Tiie quality of the oil depended partly on the time at wliich the olives were gathered, and partly on the mode of crushing. Tlie best quality was that yielded by berries gathered before they became black (as they do when fully ripe), and pounded in a mortar. Of this kind was ' beaten oil' (Ex 27^" 29^0, Lv 24'^ Nu 28''). This first quality of oil was got by putting the pulp from the mortar into wicker baskets, through which the strained liquid ran into leceptacles placed beneath. A second and a third quality were obtained by further crushing of the pulp in the oil-press, and then in the oil- mill. -
In the NT allusions to oil are not very frequent ; those occurring in the Gosjjels have reference to its use: — (1) As an illiiminant (Mt25^-^-*). The lamps in common use were of earthenware, and small in size (see Lamp). When they had to be kept burning for any considerable period, it was neces- sary to replenish them with oil from time to time.
(2) Medicinally (Lk W\ Mk &^, cf Ja 5'^). Tlie healing virtues of oil were highly esteemed by the Jews, and it was much employed by them and by other ancient nations. It was applied, e.g., to wounds (Is 1" RV) to soothe their pain and to hasten the process of healing. A similar usage is found in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk lO^''). In this instance, wine as well as oil was employed, the added wine imparting to the mixture an antiseptic quality (cf. Pliny, HNxxxi. 47 ; Talm. Shabbdth xiv. 4). Oil-baths Avere sometimes used, as in the case of Herod the Great (Jos. Ant. xviL vi. 5). The anointing of the sick with oil (Mk 6^^, Ja 5'*) was doubtless based on the current belief in its remedial powers, but may also have been a symbolic act, as was the anointing of lejiers (Lv J4i5ff.) Plumptre suggests that ' it served as a heljj to the faith of the person healed ; periiaps also, in the case of the Apostles, to that of the iiealer ' ('St. James' in Cnmb. Bible for Schools, p. 103).
(3) For anointing (Mt 6", Lk 7*"). The custom of anointing the head or the body with oil was a very common one in ancient times, and was practised by the Egyptians ("Wilkinson, Anc. Egyp. ii. 213), the Greeks (Homer, II. x. 577), and others (Pliny, HN xiii. 1 ff. ). Among the Jews the anointing of tlie head with oil seems to have accompanied the daily ablutions (Mt 6^^ cf. Ru 3^, 2 S 122"), except in time of mourning (2 S 14^, Dn 10^). It was also a mark of honour paid to gue.sts by their iiost (Lk 7^«, cf. Ps 23^). Anointing the feet (Lk 738. 4fi jjj jpj ^yg^g very unusual. The dead were anointed as a tribute of respect (Mk 16^ Lk 2366 241^ cf. Jn 12^- ''), aromatic spices being added.
(4) As an article of merchandise (Mt 25^, Lk \Q^). In common and daily use, and to the Eastern one of the necessaries of life, oil played a large part in the home trade of Palestine (2 K 4'^), and was, further, a most valuable export. We find special
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OIXTMEXT
OLD TESTAMENT
265
mention maJe of traJin^' in oil with the TjTians |Ezk •27^'), who probabl\- re-exiwrted it, and with Egj-pt (Hos 12'). It formed an important part of the supplies sent by Solomon to Hiram in return for the timber and other materials furnished for the building of the Temple (1 K 5'').
Hugh Duxcax.
OINTMENT {fjivpov). — Nard oil, from a plant found especially in Arabia {narc/us), iind highly prized at Rome. St. Luke mentions it in con- ne.\ion with the anointing of Christ by the un- named Moman in the house of Simon the Pharisee (7^- ■**), and again (23^) as one of the things pre- pared by tlie women for the intended completion of the burial of tlie Miister. See art. AXOI.VTIXG.
In the account of the anointing of Jesus at Betlianj-, St Matthew descrilies the unguent as fjLvpov ^apirritwv, ' exceeding precious ointment ' (26' RV) ; St. Mark as fivpov vdpSov jruTTiK^t iroXi'- reXoCs, ' ointment of spikenard {marg. pistic nard] verj- costly' (14' R\ ) ; St. John as fivpov rapdov irurriK^i iroXiTiuov, ' ointment of spikenard very precioixs' (12» KV, with ref. to Mk 14' [marg.]). As this word TUTTiK-q is found only in these two places, it is rather ditiieult to give its true equiva- lent. It is used by Plato (Gorg. 455) and by Aristotle (Rhct. 1. 2), where it is synonymous -vvith veiariKOi, ' persuasive " ; but that meaning would be irrelevant in this connexion.* Scaliger would translate ' jwunded nard,' from imWu, ' to jx)und,' which is a possible rendering, but lacks analogy. The RV has translated it ' spikenard,' follomng, apparently, the Vulgate rendering of Mk 14^, spicriti. Some would translate 'liquid nard,' de- riving TTicTTLKai from inVw, • to drink " ; others re- gard it as a local teclmical term (see Mk 14* RVm ; cf. Westcott, St. John, 12^). The most natural rendering would appear to be 'pistic nard,' an ointment prepared from the oil of the pistachio nut, which is used to this day in Syria for similar purix).ses. See especially a long note by Morison, C(rm. on Mark, 14^ and ci. artt. Xard and Spike- XARD. Henry E. Dosker.