Let’s talk: Myrrh (Commipihora myrrha)
Mentioned 18x directly + 138x indirectly = 156x
Chemistry: Sesquiterpenes-60%
Application: Topical, Aromatic and Ingestible
It has a rich, smoky, balsamic aroma that is purifying, restorative, revitalizing, and uplifting. It is a helpful aid to meditation, having one of the highest levels of sesquiterpenes available. Sesquiterpenes are a class of compounds that have a direct effect on the hypothalamus, pituitary, and amygdala, the seat of our emotions. Myrrh is referenced throughout the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. The Arabian people believed it helped wrinkled, chapped, and cracked skin. Today, myrrh is widely used in oral hygiene products. Myrrh has an approximate ORAC of 3,193,813 (TE/L). TE/L is expressed as micromole Trolox equivalent per liter. https://beta.youngliving.com/…/…/singles/myrrh-essential-oil
Myrrh comes from Oleo-gum-resin form the trucks and limbs of the desert tree of the same family Burseraceae, as was the Balm of Gilead. Photo source: http://www.bijbelaantekeningen.nl/bn/…
The first actual mention of oils comes to us in Genesis 37:25 when a caravan of Ishmaelite’s were coming from Gilead with their camels loaded down with spices, balm, and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt. Now if you know your Bible stories, then you know this is the story of Joseph. His brothers sell him to these Midianite traders for 20 pieces of silver. Now the story of Joseph gets better for him at the end when he becomes Pharaoh’s right-hand man and store grain superintendent during the famine and where this story comes full circle.
The first actual mention of oils comes to us in Genesis 37:25 when a caravan of Ishmaelite’s were coming from Gilead with their camels loaded down with spices, balm, and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt. Now if you know your Bible stories, then you know this is the story of Joseph. His brothers sell him to these Midianite traders for 20 pieces of silver. Now the story of Joseph gets better for him at the end when he becomes Pharaoh’s right-hand man and store grain superintendent during the famine and where this story comes full circle.
The 2nd time essential oils are mentioned is when the sons of Jacob (Joseph’s brothers who sold him) bring the same things to Egypt as a gift to the store gain superintendent (Joseph) for more favor for food. This part in the story is slightly a little more complicated and you should go have another read it see why they were brining the “gift” in the first place. Oh I love how God’s Word works! To me this story is so relatable. Sin, greed and lies wrap us into a bigger mess… and I LOVE how many times God uses the very things that get us into messes to set us free and help us walk into His plan. We are not determined by our mistakes we are reconciled and redeemed by our Savior.
“Then their father Israel said to them, ‘If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift–a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some nuts and almonds.’” Genesis 43:11
Did you notice another story coming full circle with myrrh? In Matthew 2:11 baby Jesus is offered myrrh as a gift at the beginning of His earthly life. In Mark 15:23 soldiers offered Him myrrh again at the end of His earthly life. While the scripture goes on to tell us that Jesus did not drink the wine with myrrh in it. And then in John 19:39 we see Nicodemus bring enough spices to lay to rest royalty, which Jesus is rightfully so.
It was custom to offer the person this concoction before their crucifixion to allow their mind to be numbed of what was about to happen. … To be honest I’m not sure anything would help when dying on a cross. I can’t imagine the Lord choosing to do that for me.
This was a kind of stupefying liquor, a strong narcotic, made of the sour wine of the country, mingled with bitter herbs, and mercifully administered to dull the sense of pain. This was offered before the actual crucifixion took place. (http://biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/mark/15.htm)
He wouldn’t drink to show that he needed no such outward means to support his spirits, nor desired any allay of his sorrows, and was not afraid to meet death in all its terrors; and besides, he had said (at the Lord’s Supper the night before in Matthew 26:29) he would drink no more of the fruit of the vine till he drank it new in his Father’s kingdom.
(http://biblehub.com/commentaries/gill/mark/15.htm)
Let’s take a look at the 18 passages that mention myrrh.
Genesis 37:25
Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt.
Genesis 43:11
Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry a present down to the man, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds.
Exodus 30:23
“Take the finest spices: of liquid myrrh 500 shekels, and of sweet-smelling cinnamon half as much, that is, 250, and 250 of aromatic cane,
1 Kings 10:25
Every one of them brought his present, articles of silver and gold, garments, myrrh, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year.
2 Chronicles 9:24
Every one of them brought his present, articles of silver and of gold, garments, myrrh, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year.
Esther 2:12
Now when the turn came for each young woman to go in to King Ahasuerus, after being twelve months under the regulations for the women, since this was the regular period of their beautifying, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and ointments for women—
Psalm 45:8
your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia. From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;
Song of Solomon 1:13
My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh that lies between my breasts.
Song of Solomon 3:6
[ Solomon Arrives for the Wedding ] What is that coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the fragrant powders of a merchant?
Song of Solomon 4:6
Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, I will go away to the mountain of myrrh and the hill of frankincense.
Song of Solomon 4:14
nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all choice spices—
Song of Solomon 5:1
[ He ] I came to my garden, my sister, my bride, I gathered my myrrh with my spice, I ate my honeycomb with my honey, I drank my wine with my milk. [ Others ] Eat, friends, drink, and be drunk with love!
Song of Solomon 5:5
I arose to open to my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, on the handles of the bolt.
Song of Solomon 5:13
His cheeks are like beds of spices, mounds of sweet-smelling herbs. His lips are lilies, dripping liquid myrrh.
Matthew 2:11
And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Mark 15:23
And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.
John 19:39
Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight.
Revelation 18:13
cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls.
Exodus 30:23-24 The Holy Anointing Oil
23 “Take the following fine spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant calamus, 24 500 shekels of cassia—all according to the sanctuary shekel—and a hin of olive oil.
Measurement Conversion Approximation
Shekel = 12 grams, 15 mL, 0.5 fl ounces
Hin = half liter, 16 fl ounces
Conversion – Myrrh = 25 fl ounces = 3 cups 27%. Cassia = 25 fl ounces = 3 cups 27%. Cinnamon = 12 fl ounces = 1.5 cups 14%. Calamus = 12 fl ounces = 1.5 cups 14%. Olive oil = 16 fl ounces = 2 cups 18%. These quantities and proportions would yield 11 cups or 2.75 quarts of holy anointing oil.
THAT’S A LOT OF OIL!! I normally say “A drop will do ya” when people ask me how much oil to use.
In the Anointing of Aaron in Leviticus 8:10-12
10 Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and everything in it, and so consecrated them.11 He sprinkled some of the oil on the altar seven times, anointing the altar and all its utensils and the basin with its stand, to consecrate them. 12 He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him.
Psalm 133:2
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe.
Once again a LOT of oil!
(Information obtained from CARE class –Principle oils of ancient scripture & experiencing the 12 oils of ancient scripture webinar by T. Secrest & C. Campbell)
We also see myrrh in the Story of Esther of Persia in Esther 2:12
12 …….she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. – referencing the use on the skin. I think I may add this to may beauty regimen.
Photo Credit from Movie “Night with the King”
HISTORICAL ANCIENT uses for Myrrh (not for medical use today) – fixative to prolong the life of fragrances of perfumes & ointments, used on umbilical cords to prevent infection, oral hygiene, inhaled during labor to reduce anxiety, insect repellant. Also, it balances the endocrine system – would use it 6mos -1 yr before getting married to balance and be able to get pregnant. Pregnant mothers used myrrh to protect form infections and believed it would protect their unborn children from generational curses. (Information obtained from CARE class –Principle oils of ancient scripture & experiencing the 12 oils of ancient scripture webinar by T. Secrest & C. Campbell)
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