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Selected Verse: Exodus 30:22 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ex 30:22	Strong Concordance	Moreover the LORD [03068] spake [01696] unto Moses [04872], saying [0559],
	King James	Moreover the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

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Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Compare Exo 37:29. Exo 30:23 Principal spices - i. e. the best spices. Pure myrrh - Is a gum which comes from the stem of a low, thorny, ragged tree, that grows in Arabia Felix and Eastern Africa, called by botanists Balsamodendron myrrha. The word here rendered pure, is literally, "freely flowing", an epithet which is explained by the fact that the best myrrh is said to exude spontaneously from the bark, while that of inferior quality oozes out in greater quantity from incisions made in the bark. Five hundred shekels - Probably rather more than 15 1/4 lbs. See Exo 38:24. Cinnamon - is obtained from a tree allied to the laurel that grows in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and other islands of the Indian Ocean, known in Botany as the Cinnamomum zeylanicum. It is the inner rind of the tree dried in the sun. It was imported from India in very early times by the people of Ophir, and brought with other spices from the south part of Arabia by the trading caravans that visited Egypt and Syria. The mention of these spices in Exodus may be taken as the earliest notice we have connected with commerce with the remote East. Two hundred and fifty shekels - about 7 lbs. 14 oz. Sweet calamus - The fragrant cane (or rush) was probably what is now known in India as the Lemon Grass. Exo 30:24 Cassia - is the inner bark of an Indian tree (Cinnamomum cassia), which differs from that which produces cinnamon in the shape of its leaves and some other particulars. It was probably in ancient times, as it is at present, by far less costly than cinnamon, and it may have been on this account that it was used in double quantity. An hin - Probably about six pints. See Lev 19:36. Exo 30:25 An oil of holy ointment - Rather, a holy anointing oil. After the art of the apothecary - According to Jewish tradition, the essences of the spices were first extracted, and then mixed with the oil. The preparation of the anointing oil, as well as of the incense, was entrusted to Bezaleel Exo 37:29, and the care of preserving it to Eleazar, the son of Aaron Num 4:16. In a later age, it was prepared by the sons of the priests Ch1 9:30. Exo 30:32 Upon man's flesh - i. e. on the persons of those who were not priests who might employ it for such anointing as was usual on festive occasions (Psa 104:15; Pro 27:9; Mat 6:17, etc.). Exo 30:33 A stranger - See Exo 29:33. Cut off from his people - See Exo 31:14.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Compare Exo 37:29.

Exo 30:23

Principal spices - i. e. the best spices.

Pure myrrh - Is a gum which comes from the stem of a low, thorny, ragged tree, that grows in Arabia Felix and Eastern Africa, called by botanists Balsamodendron myrrha. The word here rendered pure, is literally, "freely flowing", an epithet which is explained by the fact that the best myrrh is said to exude spontaneously from the bark, while that of inferior quality oozes out in greater quantity from incisions made in the bark.

Five hundred shekels - Probably rather more than 15 1/4 lbs. See Exo 38:24.

Cinnamon - is obtained from a tree allied to the laurel that grows in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and other islands of the Indian Ocean, known in Botany as the Cinnamomum zeylanicum. It is the inner rind of the tree dried in the sun. It was imported from India in very early times by the people of Ophir, and brought with other spices from the south part of Arabia by the trading caravans that visited Egypt and Syria. The mention of these spices in Exodus may be taken as the earliest notice we have connected with commerce with the remote East.

Two hundred and fifty shekels - about 7 lbs. 14 oz.

Sweet calamus - The fragrant cane (or rush) was probably what is now known in India as the Lemon Grass.

Exo 30:24

Cassia - is the inner bark of an Indian tree (Cinnamomum cassia), which differs from that which produces cinnamon in the shape of its leaves and some other particulars. It was probably in ancient times, as it is at present, by far less costly than cinnamon, and it may have been on this account that it was used in double quantity.

An hin - Probably about six pints. See Lev 19:36.

Exo 30:25

An oil of holy ointment - Rather, a holy anointing oil.

After the art of the apothecary - According to Jewish tradition, the essences of the spices were first extracted, and then mixed with the oil. The preparation of the anointing oil, as well as of the incense, was entrusted to Bezaleel Exo 37:29, and the care of preserving it to Eleazar, the son of Aaron Num 4:16. In a later age, it was prepared by the sons of the priests Ch1 9:30.

Exo 30:32

Upon man's flesh - i. e. on the persons of those who were not priests who might employ it for such anointing as was usual on festive occasions (Psa 104:15; Pro 27:9; Mat 6:17, etc.).

Exo 30:33

A stranger - See Exo 29:33.

Cut off from his people - See Exo 31:14.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The Holy Anointing Oil. - This was to be prepared from the best perfumes ראשׁע בּשׂמים, where ראשׁע, caput, the principal or chief, is subordinate to בּשׂמים), viz., of four fragrant spices and olive-oil. The spices were, (1) liquid myrrh, as distinguished from the dry gum; - (2) קנּמן־בּשׂם, cinnamon of fragrance, the name having been introduced to the Semitic nations along with the thing itself, and then by the Phoenicians to the Greeks and Romans (κίνναμον, cinnamum): whether it came from Ceylon, the great mart of cinnamon, is very doubtful, as there is not word that can be discovered in the Indian dialects corresponding to cinnamon; - (3) cane of fragrance, the κάλαμος ἀρωματικός, calamus odoratus, of the Greek sand Romans, i.e., the scented calamus which is imported from India; - and (4) kiddah, probably cassia, and possibly the species called κιττώ in Dioscor. 1, 12, in which case קציעה (Psa 45:9) is either the generic name for cassia, or else refers to a different species. The proportion in which these spices were to be taken was 500 shekels or 14 1/2 lbs. of myrrh, half the quantity, i.e., 7 lbs, of cinnamon, and the same of calamus and cassia; in all, therefore, 21 lbs. of dry spices, which were to be mixed with one hin of oil (about 5 quarts) and 14 lbs. of liquid myrrh. These proportions preclude the supposition, that the spices were pulverized and mixed with the oil and myrrh in their natural condition, for the result in that case would have been a thick mess: they rather favour the statement of the Rabbins, that the dry spices were softened in water and boiled, to extract their essence, which was then mixed with oil and myrrh, and boiled again until all the watery part had evaporated. An artificial production of this kind is also indicated by the expressions מרקחת רקח "spice-work of spice-mixture," and רקח מעשׂה "labour (work) of the perfumer or ointment-maker."

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¹⁴ Ye shall keep [08104] the sabbath [07676] therefore; for it is holy [06944] unto you: every one that defileth [02490] it shall surely [04191] be put to death [04191]: for whosoever doeth [06213] any work [04399] therein, that soul [05315] shall be cut off [03772] from among [07130] his people [05971].

³³ And they shall eat [0398] those things wherewith the atonement was made [03722], to consecrate [04390] [03027] and to sanctify [06942] them: but a stranger [02114] shall not eat [0398] thereof, because they are holy [06944].

³³ Whosoever [0834] [0376] compoundeth [07543] any like it, or whosoever putteth [05414] any of it upon a stranger [02114], shall even be cut [03772] off from his people [05971].

¹⁷ But [1161] thou [4771], when thou fastest [3522], anoint [218] thine [4675] head [2776], and [2532] wash [3538] thy [4675] face [4383];

⁹ Ointment [08081] and perfume [07004] rejoice [08055] the heart [03820]: so doth the sweetness [04986] of a man's friend [07453] by hearty [05315] counsel [06098].

¹⁵ And wine [03196] that maketh glad [08055] the heart [03824] of man [0582], and oil [08081] to make his face [06440] to shine [06670], and bread [03899] which strengtheneth [05582] man's [0582] heart [03824].

³² Upon man's [0120] flesh [01320] shall it not be poured [03251], neither shall ye make [06213] any other like it, after the composition [04971] of it: it is holy [06944], and it shall be holy [06944] unto you.

³⁰ And some of the sons [01121] of the priests [03548] made [07543] the ointment [04842] of the spices [01314].

¹⁶ And to the office [06486] of Eleazar [0499] the son [01121] of Aaron [0175] the priest [03548] pertaineth the oil [08081] for the light [03974], and the sweet [05561] incense [07004], and the daily [08548] meat offering [04503], and the anointing [04888] oil [08081], and the oversight [06486] of all the tabernacle [04908], and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary [06944], and in the vessels [03627] thereof.

²⁹ And he made [06213] the holy [06944] anointing [04888] oil [08081], and the pure [02889] incense [07004] of sweet spices [05561], according to the work [04639] of the apothecary [07543].

²⁵ And thou shalt make [06213] it an oil [08081] of holy [06944] ointment [04888], an ointment [07545] compound [04842] after the art [04639] of the apothecary [07543]: it shall be an holy [06944] anointing [04888] oil [08081].

³⁶ Just [06664] balances [03976], just [06664] weights [068], a just [06664] ephah [0374], and a just [06664] hin [01969], shall ye have: I am the LORD [03068] your God [0430], which brought you out [03318] of the land [0776] of Egypt [04714].

²⁴ And of cassia [06916] five [02568] hundred [03967] shekels, after the shekel [08255] of the sanctuary [06944], and of oil [08081] olive [02132] an hin [01969]:

²⁴ All the gold [02091] that was occupied [06213] for the work [04399] in all the work [04399] of the holy [06944] place, even the gold [02091] of the offering [08573], was twenty [06242] and nine [08672] talents [03603], and seven [07651] hundred [03967] and thirty [07970] shekels [08255], after the shekel [08255] of the sanctuary [06944].

²³ Take [03947] thou also unto thee principal [07218] spices [01314], of pure [01865] myrrh [04753] five [02568] hundred [03967] shekels, and of sweet [01314] cinnamon [07076] half [04276] so much [04276], even two hundred [03967] and fifty [02572] shekels, and of sweet [01314] calamus [07070] two hundred [03967] and fifty [02572] shekels,

²⁹ And he made [06213] the holy [06944] anointing [04888] oil [08081], and the pure [02889] incense [07004] of sweet spices [05561], according to the work [04639] of the apothecary [07543].

⁹ Kings [04428]' daughters [01323] were among thy honourable women [03368]: upon thy right hand [03225] did stand [05324] the queen [07694] in gold [03800] of Ophir [0211].