Harvestime



Appendix TenThe Spiritual Significance Of SpicesIn The Song Of SongsFragrant oils and spices are drawn from plants, flowers, shrubs, trees, roots, bushes, and seeds. The term used for ‘spice’ or ‘spices’ in Scripture refers to a fragrant powder, balsam wood, oil, or any sweet smelling fragrance. There are some 188 references to oils and spices in the Bible. Spices are first mentioned among the gifts from Jacob to Pharaoh (Genesis 43:11). They were given as gifts to the Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:1); were stored in Hezekiah’s treasure house (2 Chronicles 32:27; Isaiah 39:2); and were traded by merchants (Ezekiel 27:22). Spices were used in the Tabernacle as a garnishment for certain sacrifices, such as the meat offering which was accompanied by frankincense. They were also used to make an anointing oil for the altars and furnishings for the Tabernacle (Exodus 30:23-25). A special oil was prepared for the Most Holy Place (Exodus 30:34-38), and spices were used on the garments of the priests.Oils were also used for anointing for service and healing of the sick (James 5:14-15). Frankincense and myrrh were among the gifts given to the newborn Jesus, and His body was anointed with spices after His death (John 19:39; Luke 16:1).The word “spices” is mentioned in the Song of Songs in the following references:How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices! (SOS 4:10)Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices. (SOS 4:14)Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits. (SOS 4:16)His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh. (SOS 5:13)My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies. (SOS 6:2)Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices. (SOS 8:14)The following specific spices are mentioned in the Song of Songs. All have spiritual meaning.Aloes mentioned in the Song is not like the succulent house plant we know today. It is a tree that was originally native to Malaysia, India, and Indonesia. The oil comes from the bark which is softened in water, then dried and crushed into a powder that is heated in pots to extract its oil. The costly oil is used in perfumes and healing balms. ?Aloes symbolize Christ’s role as healer. It was used along with myrrh (a symbol of suffering) to anoint His body for burial, so it was the scent of myrrh and aloes that rose from His empty tomb. Thus, both spices also symbolize the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (SOS 4:14).Calamus is a reed which grows by rivers, marshes, and ponds. The word “calamus” also means a branch, as in Exodus 25:31-32 where it refers to the branches?that uphold the knops of the lampstand in the Holy Place in the Tabernacle. Calamus is symbolic of the Holy Spirit, as the reeds were conduits of the holy oil in the lampstands and it was one of the spices used in the holy anointing oil (Exodus 30:23). A crushed reed gave forth the fragrance of calamus, symbolizing redemption by the Savior’s death on the cross. Jesus as the branch is spoken of prophetically in Isaiah 11:1-4 (SOS 4:14).Camphire, also known as henna, comes from a tree and, when made into a powder and mixed with water, it yields a red substance which was used for fingernail polish. The word “camphire” also means “ransom”, so the fragrance symbolizes the ransom paid for the atonement for sin. The beautiful flowers of the henna plant represent the resurrection (SOS 1:14; 4:13).Cinnamon is mentioned only three times in the Bible, but is more frequently referred to as Cassia which was a less expensive form of cinnamon. Both are rolled bark sticks, crushed powder, or shavings from the bark of a tree. Cinnamon is one of the ingredients of the anointing oil, symbolic of the Holy Spirit. It was in the enclosed garden mentioned in SOS 4:14. Cinnamon is drawn from the inner bark of a tree, representing the beautiful fragrance of a believer’s inner life.Frankincense is a symbol of sacrifice. It is cut from the bark of a tree and the fluid from the wound is made into incense. It was one of the gifts to the Christ-child and was symbolic of His willingness to become a sacrifice for sin (SOS 3:6; 4:6).Myrrh is a sweet-smelling substance that was used as part of the sacred anointing oil and was in the enclosed garden mentioned in SOS 4:14. It symbolizes the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The mountains of myrrh mentioned in SOS 4:6 indicate total immersion in sweet fellowship with the Bridegroom. Myrrh was presented to Jesus at His birth to prophetically confirm His destiny and it was used along with aloes to anoint Christ at His burial. It was the scent of myrrh and aloes that rose from His empty tomb, so both spices speak of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Myrrh also symbolizes suffering and death to the flesh (SOS 3:6; 4:6; 5:1,5,13).Saffron is a yellow substance that comes from the internal crimson pistil of a crocus. It was used for medicinal purposes in Bible times. It is one of the most rare and costly spices, symbolizing both the rarity of our Savior and the His sacrifice for our sin and our healing (SOS 4:14).Spikenard, also referred to as “nard”, is the root of an Indian plant that grew in the Himalaya mountains which was distinguished by its many hairy spikes shooting out from one root. It was a very costly spice. According to Jesus, when Mary used spikenard to anoint Him it was to prepare His body for the day of His burial (John 12:7). Thus, spikenard symbolizes the death of Jesus Christ. Mary’s extravagant gift also illustrates how you should give your best in worship of your Lord (SOS 4:13-14).All the best spices. In SOS 4:14, the Bridegroom speaks of “all the best spices”. The Bible indicates that, as believers and like spices in the natural world, we have a spiritual fragrance in the world:Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? (2 Corinthians 2:14-16)Symbolically, your life, attitudes, conduct, and relationships should give forth the fragrance of the best spices.Biblical References To SpicesGenesis 43:11And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds.Exodus 25:6Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense.Exodus 30:23Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels.Exodus 30:34And the Lord said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight.Exodus 35:8And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.Exodus 37:29And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary.1 Kings 10:2And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.1 Kings 10:10And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.1 Kings 10:25And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.2 Kings 20:13And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.1 Chronicles 9:29Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.1 Chronicles 9:30And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices.2 Chronicles 9:1And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.2 Chronicles 9:9And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon.2 Chronicles 9:24And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, harness, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.2 Chronicles 16:14And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries' art: and they made a very great burning for him.2 Chronicles 32:27And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels.Song of Solomon 4:10How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!Song of Solomon 4:14Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices.Song of Solomon 4:16Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.Song of Solomon 5:13His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.Song of Solomon 6:2My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.Song of Solomon 8:14Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.Isaiah 39:2And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.Ezekiel 27:22The merchants of Sheba and Raamah, they were thy merchants: they occupied in thy fairs with chief of all spices, and with all precious stones, and gold.Mark 16:1And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.Luke 23:56And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.Luke 24:1Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.John 19:40Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.Biblical References To AloesNumbers 24:6As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.Psalms 45:8All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.Proverbs 7:17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.Song of Solomon 4:14Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices.John 19:39And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.Biblical References To CalamusExodus 30:23Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels.Song of Solomon 4:14Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices.Ezekiel 27:19Dan also and Javan going to and fro occupied in thy fairs: bright iron, cassia, and calamus, were in thy market.Biblical References To CamphireSong of Solomon 1:14My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of En-gedi.Song of Solomon 4:13Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard.Biblical References To CinnamonExodus 30:23Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels.Proverbs 7:17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.Song of Solomon 4:14Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices.Revelation 18:13And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.Biblical References To FrankincenseExodus 30:34And the Lord said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight.Leviticus 2:1And when any will offer a meat offering unto the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon.Leviticus 2:2And he shall bring it to Aaron's sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.Leviticus 2:15And thou shalt put oil upon it, and lay frankincense thereon: it is a meat offering.Leviticus 2:16And the priest shall burn the memorial of it, part of the beaten corn thereof, and part of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof: it is an offering made by fire unto the Lord.Leviticus 5:11But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering.Leviticus 6:15And he shall take of it his handful, of the flour of the meat offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meat offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour, even the memorial of it, unto the Lord.Leviticus 24:7And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the Lord.Numbers 5:15Then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and he shall bring her offering for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense thereon; for it is an offering of jealousy, an offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance.1 Chronicles 9:29Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.Nehemiah 13:5And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.Nehemiah 13:9Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.Song of Solomon 3:6Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?Song of Solomon 4:6Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.Song of Solomon 4:14Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices.Matthew 2:11And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.Revelation 18:13And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.Biblical References To MyrrhGenesis 37:25And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.Genesis 43:11And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds.Exodus 30:23Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels.Esther 2:12Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women.Psalms 45:8All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.Proverbs 7:17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.Song of Solomon 1:13A bundle of myrrh is my well beloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.Song of Solomon 3:6Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?Song of Solomon 4:6Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.Song of Solomon 4:14Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices.Song of Solomon 5:1I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.Song of Solomon 5:5I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.Song of Solomon 5:13His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.Matthew 2:11And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.Mark 15:23And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.John 19:39And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.Biblical References To SaffronSong of Solomon 1:14My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of En-gedi.Song of Solomon 4:13Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard.Song of Solomon 4:14Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices.Biblical References To SpikenardSong of Solomon 1:12While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.Song of Solomon 4:13Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard.Song of Solomon 4:14Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices.Mark 14:3And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.John 12:3Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. ................
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