Little Zion. Two drops of the holy oil of anointing, says a Haggada, remained for ever hanging on the beard of Aaron like two pearls, as an emblem of atonement and of peace. Unity must be remarked upon. The Egyptian false beard is one of the most important attributes of pharaohs' attire, if not the most important. It is also brought closely into connection with love ( Song of Solomon 1:3 ). The remainder of the sacrifice was offered to God with a piece of unleavened Bread, a piece of leavened Bread, and a small cake. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! The sons of Aaron were only sprinkled with this anointing oil; but Aaron was expressly anointed with it, inasmuch as Moses poured it upon his head; hence he is called par excellence "the anointed priest" ( ), whilst the other priests are only "anointed" (, Numbers 3:3) in so far as their garments, like Aaron's, were also sprinkled with the oil (together with the blood of the ram of consecration), Leviticus 8:12, Leviticus 8:30. He had loved God in a manner which exposed him to the charge of extravagance. How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!, That word good there in verse 1 is the Hebrew word tov which. They seemed to complain about his marriage to a Cushite woman, and they appeared to rebel against him being the only one to whom the LORD communicated. We could just figure out a way of having worship like that every Sunday! Aaron's beard may refer to the following plants having numerous stamens or threadlike runners: Cymbalaria muralis (Ivy-leaved toadflax, Kenilworth ivy), native to south and southwest Europe [1] Hypericum calycinum (Great St. John's-wort, Jerusalem star), widely cultivated. The Israelites did! 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. The holy anointing oil was a mixture of four spices in oil. God wanted his priests to be separate and distinct. The figure of the poet is therefore as true to nature as it is beautiful. Unity is pictured as coming from Gods presence mediated at Jerusalem, specifically at the temple in the Old Testament, and coming out to us as a part of the blessing of life forevermore.. Verse 2. And Psalm 133 tells us that it was a total consecration. It is also clear that cannot now refer to the beard of Aaron, either as flowing down over the upper border of his robe, or as flowing down upon its hem; it must refer to the oil, for peaceable love that brings the most widely separated together is likened to the oil. As the psalm comes to an end, another analogy is shared. After the Temple was built in Jerusalem, worship of God was done at a specific location. What Does It Mean That "Your Life Is Hidden with Christ"? The blessing. . . The Aaronic Blessings, also called the Priestly Blessing, is the blessing God instructed Aaron and his sons to say over the Israelites in Numbers 6:24-26. A beard that was left unattended symbolized neglect, uncleanliness, and a carefree life. And I love this. Strain. What Do We Learn from Reading Jesus Genealogy? Catholics & Bible do not intend to provide any health related advice. Did you know many battles have been fought over a man's beard? 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. The precious ointment that ran down. The precious oil is being used as an illustration of brothers dwelling together in unity. Most of us will ask how does that make sense? 30:23-25, 30. Leviticus 8:12 And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him. Psalm 133. is the oil for anointing described in Exodus 30:22-33, which consisted of a mixture of oil and aromatic spices strictly forbidden to be used in common life. Blessing. Its rich profusion typified the abundance of the Spirit's graces. To confront an adversary in his or her own environment. This is as the dew of Hermon: of such pristine freshness and thus refreshing, possessing such pristine power and thus quickening, thus born from above (Psalm 110:3), and in fact like the dew of Hermon which comes down upon the mountains of Zion - a feature in the picture which is taken from the natural reality; for an abundant dew, when warm days have preceded, might very well be diverted to Jerusalem by the operation of the cold current of air sweeping down from the north over Hermon. It is a picture of very different people, yet people who are united. For there ( as in Psalm 132:17) hath Jahve commanded ( as in Leviticus 25:21, cf. They are these --, Verse 2-3. Its really short, really beautiful, and really weird. To pull it is to inflict indignity. In of itself, this worship was a great blessing, but the psalm ends with something else. Salem Media Group. ( First attested in the late 19th century.) Behold how good and how pleasant it is, For brethren to dwell together in unity! The Bible is, however, keen on stating how clean and well . They know exactly what David is referencing. Jesus was "set apart" as God's Servant (see Isaiah 42:1 ). Living a life dedicated to God makes as much sense as the sunshine in our world. While this widely-known consensus . 1828 "aaron's" The following 2 entries include the term aaron's . The people of Israel would bring their prayer items to the priests and the priest would present them before the Lord at the altar. 1 (A Song of degrees of David.) But its more than just good. Its holy. Donations to this ministry aretax-deductible. Clearly, the emphasis of this song is unity among the children of Israel. It will help you learn to structure your life to do the most good to the glory of God. And Psalm 133 tells us that it was a total consecration. By themselves the spices could not make a holy oil. Arron's Beard, like many in this family, spreads by . The tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant, the table, lamp, and the altar of burnt offerings were all anointed with holy oil. 2. A Man With a Beard by subhamshome from Pixabay.Dew Covering a Field of Spring Flowers by Zazu70 from Pixabay. Tension. In this way, their lives will be different from the surrounding nations and God will set them apart for a blessing. What is normal is not good and not pleasant. In this article, you will discover: The meaning of the Egyptian false beard. and down upon the collar of his robes. Of Beards and Men: The Revealing History of Facial Hair. It is like the finest oils poured on the head, sweet-smelling oils flowing down to cover the beard, Flowing down the beard of Aaron, flowing down the collar of his robe. --Thomas Adams. Upon the mountains of Zion: aaron's-beard popularity This term is known only to a narrow circle of people with rare knowledge. Read Full Chapter Psalms 133:1-3 Amplified Bible ( AMP) 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. As the copious dew, such as fell on Hermon, falls in fertilizing power on the mountains of Zion, so this unity is fruitful in good works. Copyright 2019-2023. It is like the dew of Hermon, which flows down upon the hills of Zion. Unity is the theme of this psalm. make (one's) beard. The image here is of a barber shaving someone's beard (and thus holding a razor to that person's throat). Imagine the deluge of water, the wetness carrying life-giving sustenance to a drier, more weary land! the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore., Unity is pictured as coming out of Mt. 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. Here are both verses together. It identified the people of Israel as Gods people. Now, that sounds gross to our foreign and modern ears, but try to put yourself in Israelite shoes. This was typical of the grace of the Spirit, the unction from the Holy One; which has been poured on Christ, the head of the church, without measure; and with which he has been anointed above his fellows; and from him it is communicated to all his members; to every one of which is given grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ; and who from his fulness receive, and grace for grace: and particularly brotherly love is compared to this ointment; because of the preciousness of it, which is true of every grace; and because of the extensiveness of it, reaching to head and members, to Christ and all his saints, the meanest and lowest of them; and because of its fragrancy and sweet odour to all that are sensible of it; and because of its delightful, cheering, and refreshing nature; like ointment and perfume it rejoices the heart; yea, the worst things said, or reproofs given, in brotherly love, are like oil, pleasant and useful, Proverbs 27:9; and is as necessary for the saints, who are all priests unto God, to offer up their spiritual sacrifices; particularly that of prayer, which should be "without wrath", as well as without doubting; and to do all other duties of religion, which should spring from charity or love; as the anointing oil was to Aaron and his sons, in order to their officiating in the priest's office. Also called: althaea a Syrian malvaceous shrub, Hibiscus syriacus (or Althaea frutex ), cultivated for its red or purplish flowers Collins English Dictionary. That ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard. 61:1; Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38. And, catch this, David is saying that unity is like that. There is something about leadership and authority, if used well, that inspires the souls of men. Thats Aaron being completely covered in precious oil! Therefore it is called "the oil of gladness", because it rejoiceth our hearts, by giving us spiritual gladness, and peace of conscience. So what happens if the dew of Hermon falls on Zion? Remember, precious oil is a symbol in the Bible of the anointing, consecrating, sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. the precious oil . It is good in every way when Gods people experience unity. is not the collar above, which gives no advance, much less the antithesis of two extremes, but the hem at the bottom (cf. He was an institution; he was a symbol; he not merely represented Israel, he was the embodiment of Israel. In verse 3, both the mountains of Hermon and hills of Zion are mentioned. In this prayer and song of the unity of the church, it is note worthy how, commencing with the fundamental idea of "brethren", we rise to the realization of the Elder Brother, who is our common anointed High Priest. It ran down over his beard and onto his robes. It is also brought closely into connection with love ( Song of Solomon 1:3 ). Now, of course, if we are not being unified, then that signifies the opposite, doesnt it? In that very waste lay the point of the resemblance for David. The oil, after all, would drip onto the breastplate which bore a stone for each of the twelve tribes. Zion?] [3] It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! You have the nice bit in the Psalms 133 about `how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity like the precious oil upon the head that ran down upon the beard--Aaron's beard.' If you have any questions, please feel free to send me a message. The priests in the Bible played a very key role as the go between God and the people. Sort: Relevancy A - Z. beard the lion in his den. and it is a common wizarding expression used to show surprise. --Neale and Littledale. And, ultimately, it doesnt come from our hard work. We know, indeed, from our own experience how far off a cold air coming from the Alps is perceptible and produces its effects. What Miracles Did Pope John Paul II Perform? --J. F. Even for us as believers going through similar challenges, we must not give up but instead be hopeful knowing that he who vindicates us is near. Wall Street expects a year-over-year decline in earnings on higher revenues when Aaron's Company, Inc. (AAN) reports results for the quarter ended March 2023. Unity. beard-splitter. God expected his children to obey for their own good. Even Aaron's beard - The word "even" here, introduced by our translators, weakens the force and beauty of the comparison. Psalm 133:1-3, NET. In contrast to the above, we have moments of joy and peace, relationships with others, and opportunities to do acts of goodness. Christian affection knows no limits of parish, nation, sect, or age. Down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments. And I sensed the same thing last week from set-up to tear down for Celebration Sunday 2020. Well, David uses weather like that to explain just how pleasant unity is in verse 3. . Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! Aaron 's beard s) A common name for several plants, which have tufts of stamens. All Rights Reserved. 3 It is like the dew of Hermon that runs down upon the mountains of Zion, because there Yahweh commanded the blessing life forever. Its only 2,500 feet above sea level. . The vessel was emptied on the High Priest's person, so that its contents flowed clown from the head upon the beard, and even to the skirts of the sacerdotal robes. For the oil was not sprinkled on the head of Aaron, though that might have been sufficient for the purpose of a mere ceremony. 3. 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. Answer: Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs were usually depicted wearing odd tubular false beards and sometimes strange hats, like helmets. To understand this verse of scripture, we must look at the beginning of Chapter 19. Trusting God with Creation But Not Providence, 8 Sins You Commit Whenever You Look at Porn. Any disunity, and the oil will not flow as expected. I wrote this short, fast-paced, practical guide to productivity to share what I have learned about getting things done in todays digital world. Growing a beard is comparable to waiting calmly without complaining and remaining unmovable even when you really feel like running. "Full beards also have religious associations (think of Moses or Jesus). Aaron's beard (Hypericum calycinum) is an evergreen shrub worth growing for its beautiful foliage and bright yellow, cup-shaped flowers. Psalm 133:1-3 New International Reader's Version (1998) (NIrV) 1 How good and pleasant it is Literally, Like the oil, the good oil, on the head descending upon the beard, Aaron's beard, which ( was) descending to the mouth of his robes. I first preached Psalm 133 after a little event we had on our campus here called Wild West Day. Im just joking about it being little. . The holy anointing oil for the high priest was olive oil mixed with four of the best spices (Ex 30:22, 25, 30). This garden favorite is in leaf all year long, while the flowering period happens between June and September, followed by the ripening of the seeds in the early fall season. I wish it was like that every week outside. This isnt just for the High Priest. Psalm 133:1-3 New Century Version (NCV) 1 It is good and pleasant when God's people live together in peace! As the dew of Hermon, And as the dew that descended. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even . That went down to the skirts of his garments - literally, "to the mouth of his garment." A lot more than Zion. The repetition of the word down helps unlock the metaphor. When brethren bound together in love also meet together in one place, and in fact when brethren out of the north unite with brethren in the south in Jerusalem, the city which is the mother of all, at the great Feasts, it is as when the dew of Mount Hermon, which is covered with deep, almost eternal snow, (Note: A Haraunitish poem in Wetzstein's Lieder-Sammlungen begins: Arab. In verse 3, King David uses that same Hebrew word for descending from verse 2 (down, down, down), and he says Imagine the dew of Hermon falling, descending, reallyflooding upon Mount Zion.. God poured out his Spirit on the great and final High Priest, Jesus Christ, who is the head of the church. 'l-saqa yahriq, the frost burns [vid. In Leviticus 21:5, the Bible says. Do I have to prove that to you? Im sure that we could all tell stories about unpleasant conflict in our lives from the last seven days. I think thats the point of the first really weird word picture in verse 2. When Moses poured oil over Aaron's head, he was consecrating Aaron and symbolizing Aaron's being set apart for priestly work by the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. And you remember what it was like to walk into air-conditioning? How much dew on Hermon? And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister as priests to Me. It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. January 14, 2014. A common name for several plants, which have tufts of stamens. coming down upon . It is like the precious ointment upon the head. 1. It grows 12 to 16 inches tall and spreads quickly to about 2 feet wide, making it an excellent ground cover when planted in . One ought to have seen Hermon with its white-golden crown glistening aloft in the blue sky, in order to be able rightly to understand the figure. This is used both of the upper and lower edge of a garment. Sacrifices were offered there, and the High Priest officiated. . Here, as I sat at the foot of Hermon, I understood how the water-drops which rose from its forest-mantled heights, and out of the highest ravines, which are filled the whole year round with snow, after the sun's rays have attenuated them and moistened the atmosphere with them, descend at evening-time as a heavy dew upon the lower mountains which lie round about as its spurs. running down upon the beard, the beard of Aaron, that runs down upon the edges of his robes. 4. Ps 133:1-3. It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! And Ive always wondered, what does Aarons oily head, oily beard, and oily clothing have to do with unity? All of these are blessings of having a life together with our brothers and sisters in the faith. That went down to the skirts of his garments. This is a "song of ascent," sung while families traveled to Jerusalem for one of the feasts. Aaron's beard This is explicitly stated as such. Which if you know what that weird word picture means, its a beautiful description! Capital L-O-R-D. From Yahweh. Looking back at his life, we read of many times when he had conflict with others. - Psalm 93, 05. There was waste in that anointing, too, as well as in the one which took place at Bethany. We actually had 1200 people on our campus that Saturday in July 2001. Each sacrifice was a picture, shadow, and type of . is appositionally explained by : life is the substance and goal of the blessing, the possession of all possessions, the blessing of all blessings. And so is Zion. My daily, curated collection of Kindle deals for Christians. Welcome to the online home of Tim Challies, blogger, author, andbookreviewer. We are called to be a counter-culture community that is different from the world. Each should realize it, and by love and wise conduct diffuse it. Believe it or not, this is psalm singing here about holiness. It reads. Beards tap into spiritual energy - Judaism. 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. It is one of the most commonly used expressions in English writings. He calls us to live in harmony and unity. on's-beard plural Aaron's-beards : any of several plants having numerous stamens or threadlike runners: such as a : great saint-john's-wort b : jerusalem star c : strawberry geranium d : kenilworth ivy e or Aaron's-beard cactus : a cactus (Opuntia leucotricha) that has white hairs on its joints Word History Etymology Copyright Like The Master Ministries. (NASB) 1 Cor. A non-profit, 501(c)3 corporation. The blessings of fraternal unity. 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. The dew and oil analogies are linked by the word "flow.". Aaron's Beard stands for . . Psalm 133 does not tell us how to maintain unity. In that part of the Tra which describes the robe of the high priest, is its hems, , or even absolutely , the opening for the head, or the collar, by means of which the sleeveless garment was put on, and the binding, the embroidery, the border of this collar (vid., Exodus 28:32; Exodus 39:23; cf.