Jesus got Gifts?
Exodus 30:23; Esther 2:12; Psalm 45:8; Proverbs 7:17; Song of Solomon 1:13
The three Magi presented gifts to the baby Jesus, and one was a gift of “myrrh” (Matt. 2:11). The gospel of John reports it as one of the ingredients Nicodemus brought to anoint or embalm Jesus’ body (John 19:39). The Hebrew word for “myrrh” is found most often in the Song of Solomon to describe the love between the Lover and his Beloved. In this context, it is clear that the word must carry positive connotations of a sweet-smelling substance or perfume (Song 1:13; 3:6; 4:6; 5:1, 5, 13). The Lover’s lips are described as lips that are like lilies, dripping with “myrrh,” which is mor in Hebrew (Song 5:13). The Song of Solomon contains scenes from marriage ceremonies, and this aphrodisiac finds its place in this setting.
Mor was clearly some kind of perfume. The king’s robes at the wedding ceremony are said to be fragrant with myrrh, aloes, and cassia (Ps. 45:8)—adding to the festive air of the banquet. Queen Esther went through a beautification processes for six months and an oil of myrrh was one of the elements used (Esth. 2:12). Part of the process of seduction used by the adulterous wife in Proverbs was perfuming her bed with myrrh (Prov. 7:17). The substance itself probably came from a tree known by its scientific name as Commiphora “myrrha” Nees found in Arabia. Other shrubs produced a similar resinous substance called “myrrh.”
In Exodus 30:23, mor is a part of the holy anointing oil and its use would have added to the pleasant aroma surrounding the Lord’s Tabernacle. This substance was used by the Canaanites in the second millennium B.C., and the Egyptians used it in their embalming ceremonies. This last fact may help explain its use on Jesus’ body before His burial (John 19:39). But myrrh primarily indicated Jesus’ holiness and dedication to God, for He became a sweet-smelling aroma of sacrifice to God on our behalf
FRANKINCENSE—(Heb. lebonah; Gr. libanos, i.e., “white”), an odorous resin imported from Arabia (Isa. 60:6; Jer. 6:20), yet also growing in Palestine (Cant. 4:14). It was one of the ingredients in the perfume of the sanctuary (Ex. 30:34), and was used as an accompaniment of the meat-offering (Lev. 2:1, 16; 6:15; 24:7). When burnt it emitted a fragrant odour, and hence the incense became a symbol of the Divine name (Mal. 1:11; Cant. 1:3) and an emblem of prayer (Ps. 141:2; Luke 1:10; Rev. 5:8; 8:3).
This frankincense, or olibanum, used by the Jews in the temple services is not to be confounded with the frankincense of modern commerce, which is an exudation of the Norway spruce fir, the Pinus abies. It was probably a resin from the Indian tree known to botanists by the name of Boswellia serrata or thurifera, which grows to the height of forty feet
Gold, one of the precious metals, and from its color, lustre, weight, ductility and other useful properties exceedingly valuable. Hence it is used as an emblem of purity (Job 23:10) and of nobility (Lam. 4:1). In our Authorized Version “gold” is the rendering of six different Hebrew words: one indicating its color; another, its fineness; another, descriptive of the small particles or gold-dust in which it is found; another, descriptive of it as what is cut or dug out of mines, ore; another, descriptive of it as what is hoarded; and another, descriptive of it as what is coveted. These several terms well express the high estimation in which gold was held. It was known from the very earliest times (Gen. 2:11). At first it was chiefly used for ornaments (Gen. 24:22). Coined money was not known till a comparatively late period; on the Egyptian tombs gold is represented as being weighed in rings for commercial purposes. Gold was extremely abundant in ancient times (1 Chron. 22:14; 2 Chron. 1:15; 9:9; Nah. 2:9; Dan. 3:1), but this did not depreciate its value, because of the enormous quantities consumed by the wealthy in furniture and jewelry (1 Kings 6:22; Song 3:9, 10; Esth. 1:6; Jer. 10:9). The chief countries mentioned as producing gold are Arabia, Sheba and Ophir (1 Kings 9:28; 10:2; Job 28:16).
