Horayot

Was, however, the anointing oil in existence [in the days of Jehoahaz]? Surely it was taught: At the time when the Holy Ark was hidden away there were also hidden the anointing oil, the jar of manna,  Aaron's rod with its almonds and blossoms,  and the coffer which the Philistines had sent to Israel as a gift and concerning which it is said, And put the jewels of gold, which ye returned Him for a guilt offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away that it may go.  And who hid them? It was Josiah, King of Judah, who hid them; because, having observed that it was written in the Torah, The Lord will bring thee and thy king … [unto a nation that thou hast not known],  he gave orders that they shall be hidden away, as it is said, And he said unto the Levites that taught all Israel, that were holy unto the Lord, 'Put the Holy Ark into the house which Solomon the son of David, King of Israel, did build; there shall no more be a burden upon your shoulders; now serve the Lord your God and his people Israel;'  and R. Eleazar stated: The inference  is arrived at by an analogy between the expressions. 'There' and 'there',  'To he kept'  and 'to he kept',  and 'generations' and 'generations'!  — R. Papa replied: [Jehoahaz was anointed] with pure balsam. Our Rabbis taught: How were the kings anointed? — In the shape of a wreath. And the priests? — In the shape of a Chi. What is meant by 'the shape of a Chi'! — R. Menashya b. Gadda replied: In the shape of a Greek [G]. One [Tanna] reported that oil was poured upon his head first and afterwards some oil was applied between his eyelids, but another [Tanna] reported that first some oil was applied between his eyelids and afterwards oil was poured upon his head!  — This is a matter of dispute between Tannaim. Some maintain that anointing takes precedence while others maintain that the pouring takes precedence. What reason is advanced by him who maintains that pouring takes precedence? — [The fact] that it is written. And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head and anointed him, to sanctify him.  And what reason is offered by him who maintains that anointing takes precedence? — He holds this opinion because a similar procedure is found in connection with the vessels of ministry.  But, surely, And he poured  is written first, and only afterwards And he anointed!  — The meaning intended is this: What is the reason why he poured? Because he had already anointed. Our Rabbis taught: It is like the precious oil … coming down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, etc.,  two drops like pearls hung from Aaron's beard. R: Papa said: A Tanna taught that when he spoke  they ascended and lodged at the root of his beard. And concerning this matter, Moses was anxious. He said, 'Have I, God forbid, made an improper use of the anointing oil?'  A heavenly voice came forth and called out, Like the precious oil … like the dew of Hermon;  as the law of improper use of holy objects is not applicable to the dew of Hermon, so also is it not applicable to the anointing oil on the beard of Aaron. Aaron however, was still anxious. He said, 'It is possible that Moses did not trespass, but I may have trespassed'. A heavenly voice came forth and said to him, Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity;  as Moses is not guilty of trespass, so are you not guilty of trespass. Our Rabbis taught: The kings are anointed only at a fountain that their sovereignty may endure, as it is said, And the king said unto them: 'Take with you the servants of your lord … and bring him down to Gihon'. R. Ammi said: He who wishes to ascertain whether he will live through the year or not shall, during the ten days between the New Year and the Day of Atonement, kindle a lamp in a house wherein there is no draught. If the light continues to burn he may know that he will live through the year. He who desires to engage in business and wishes to ascertain whether he will succeed or not, let him rear up a cock; if it grows plump and fine he will succeed. He who desires to set out on a journey and wishes to ascertain whether he will return home again or not. let him station himself in a dark house; if he sees the reflection of his shadow he may know that he will return home again. This, however, is not a proper thing to do, lest his courage fail him and he meet with misfortune in consequence. Said Abaye: Now that it has been said that omens are of significance, a man should make a regular habit of eating,  at the beginning of the year, pumpkin, fenugreek, leek, beet and dates. R. Mesharsheya said to his sons: Whenever you intend coming in for your lesson with your master revise the subject first and then enter the presence of your master; and when you sit before him, look at his mouth, for it is written, But thine eyes shall see thy teacher.  When you practice your lessons, practice them by a river of water so that as the waters advance continually, so may your acquired knowledge advance continually. Rather sit on the rubbish heap of Matha Mehasia  than in the palaces of Pumbeditha. Rather eat an unsavory gildana  of Matha Mehasia than the kuthha  of the lofty mansions. My horn is exalted in the Lord;  my horn is exalted but not my flask: The kingdoms of David and Solomon who were anointed with a 'horn'  endured; the kingdoms of Saul and Jehu who were anointed with a 'flask'  did not endure. HE WHO WAS ANOINTED WITH THE ANOINTING OIL etc. Our Rabbis taught: 'Anointed' might imply a king, hence it was stated 'priest'. If only 'priest' had been stated one might have applied it to the High Priest who was dedicated by the additional garments only, hence it was stated, 'anointed'. If only 'anointed' had been written one might have applied it to the priest anointed for war,  hence it was stated, and the anointed Priest  above whom there is no other anointed [Priest]. How is this inferred? — As Raba said that 'the thigh'  implies the right thigh, so here also 'the anointed' implies the most important of the anointed. The Master said, 'Anointed might imply a king.' Does a king bring a sin offering of a bullock? Surely it is a he-goat that he brings!  — It  was necessary, since it might have been assumed that only for error in action does a king bring a sin offering of a he-goat but that for ignorance of the law he brings a bullock, hence it was necessary to teach us [that he never brings a bullock]. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A [HIGH PRIEST WHO IS] ANOINTED WITH THE ANOINTING OIL etc. Our Mishnah cannot be reconciled with the view of R. Meir; for should it be assumed to agree with the view of R. Meir it may be pointed out that it was taught: A High Priest who is dedicated by the additional garments brings a bullock which is the prescribed sin offering for the transgression of all the commandments; these are the words of R. Meir, but the Sages did not agree with him. What is R. Meir's reason? Because it was taught: Anointed only implies a High Priest who was anointed with the anointing oil, whence, however, is it deduced that one dedicated by the additional garments only is also subject to that law? For it was expressly stated, If the priest the anointed.  To whom, then is our Mishnah to be attributed? To the Rabbis!