30:23-25, 30. Down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments. 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; It is like the good oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard, Aarons beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes. Some Orthodox Jewish men grow their beards as a sign of piety and devotion to God. Protecting The Most Valuable Treasure On Earth. Here are both verses together. The oldest is a painting from 235 C.E. Whether or not to grow a beard is a personal decision for each Christian man. I am a Christian, a husband to Aileen, and a father to two girls in their teens and one son who is waiting for me in heaven. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Jeremiah writes about shaven beards as a sign of mourning in, Isaiah proclaimed Judahs enemies would have their beards would be cut off as a sign of Gods judgment in, When Ezra heard about the spiritual unfaithfulness in Israel he pulled hair from his beard to show his shock and horror (. 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. --Neale and Littledale. He also maintains his own blogrevkylenorman.ca. Beards are mentioned numerous times throughout the Bible, usually in reference to the facial hair of prophets, kings, and other important figures. As they journey through the desert, Israel grumbles about many things, the lack of food, the scarcity of water, the presence of enemies. The names, events, and lineages found in the Old Testament are often explored, or spoken of, in the pages of the New Testament. Whichever staff blossoms would indicate the Lords calling to act as Israels priest. He calls us to live in harmony and unity. He believes himself to be of no importance, a man of slow speech (Exodus 4:10). It is like fragrant ointment poured on the head, running down upon the beard, running down upon the beard of Aaron, and flowing on the collar of his robes. His challenges with Saul immediately come to mind. When Mephibosheth was summoned to appear before king David, the Bible says that he had not taken care of his feet nor trimmed his beards. Is he one of the poorest, one of the least spiritual, one of the least lovable? This was available to those who worshipped God acceptably at the hills of Zion and followed those whom He anointed. Moses is the baby of the family. Some people believe that beards were also seen as a sign of holiness in biblical times. In of itself, this worship was a great blessing, but the psalm ends with something else. They are known for their traditional clothing and their simple lifestyle. Want the Verse of the Day sent to your inbox? Despite being commissioned as priest for the people, Aaron is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. All content Tim Challies, 2002-2023. Therefore, it is in the context of holiness that the Israelites were supposed to grow their hairs both on the sides of their heads and their beards. Other Jewish men grow their beards simply because they like the way it looks. Then he told those who were with him, Do this to Davids men when you meet them tomorrow. When the Ammonites went out to fight against Israel. 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. Proud member Leviticus 8:12 And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him. ). A Man With a Beard by subhamshome from Pixabay.Dew Covering a Field of Spring Flowers by Zazu70 from Pixabay. Reflections on the Bible, and Other Writings, from a Christian Perspective. He is best known for preaching about repentance and for baptizing the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, some Jewish men have beards. They were different spices mixed together to make a wonderful fragrance a holy oil. God heard his prayer and Hezekiah was miraculously healed. Nevertheless, they remain a popular facial hair style. Aarons Blessing is found in Numbers 6:22-26. That went down to the skirts of his garments. Moses is the man sent by God; Moses receives the law; Moses leads the Israelites to the Promised Land. Whatever his reasons, Aaron casts the golden calf. It "ran down", and it" went down": love for the brethren condescends to men of low estate, it is not puffed up, but is lowly and meek. > out how long was Aaron's beard? Whether or not to grow a beard is a personal decision for each Jewish man. And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister as priests to Me. What is the meaning of Psalm 133:2 when it says, . Its like the special olive oil that was poured on Aarons head. It has a sweet perfume about it, comparable to that precious ointment with which the first High Priest was anointed at his ordination. It is like the precious ointment upon the head. . It is Moses that is listed in the Heroes of faith of Hebrews 11. Welcome to the online home of Tim Challies, blogger, author, andbookreviewer. The scripture compares this unity to the anointing of Aaron for priesthood. The lesson of Aarons oily beard is a lesson of unity. A non-profit, 501(c)3 corporation. The idea of brethren in unity is connected to the wise hearted, who are filled with the spirit of wisdom and who were asked to make the robes of service for glory and beauty. He says that because the Lord is sovereign, he will come to his aid and that he wont be disgraced. And oh, how good it is when we embrace that unity, when we practice it, when we foster and treasure it. Even today these words convey Gods blessing upon the beloved community of faith. In fact, Samsons hair was so strong that it was the source of his power (Judges 16:17). Did Any New Testament Prophets Grow Beards? The Surprising Truth. Some people argue that there is a biblical case for beards. . Isaiah talks about how he was willing to accept abuse without hiding his face. This is a poetic celebration of brotherhood, of harmony. It will be on the seventh day that he shall shave off all his hair: he shall shave his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair. Aaron 's beard ( pl. Any suggestions? Like the precious oil upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, upon Aaron's beard, that ran down to the hem of his garments; In the nights lift up your hands to the holy places, and bless ye the Lord. See Jacob Milgrom, Leviticus 1-16 One law (Leviticus 14:8-9) commanded that men who had been healed from a skin disease were to shave off their hair to prove to the priest and the people in the camp that they were disease-free. of David recognized this truth when he selected the profuse anointing of Aaron with the oil of consecration at his installation into the office of High Priest as a fit emblem of brotherly love. These genealogies, however, are important to see how God uses particular people and families within the plan of salvation. Did Christian Man in the Early Church Have a Beard?? Any disunity, and the oil will not flow as expected. 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. By unity the Church, as a whole, lives its life of consecration, and effectively ministers in the priesthood assigned it. I have now blogged for 7,061 consecutive days. The Amish view the beard as a sign of manhood and wisdom. The Bible is full of bearded men, from the patriarchs Abraham and Moses to the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel, and even Jesus himself is often depicted with a beard. Proverbs 27:9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. Whats clear is that David has in mind the anointing of the high priest, a ceremony that involved oil. One is that beards were simply more common in biblical times than they are today. - He poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head.The change of the verb poured for sprinkled, indicates that the amount of "the precious ointment" poured "upon the head, that ran down unto the beard, and went down to the skirts of his garments" (Psalm 133:2), was far greater than that with which the furniture of the tabernacle had been anointed. 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 has good reason to be grateful for it! It is like fine oil poured on the head, which flows down the beard Aarons beard, and then flows down his garments. The Roman style to shave off beards may have influenced the artists who depicted Jesus in the catacombs of Rome. the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down It is like perfumed oil poured on the priests head and running down his beard. He helped to establish the priesthood and was also responsible for making the Golden Calf. New International Version (NIV). Remember, David said it is good and pleasant! It is like the precious oil on the head, Running down upon the beard. Mt. Does it Matter That I Didn't Keep My Goals for Lent? ; Opuntia leucotricha (Arborescent prickly pear, Aaron's beard cactus), a species of prickly pear cactus, endemic to Mexico. In fact, the Hasidic sect of Judaism is known for its bearded men. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). Bible Answers 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. 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. 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. Is the One You Now Serve Able to Deliver You? Bible Answer: Psalm 133:2 illustrates the proceeding verse, Ps. 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. How can we know the Messiah would be God incarnate? 1) Aaron's Robe: Beauty & Glory. --Alfred Edersheim, Verse 2. This is no small part of its excellence: oil would not anoint if it did not flow down, neither would brotherly love diffuse its blessing if it did not descend. It ran down on his beard and on the collar of his robe. Aaron, quite literally, bears the Israelites upon his shoulders whenever he makes a sacrifice before the Lord (28:12). Such moments are only fully realized if we do have unity among ourselves. Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? King Hezekiah is mentioned in the Bible as having a beard. Hence, it is a personal matter. Most of them were clean-shaven. Ezekiel was a prophet who lived in the 6th century BC. He then leads the people in a festival that includes all types of revelry. We read the words, for there Yahweh gives the blessing right after David speaks of the hills of Zion. Other artists painted Jesus with a beard because there are many references to beards in Scripture. 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. As an affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Proud member Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. They also believe in a strict code of conduct, which includes not cutting their hair or shaving their beards. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. Since God created man, God gave man the ability to make choices the moment they came out of their mothers womb. 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 . fishing with canned anchovies; pros and cons of living in mackay; is alaska: the last frontier coming . The second Scripture is found in Psalm 133: "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious shemen upon the rosh, that ran down upon the beard, even Aharons beard; that went down to the collar of his robes; It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down upon the beard, upon the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! He also wrote many of the Psalms in the Bible. It is. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! That went down to the skirts of his garments. After a lengthy discussion, Moses defiantly asks Please send someone else (Exodus 4:13). Bezalel is also mentioned as having a beard. As a Levitical priest, Aaron oversees the religious life of Israel. In fact, many scholars believe that the words beard and authority share their roots in the Latin word auro, which means both to gild somethingto make goldand to rule over somethingto govern.. Is this fair? It is a diffusive thing: being poured on his bead the fragrant oil flowed down upon Aaron's head, and thence dropped upon his garments till the utmost hem was anointed therewith; and even so doth brotherly love extend its benign power and bless all who are beneath its influence. Bezalel was an artist and craftsman who was chosen by God to help build the tabernacle. He is most well-known for leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. This lyric could also be referring to Aaron Rose, a filmmaker and artist from Oregon. 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. 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. . It was a feature that was very likely to strike his mind; for he, too, was a wasteful man in his way. 3 It is like the dew of Mount Hermon. Some pictures of Jesus also show him as a young man when he would not have been old enough to grow a beard. One of the most famous stories about King Hezekiah is when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer and he prayed to God to heal him. We try to help our readers better understand their lives; however, the content on this blog is not a substitute for any professional medical guidance. For example, John the Baptist is mentioned as having a beard in Luke 1:15. Inasmuch as was beard was a sign of honor, priesthood, and anointing, it had to be taken care of by trimming. Why did Abraham, Moses, and Jesus all have beards? Living a life dedicated to God makes as much sense as the sunshine in our world. You can follow Penny on herblogand on Instagram@pennynoyes. He even allowed people to spit on him. It ran down Aaron's beard. Jesus on Adultery: Its More Controversial Than You Think. After all, Aaron accompanied Moses into Egypt and aided in Israels liberation. "Aaron's Blessing" is found in Numbers 6:22-26. Men with Sikh hair can wear a long goatee or beard beads. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! The ointment was "holy", prepared in accordance with the Divine prescription: The anointing was from God through Moses, who acted on behalf of God in the matter. . to the skirts of his garments." (KJV) -- John Gill. They were also seen as a sign of strength and power. The earliest pictures of Jesus date from 200-300 years after his birth. The answer is found in Psalm 133:2: "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.." (KJV) I'd say it was pretty long, right? The purpose of the psalm is made obvious in its opening line: Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! This is a poetic celebration of brotherhood, of harmony. This is a profound image of the priestly role within the community of faith. There are mixed opinions on beards today. Sam is a founder and editor of Catholics & Bible. The Bible tells us how important beards were in Biblical times by mentioning them in over 100 verses. Samson is one of the most well-known figures in the Bible. Verse 2. Researchers and archeologists havent discovered any pictures or sculptures of Jesus that date back to the time of his birth and resurrection. Through the prophet, God had addressed the sin of Israel and how detestable it is to him. 5 Things You Should Know about the ESV Bible Translation. Moses is one of the most well-known figures in the Bible. He believes it is more important than ever before to help people find a genuine faith. I hope that you benefit from what I teach. Wesley's Psalms 133:2 Bible Commentary. The book of Exodus begins with the Lords call for Moses to liberate Israel from their Egyptian slavedrivers. His beard represents his strength and power. 33:1. And what made them even better? There are a few possible explanations. Aaron co-leads the tribe through the desert and performs miracles and mighty feats of faith. --Thomas Adams. 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