Oil

Olive oil was the primary oil of ancient Palestine and the most versatile commodity in Israelite life — used for food, lighting, medicine, cosmetics, and sacred anointing. The Hebrew shemen appears hundreds of times in the Old Testament. Israel's land was characterized by its olive trees and oil (Deuteronomy 8:8), and the triennial abundance or failure of the olive harvest determined the prosperity of the whole community. Oil was stored in jars and applied to bread, used to anoint honored guests (Psalm 23:5; Luke 7:46), and burned in lamps to provide light.

In the sacred sphere, oil was the medium of anointing — priests, kings, and the tabernacle furniture were consecrated with specially formulated holy anointing oil (Exodus 30:25). The anointing oil could not be reproduced for ordinary use under penalty of death. Oil also featured in grain offerings (Leviticus 2:1–7) and in the rituals of cleansing lepers (Leviticus 14:10–18). In the New Testament, oil is associated with healing prayer (James 5:14) and with the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:3–8).