Exodus 30:22-23 NIV

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 30:22-33

Compare Exodus 37:29.Exodus 30:23Principal spices - i. e. the best spices.Pure myrrh - Is a gum which comes from the stem of a low, thorny, ragged tree, that grows in Arabia Felix and Eastern Africa, called by botanists Balsamodendron myrrha. The word here rendered pure, is literally, “freely flowing”, an epithet which is explained by the fact that the best myrrh is said to exude spontaneously from the bark, while that of inferior quality oozes out in greater quantity from incisions made in the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 30:23

Exodus 30:23. Interpreters are not agreed concerning these ingredients: the spices, which were in all near half a hundred weight, were to be infused in the oil, which was to be about five or six quarts, and then strained out, leaving an admirable smell in the oil. With this oil God’s tent and all the furniture of it were to be anointed; it was to be used also in the consecration of the priests. It was to be continued throughout their generations, Exodus 30:31. Solomon was anointed with it, 1... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 30:22-38

Anointing oil; incense (30:22-38)Oil had special significance when used to anoint people or things. Anointing, in its highest sense, meant that holy oil was poured over, or otherwise applied to, people or things to signify that they were set apart for the service of God. The art of preparing oils, perfumes and incenses was well known in Egypt and Arabia, and the Israelites apparently learnt such skills from these people. But the formula given to Moses for the anointing oil was to be used only... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Exodus 30:23

myrrh = gum of Arabian thorny shrubs. sweet calamus = lemon grass of India. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Exodus 30:22-33

THE HOLY OIL OF ANOINTING"Moreover Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, Take thou also unto thee the chief spices: of flowing myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty, and of cassia five hundred, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of olive oil a hin; and thou shalt make it a holy anointing oil, a perfume compounded after the art of the perfumer: it shall be a holy anointing oil. And thou shalt anoint... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Exodus 30:23-25

Exodus 30:23-25. Take thou also unto thee principal spices, &c.— We have here an account of the ingredients, and of the quantity of that oil, which is called holy, not only on account of its composition being enjoined of God, but because the holy things and persons were anointed with it. It was to be compounded of myrrh; such, it is supposed, as Pliny calls stacte, and affirms to be the best (the Hebrew word rendered pure, Houbigant says, comes from an Arabic root, signifying to drop or... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Exodus 30:23

23-33. Take thou also . . . principal spices, c.—Oil is frequently mentioned in Scripture as an emblem of sanctification, and anointing with it a means of designating objects as well as persons to the service of God. Here it is prescribed by divine authority, and the various ingredients in their several proportions described which were to compose the oil used in consecrating the furniture of the tabernacle. myrrh—a fragrant and medicinal gum from a little known tree in Arabia. sweet... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Exodus 30:22-33

The anointing oil 30:22-33The special mixture God specified here was for use only in anointing the tabernacle, its furnishings, its utensils, and the priests. Four fragrant spices blended with olive oil to produce an excellent perfume. It was holy (different) in that the Israelites used it exclusively for this special purpose in the service of God. The priests could use it for no other purpose in Israel. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 30:1-38

The Altar of Incense. The Ransom Money. The Laver. The Anointing Oil. The Incense1-10. The Altar of Incense. The use of incense in worship was probably due to the worshipper’s desire to honour God by offering to Him what he enjoys himself. ’Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart’ (Proverbs 27:9). It served also to counteract the strong smell of burning flesh, and was therefore usually presented as an accompaniment of sacrifice, and offered either in censers (Leviticus 10:1; Leviticus 16:12;... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Exodus 30:23

(23) Principal spices.—The East is productive of a great variety of spices; but of these some few have always been regarded with especial favour. Herodotus (iii. 107-112) mentions five “principal spices” as furnished by Arabia to other countries, whereof two at least appear to be identical with those here spoken of.Pure myrrh.—Heb., myrrh of freedom. The shrub which produces myrrh is the balsamodendron myrrha. The spice is obtained from it in two ways. That which is purest and best exudes from... read more