמן את כל השטח של כל הרהיטים והכלים והיריעות והקרשים, אלא הכוונה היא שיש להזות (ויק' ח', י"א) טיפה או טיפות של השמן על קצה אחד, ודי (לפי המסורת התלמודית היו מושחים בצורת כ"י יוונית). עוד מצאו קושי בזה, שהשמן יקלקל את היריעות המהודרות של המשכן; אבל גם קושיה זו מתבטלת כשאנו שמים לב לכך, שרק להזאת טיפות מתכוון הכתוב, ואם יישאר בקצה היריעות כתם קטן של שמן לא יהיה בכך קלקול, אלא סימן מוחשי שהיריעות נתקדשו כהלכתן.
a number of exegetes found a difficulty, since they held
that the limited quantity of oil could not suffice for this purpose.
But they confused anointing with smearing. The verse does not
mean that oil was to be spread over the entire surface of the articles
of furniture, vessels, curtains and beams, but that one or two drops
of the oil were to be sprinkled (Lev. vii 11) upon one end of each
object; that was all (according to Talmudic tradition the anointing
was done in the form of a Greek Chi (X). It was further objected
that the oil would spoil the beautiful curtains of the tabernacle;
but this objection also falls away when we realize that the text
has in mind merely the sprinkling of drops. If a small oil stain
were left at the edge of the curtains, this would not be a blemish
but a tangible sign that they had been properly consecrated.
Leonard's mother's advice to him to have shave whenever he got depressed. ... there's a funeral in the mirror and its stopping at your face... Leonard Cohen - Dress Rehearsal Rag (Official Audio)