Sex, Drugs , Violence and the Bible
By Chris Bennett and Neil McQueen

The Messiah

As we have seen, the Hebrews held the anointing in the highest esteem. It was to be used only in the consecration of the high priests and the tent of meetings. Over time however the sacred anointing came to be used in the coronation ritual of the high kings of Israel also.

As we have seen the anointing oil was originally intended to consecrate the tent of the tabernacles and the high priests of the house of Levi. When Israel became a an player on the field of Near -Eastern politics, the uses of the oil came to include corona ting the kings of Israel.

" Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul's head and kissed him, saying, "Has not the Lord  anointed  you leader over his inheritance"(1 Samuel 10:1). After anointing Saul, Samuel tells him that shortly " The Spirit of the Lord will come upon you in power...and you will be changed into a different person"(1 Samuel 10:6)

in this passage we can see the psycho-active properties of the oil at work . After being anointed Saul is "changed into a different person. ( 1 Samuel 10:6)

Samuel tells Saul that when this happens, he will come across a band of prophets (Nebiim) coming down from a mountaintop, "with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre before them prophesying" (1 Samuel 10:5), and that Saul will join them.

"Zadok the priest took the horn one of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. " (1 Kings 1:39)

"I have exalted a young man from among the people. I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him. My hand will sustain him ...and through my name his horn will be exalted. " (Psalm 89:19-24)

The association with the imagery of a fish and the title Messiah, goes back to even pre-Christian times, as in the Talmud the title Messiah is intertwined with the word Dag: "The only satisfactory explanation why Jesus should be represented as a Fish , seems to be that in the quaint jargon of the Talmud the Messiah is often designated 'Dag' or 'The Fish'" (King 1864)"...the Fish takes its place in importance as a sign of Christ in his special office of  Savior.... In the Talmud the Messiah is called 'Dag' or 'Fish'.... Where did the Jews learn to apply 'Dag' to their Messiah? And why did the primitive Christians adopt it as a sign of Christ?... I cannot disguise facts. Truth demands no concealment or apology. Paganism has its types and prophecies of Christ as well as Judaism. What then is the Dag-on of the old Babylonians? The fish- god or being that taught them all their civilization"(Lundy 1876)

sAnointing "was common among kings of Israel. It was the sign and symbol of royalty. The word ' Messiah' signifies the 'Anointed One', and none of the kings of Israel were styled the Messiah unless anointed"(Doane 1882)

Another example of a sovereign being instated through the rite of anointing is Jehu. Jehu is secretly anoint him king over Israel in the North. Elisha is very specific about what he is to do next: " Then open the door and run; don't delay! "(2 Kings 9:3)

" I have exalted a young man from among the people. I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him. My hand [i.e. phallus]\b will sustain him ....and through my name his horn will be exalted " (Psalm 89:19-24)

As Professor C.J. Gadd noted, throughout the ancient Near East, at the coronation of kings, the new monarch was imbued with "magical powers... [from] the oil with which kings were anointed" (Gadd 1948).

"Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king" (1 Samuel 16:1).

"Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power. "(1 Samuel 16:13).  

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