Exodus 30:22-24

THE ANOINTING OIL, Exodus 30:22-23.

23, 24. Principal spices That is, spices of the best quality and highest value .

Pure myrrh Rather, as Revised Version, flowing myrrh . This was a sort of gum which exudes spontaneously from the bark of a tree that is found in Eastern Africa and Arabia. The tree somewhat resembles a thorn tree, and is described in Johnson’s Travels in Abyssinia as “a low, thorny, ragged-looking tree, with bright green trifoliate leaves. The gum exudes from cracks in the bark of the trunk near the root, and flows freely upon the stones immediately underneath. Artificially it is obtained by bruises made with stones.” That which is obtained by bruising the tree is of inferior quality to that which flows forth of itself.

Sweet cinnamon Or, spicy cinnamon. This was probably an article of commerce brought from India and Ceylon by Midianite or other Arabian merchants. It consists of the inner rind of a tree that belongs to the laurel family, and is obtained by peeling off the outer bark, and securing the interior part of it by an instrument fitted to the purpose. The best cinnamon is said to be obtained from the smaller shoots and twigs of the tree.

Sweet calamus Or, spicy cane, an aromatic reed that grows in various parts of the East, especially in India, Arabia, and Egypt, and consists of a knotty stalk enclosing a soft pith, which upon being cut and dried affords a rich perfume.

Cassia According to Gesenius, with whom most authorities agree, “a species of aromatic bark resembling cinnamon, but less fragrant and less valuable, so called from its rolls being split, ( קדד . )” The word rendered cassia in Psalms 45:8 is different, ( קציעה ,) but is believed to denote a very similar substance . It will be noticed that the myrrh and the cassia were to be just double the amount of the cinnamon and the sweet calamus, which were compounded together with a hin of olive oil . Probably the essences of the spices were first extracted, and then mingled with the oil .