Oil

Only olive oil seems to have been used among the Hebrews. It was used for many purposes: for anointing the body or the hair (Ex. 29:7; 2 Sam. 14:2; Ps. 23:5; 92:10; 104:15; Luke 7:46); in some "of the offerings (Ex. 29:40; Lev. 7:12; Num. 6:15; 15:4), but" was excluded from the sin-offering (Lev. 5:11) and the jealousy-offering (Num. 5:15); for burning in lamps (Ex. 25:6; 27:20; Matt. 25:3); for medicinal purposes (Isa. 1:6; Luke 10:34; James 5:14); and for anointing the dead (Matt. 26:12; Luke 23:56). "It was one of the most valuable products of the country (Deut. "32:13; Ezek. 16:13), and formed an article of extensive commerce" with Tyre (27:17). "The use of it was a sign of gladness (Ps. 92:10; Isa. 61:3), and its omission a token of sorrow (2 Sam. 14:2; Matt. 6:17). It was very abundant in Galilee. (See [450]OLIVE.)

"(Isa. 41:19; R.V. marg., "oleaster"), Heb. `etz shemen, rendered" "olive tree in 1 Kings 6:23, 31, 32, 33 (R.V., "olive wood")" "and "pine branches" in Neh. 8:15 (R.V., "branches of wild" "olive"), was some tree distinct from the olive. It was probably" "the oleaster (Eleagnus angustifolius), which grows abundantly in" "almost all parts of Palestine, especially about Hebron and" "Samaria. "It has a fine hard wood," says Tristram, "and yields" "an inferior oil, but it has no relationship to the olive, which," "however, it resembles in general appearance."