V. After the erection of the Tabernacle, the offerings of the "princes" included flour mingled with oil (Numb, vii). -
vi. At the consecration of the Levites, fine flour min- gled with oU v.'as offered (Numb, viii, 8).
vii. Meat-offerings in general were mingled or anoint- ed with oil (Lev. vii, 10, 12).
On the other hand, certain offerings were to be devoid of oil; the sin-offering (Lev. v, 11) and the offering of jealousy (Numb, v, 15).
The principle on which both the presence and the absence of oil were prescribed is, clearly, that as oil is in- dicative of gladness, so its absence denoted sorrow or humiliation (Isa. Ixi, 3 ; Joel ii, 19 ; Rev. vi, 6). It is on this principle that oil is so often used in Scripture as symbolical of nourishment and comfort (Deut. xxxii, 13; xxxiii, 24; Job xxix, 6; Psa. xiv, 7; cix, 18; Isa. Ixi, 3).
b. Kings, priests, and prophets were anointed with oil or ointment. See Anoint.
7. As so important a necessary of life, the Jew was required (a) to include oil among his first-fruit offerings (Ezek. xxii, 29 ; xxiii, 16 ; Numb, xviii, 12 ; Deut. xviii, 4 ; 2 Chron. xxxi, 5 ; Terum. xi, 3). In the Mishna va- rious limitations are laid down; but thej' are of little importance except as illustrating the processes to which the olive-berrj' was subjected in the production of oil, and the degrees of estimation in which their results were held.
b. Tithes of oil were also, required (Deut. xii, 17 ; 2 Chron. xxxi, 5 ; Neh. x, 37, 39 ; xiii, 12 ; Ezek. xiv, 14).
8. Shields, if covered with hide, were anointed with oil or grease previous to use. Shields of metal were perhaps rubbed over in like manner to polish them. See Thenius on 2 Sam. i, 21 ; Virgil, yEn. vii, 625 ; Plautus, Mil. i, 1, 2 ; and Gesenius, Thes. p. 825. See Shield.
9. Oil of inferior quality was used in the composition of soap,
OIL, which is the purest lighting material obtained from the innocent vegetable kingdom, has ever been a sacred symbol, possessing healing properties and amel- iorating all suffering from wounds. Oil represents in Christian symbolism the divine mercy. There seems, however, to have entered also into its use in the Chris- tian cultus the ancient practice of the pagan gladiators, who anointed themselves with oil before entering upon a contest. Thus oil came to be used for anointings at baptism and confirmation, and on the death-bed (the last anointing), at ordination of priests, and the consecration of kings. See Anoint. The double sense of the per- formance was probably that it secures to the subject, first, a share of divine mercy, and, secondly, a strengthen- ing for life's severe combats. In the Romish Church there are three kinds of holy oils : (1) holy oils strictly so called ; (2) chrism oil ; and (3) sick men's oil. These oils are consecrated by the bishop on INIaundy- Thursday annually for all the churches of his di- ocese. Pure olive-oil only is used, with balsam ( = balm) for the chrism. Three metal vases are usually provided and covered with silk, on one of which are engraved the words '• Oleum Injirmo- run" ( = oil of the infirm i or the ini- Oil-stock.
OIL
323
OIL-PRESS
166 sq. ; Burnet, r/« Thirty-nine A rticles, p. 353, 378, 379, 381, 382, 384; Coleman, Ancient Christianity, p. 309,371,432. (J. H.W.) ♦
Oil-press. No specific name for this occurs in the Bible, except in the name Gethsemane (q. v.) ; but the machine must have been of common use among the Hebrews, and remains of them are still of frequent oc- currence in Palestine (see Thomson, Land and Book, i, 307). The upright posts stand iu pairs about two feet
tials " 0. T. ;" on another, " Oleum Catechumenorum"(= oil of the cateclmmeus) or •' O. C.;" on the third, which is larger than the others, and is covered with white silk, " :^anctum Chrisma" ( = holy chrism) or " S. C." Some balsam is mixed with a little of the oil from the third vase, and this compound the bishop puts into the vase and stirs up with the rest of the oil there. The cere- mony, which consists of exorcisms, prayers, chantings, makino- the sign of the cross with the hand and with the breath, etc., occupies sixteen jiages of the Pontijicale Romanum, and eight or ten in the " Ceremo- nial of the Church." The old oils, consecrated the year before, if any have remained in the vases, are put in the church-lamps before the holy sacrament, to be burned; and those which remain iu pyxes and boxes are burned with the old silk. Ev- ery priest must obtain from the bishop a supply of these conse- crated oils for his church. The oil of the infirm is used in extreme unction; the oil of catechumens in baptism ; the holy chrism in bap- tism, confirmation, etc. See Holy Oil; Pyx. The ceremonj' of oil consecration as recently witnessed in a Romish church in" New York City is thus narrated i apart, having a deep groove in the inner faces, runnin
Remains ol ancient Oil 'Mills lud Piesee^
in the New York Tribune :