Unction

UNCTION. Unctions were very frequent among the Hebrews. They anointed and perfumed, both out of a Principle of Health and Neatness. They anointed their Psal. cxxxiii. 2.Hair, Head, and Beard. At their Feasts, and other times of Rejoicing, they anointed their whole Body, and sometimes only their Head or Feet.¹ The anointing of dead Bodies was also in use, to preserve them from Corruption and Stinking.² They anointed their Kings and High-Priests, at the Ceremony of their Inauguration.³ They also anointed the sacred Vessels of the Tabernacle and Temple, Exod. xxx. 26, &c.to sanctify them, and consecrate them to the Service of the Lord.

The Word Unction in general signifies a particular Sanctification, a Designation to the Service of God, to an holy and sacred Use. For example, as Jacob went to Mesopotamia, he anointed with Oil the Stone upon which he had rested, and Gen. xxviii. 18.whereon God had caused him to see a Vision. This Unction was a kind of Dedication of this Stone, to become an Altar consecrated to the Lord. Some Years afterwards he came to the same Place, and consecrated this Stone a-new by an holy Gen. xxxvi. 14. Exod. xxx. 23, &c.Unction. God himself reveals to Moses the Manner of making the Oil, or the perfumed Ointment, which the Priests and the Vessels of the Tabernacle were to be anointed with. The most exquisite Perfumes and Balsams were Ingredients in it. He adds, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me, throughout your generations; upon man’s flesh shall it not be poured; neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it; it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you. Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people. Ezekiel upbraids his People with having made a like Perfume for their own Use.⁴

The Unction that was given to Persons consecrated to God, and to the sacred Ornaments and Utensils of the Temple or Tabernacle, to the Altars, and Basins, removed them from ordinary and common Use; and raised them to a new Dignity, rendered them holy, sacred, and inviolable. The Unction that Aaron then received with his Sons, devolved upon his whole Race, which by that became totally devoted to the Service of the Lord, Levit. viii. 1, 2, 3, &c.and consecrated to his Worship. These were the Ceremonies that were used in the Consecration of Aaron and his Sons: Moses brought them to the Door of the Tabernacle, before all the People, where he washed them, and presented them to the Lord, as it were to make them acceptable to him. Then he adorned Aaron with all his Pontifical Ornaments, and See Exod. xxix. 7. Psalm cxxxiii. 2.anointed him with the sacred Oil, by pouring it upon his Head. He poured it upon his Hairs, and it ran down upon his Beard and upon his Garment. His Cloaths also were anointed. The Rabbins think Tost. Janf. Menoch.the Oil was poured upon his Head in the Form of an X, or of St. Andrew’s Cross, or, according to others in the Form of a Caph, or .כ Many are of opinion, that as to the ordinary Priests, the Sons of Aaron, their Hands only were anointed. The Levites did not receive any Unction at all.

These Ceremonies were continued for seven Days successively. The Rabbins inform us,⁵ that as long as the Ointment or Perfume lasted, that was composed by Moses, they thus anointed all the High-Priests that succeeded, for seven Days. But when this Perfume was all used, they contented themselves with installing the High-Priest for seven Days together, adorned in his sacred Habit. The High-Priests anointed after the foregoing Manner were called High-Priests anointed; and they that were only installed by the Ceremony of the Levit. iv. 3. v. 16.Habit, were said to be initiated in their Habits. They say that there was never made any new Oil, after that of Moses was spent; which they think lasted to the Captivity of Babylon. But the Fathers of the Church⁶ believe, that the Unction of the High-Priests continued to the Coming of the true Anointed, the Messiah, which is Jesus Christ. Besides, Moses no where forbids to renew or compose again this Ointment. It even appears, that he intended it should be repeated as Occasion required, by his setting down so punctually the manner of its Composition.

As to the Unction of Kings, it is not commanded by Moses; but we plainly see the Practice of it in the sacred History. Samuel gave 1 Sam. x. 1.the Unction to Saul. Samuel took a Vial of Oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said; is it not because the Lord hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance? This Anointing was renewed some time after at Gilgal⁷ when Saul had delivered Jabesh-gilead from the Violence of Nahash King of the Ammonites. The same Samuel received Orders from the Lord, to give the Royal Unction to young David: Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren; and 1 Sam. xvi. 13.the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. And as his Title to the Crown was much disputed by the House of Saul, his Unction was renewed three times; reckoning this first Unction we are now speaking of. He was afterwards consecrated at Hebron, by the Tribe of Judah, after the Death of Saul; and, lastly, at Hebron, by all Israel,

2 Sam. ii. 4.Vol. III. 2 Sam. v. 1, 2, 3, &c. 2 Sam. xix. 10.after the Death of Abner. When Absalom rebelled against the King his Father, he caused himself also to be anointed with the holy Oil: And Solomon was anointed by the High-Priest Zadok, and by the Prophet Nathan, at the time that he had for a Competitor to the Crown his Brother Adonijah.

1 Kings xix. 15, 16. 2 Kings xi. 12.We do not find that the Kings of Israel generally practised this Ceremony. The Prophet Elijah received an Order from the Lord to give the Royal Unction to Hazael, for his ruling over Syria; and to Jehu the Son of Nimshi, for his reigning over Israel. Elijah did not execute this Commission himself, but his Disciple Elisha performed it for him on the Person of Jehu. He was the only King of Israel whose Unction is expressly mentioned in Scripture. But as to the Kings of Judah, we find many Examples of it, even to the fall of this Kingdom, especially when there was any Difficulty about the Succession to the Crown. For example, under Joash, and under Jehoahaz, Sons of Josiah, who was not the eldest Son of this Prince. After the return from the Captivity, Unction was no longer practised as to the Kings, nor even as to the Priests; if the Jews may be believed.

2 Kings xxiii. 30. 1 Kings xix. 16.Lastly, It is said in Scripture, that the Prophets were also anointed; but we have no Particulars of the Manner in which this Unction was performed. It is even doubted, whether they did indeed receive any real Unction. Elijah is sent to anoint Elisha to the Prophetick Office in his Place. Elisha the Son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah, shalt thou anoint to be Prophet in thy room. But as to the Execution of this Command, Elijah does nothing else to Elisha but put his Cloak upon his Shoulders, when presently Elisha leaves his Oxen and his Plough, and begins to follow Elijah. It is therefore very probable that the Word Unction in this Place only stands for a particular Appointment, Designation, or Call, to the Office of a Prophet.

Psal. xlv. 7. Isai. lxi. 1.The Unction of Christ the Messiah, the Anointed of the Lord, by way of excellence, was represented by all these we have now mentioned. It was foretold in the Psalms, Thou lovest righteousness; and hatest iniquity; therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with oil of gladness, above all thy fellows. And in Isaiah, The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed me, &c. And Dan. ix. 24. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy. In the Christian Dispensation we acknowledge the Spiritual Unction of Jesus Christ, the true Anointed of the Father,a who has 2 Cor. i. 21.anointed us by his Grace, who hath sealed us with his Seal, and hath given us the Pledge of the Holy Spirit, which dwells in our Hearts. We therein also find the natural Unction. St. Mark informs us, that Mark vi. 13.when the Apostles were sent out by Jesus Christ, to preach throughout all Judea, they worked many Miracles, they anointed the Sick, and healed them in the Name of the Lord. St. James gives Directions, that when any one shall be sick among the Faithful, they shall cause the Priests of the Church to come to him, who shall pray for him, and give him Unction with Oil, in the Name of the Lord. He says that Prayer, accompanied with Faith, shall heal the Sick; that the Lord will comfort him, and if he is in a State of Sin, it shall be remitted to him. Upon this it is that the Church [of Rome] founds her Extreme Unction, and acknowledges it as an Institution of Jesus Christ, and receives it as one of her Seven Sacraments, to which the sanctifying Grace is promised.⁸

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