Aucient Egyptian Servant purfuinii
| self, and to anoint his head" (Wilkinson's Anc. Egyp- tians, iv, 279 ; ii, 213). See Spikenard. It is prob- able, however, that the Egyptians, as well as the Greeks and Jews, anointed themselves at home, be- fore going abroad, although they expected the observ- ance of this etiquette on the part of their entertainer. That the Jews thus anointed themselves, not only when paying a visit, but on ordinary occasions, is shown by many passages, especially those which de- scribe the omission of it as a sign of mourning (Deut. xxviii, 40 ; Ruth iii, 3 ; 2 Sam. xiv, 2 ; Dan. x, 3 ; Amos vi, G ; Mic. vi, 15 ; Esth. ii, 12 ; Psa. civ, 15 ; Isa. lxi, 3; Eccles. ix, 8; Cant, i, 3; iv, 10; also Ju-
j dith x, 3 ; Sus. 17 ; Ecclus. xxxix, 26 ; Wisd. ii, 7).
j One of these passages (Psa. civ, 15, "oil that maketh the face to shine") shows very clearly that not only the hair but the skin was anointed. In our northern climates this custom may not strike us as a pleasant one ; but as the peculiar usages of most nations are found, on strict examination, to be in accordance with the peculiarities of their climate and condition, we maj' be assured that this Oriental predilection for ex- ternal unction must have arisen from a belief that it contributed materially to health and cleanliness. Niebuhr states that " in Yemen the anointing of the body is believed to strengthen and protect it from the heat of the sun, by which the inhabitants of this prov- ince, as they wear but little clothing, are very liable to suffer. Oil, by closing up the pores of the skin, is supposed to prevent that too copious transpiration which enfeebles the frame ; perhaps, too, these Ara- bians think a glistening skin a beauty. When the in- tense heat comes on they always anoint their bodies with oil." See Oil.
3. Anointing the Sick. — The Orientals are indeed strongly persuaded of the sanative properties of oil ; and it was under this impression that the Jews anoint- ed the sick, and applied oil to wounds (Psa. cix, 18; Isa. i, 6; Luke x, 34; Rev. iii, 18). Anointing was used in sundry disorders, as well as to promote the general health of the body. It was hence, as a sal- utary and approved medicament, that the seventy
J disciples were directed to "anoint the sick" (Mark ; vi, 13) ; and hence also the sick man is directed by I the apostle (James v, 14) to send for the elders of the Church, who were "to pray for him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord." The Tal- . mudical citations of Lightfoot on Matt, vi, 16, show j that the later Jews connected charms and supersti- l tious mutterings with such anointings, and he is there- I fore probably right in understanding this text to mean, "It is customary for the unbelieving Jews to i use anointing of the sick, joined with a magical and enchanting muttering ; but how infinitely better is it to join the pious prayers of the elders of the Church to the anointing of the sick." Niebuhr assures us that at Sana (and doubtless in other parts of Arabia) the Jews, as well as many of the Moslems, have their bodies anointed whenever they feel themselves indis- posed. Analogous to this is the anointing with oil practised by the twelve (Mark ix,. 13), and our Lord's anointing the eyes of a blind man with clay made from saliva, in restoring him miraculously to sight (JLir'cXP'Gi) John ix, 6, 11). See Medicine.
4. Anointing the Dead. — The practice of anointing the bodies of the dead is intimated in Mark xiv, 8, and Luke xxiii, 56. This ceremony was performed after the body was washed, and was designed to check the progress of corruption. Although, from the mode of application, it is called anointing, the substance employed appears to have been a solution of odor- iferous drugs. This (together with the laying of the bodj' in spices) was the only kind of embalmment in use among the Jews. See Burial ; Embalming.
5. Spiritual. — (1.) In the O. T. a Deliverer is prom- ised under the title of Messiah, or Anointed (Psa. ii, 2 ; Dan. ix, 25, 26) ; and the nature of his anointing
ANOINT
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ANOINT
is described to be spiritual, with the Holy Ghost (Isa. I lxi, 1 ; see Luke iv, 18). As anointing with oil beto- kened prosperity, and produced a cheerful aspect (Psa. civ, 15), so this spiritual unction is figuratively de- : scribed as anointing "with the oil of gladness" (Psa. j xlv, 7 ; Heb. i, 9). In the N. T. Jesus of Nazareth is shown to be the Messiah or Christ, or Anointed of the 0. T. (John i, 41 ; Acts ix, 22 ; xvii, 2, 3 ; xviii, 5, 28) ; and the historical fact of his being anointed with the Holy Ghost is recorded and asserted (John i, 32, 33; j Acts iv, 27 j x, 38). (2.) Spiritual anointing with the Holy Ghost is conferred also upon Christians by God (2 Cor. i, 21), and they are described as having an unc- tion (xpiffj.ia) from the Holy One, by which they know all things (1 John ii, 20, 27). To anoint the eyes with eye-salve is used figuratively, to denote the process of obtaining spiritual perception (Rev. iii, 18).