From:          Anointoil@aol.com
Subject:       Re: The Alabaster - Jar
To:            heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org

Dear Eddie:

I recently read your Email concerning the alabaster "box" referred to in
Matthew and I would like to offer some commentary.

We are abba anointing oil co. We have offices and production facilities both
in Jerusalem as well as Houston, Tx. (our main office).  We produce a variety
of biblical oils such as Frankincense & Myrrh, Rose of Sharon, Lily of the
Valley and most recently Spikenard.  Spikenard is sometimes referred to as
"Nard" in the botanical reference books.  We have conducted extensive studies
on Spikenard for the last three years and in-depth studies of the types of
containers with which oil was carried during ancient times.  Fragrant oil in
ancient times was carried in what was called an "alabastron" a conical shaped
container.  In the case of Matthew's account this "alabastron" or alabaster
container had a seal at the top as would any other expensive material of the
day.  The "jar" or container had a lid which was closed by a seal.   Sometimes
the seal had a small piece of cloth (such as linen or cotton) over the
opening of the jar, then the lid was placed on and next came the seal. 
Sometimes the seal was covered with wax and twine so that the lid would stay
on firm, thus allowing the integrity of its contents to remain in tact. We
believe it was the seal which was broken so that the precious perfume could
be poured out.  The breaking of the seal was a traditional method of opening
a vessel during ancient times in the perfume industry.  This type oil was
processed from a root plant Nard.  The Nard was found in the country which is
now called India.  Alabaster then, as well as now only is produced in a few
countries in the world, Italy, Greece, India and China.  Since the Spikenard
perfumed oil was produced in ancient India it is reasonable to assume that
the alabaster container possibly came from the same country.  There is no
historical data relating to oils ever being contained in a "box".  All of the
scholars that we have consulted agree that the term "box" should have been
"jar" or something similar.  Think about this, if you broke a box and
attempted to anoint someone, it stands to reason that you would have
fragments of the broken box in the oil and would most likely cut the person
with the sharp edges of the broken pieces.  Again, there is no historical
evidence of any "box breaking".  However, we have scriptural references of
pouring out of oil such as on Aaron's' beard.  Another tradition in ancient
times was to anoint the forehead of a guest that has come to a persons home. 
This was done as a general custom of welcome as well as to give the person
who might have traveled some distance a nice smell.  The fragrant smell would
cover the not so fragrant smell of the person from the journey.  It was also
the custom to wash the feet a a guest, remember that back then most of the
roads and paths were dirt and would have been very dusty.  The symbol of
washing feet or in the case of Matthew's account, anointing the feet was a
very humbling experience.  It was  an extremely costly gesture to anoint with
the Spikenard someone's feet as opposed to use this as a perfume.
We hope we have been able to shed some light on this matter which we think
has been misunderstood.

We are just a short time away from offering our Spikenard and alabaster jars
(container, flask) to individuals and ministries.  Our beautiful alabaster
jars are fashioned as in ancient times and our Spikenard compounded as it was
then.

Blessings to you in the name of Yeshua Messiah.
Rodger & Greer Kenworthy 
abba anointing oil co.
281-491-8785 (Houston,Tx.)
011-972-2-561-1418 (Jerusalem)

*************************************************************************

To educate, train and equip for study both the Jew and
Non-Jew in the Rich Hebraic Heritage of our Faith.

Please visit the Hebraic Roots Global Network
Web Site located at:

http://www.hebroots.org/


     1999 Feast of Tabernacles Celebration
                   and
     Hebraic Roots of Christianity Conference      

         September 24 - October 3, 1999    
            Ocean Shores, Washington

 "... the fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be
the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord ...
and you shall keep it a feast unto the Lord seven days
in the year. It shall be a statute FOREVER in your
generations: you shall celebrate it in the seventh month."
(Leviticus 23:34,41)

  Plan NOW to attend. Experience the JOY of celebrating the
Feast of Tabernacles while hearing some of the BEST teachers
and leaders of the Hebraic Roots of Christianity. Speakers
include:

Dr Brad Young .... Gospel Research Foundation
Randy Felton  .... Potter's Clay Ministries
Dr John D. Garr .. Restoration Foundation
Ken & Lenore Mullican ... HaKesher Ministries
Doug & George Dolly ..... Messianic Congregation Leaders
Dean Wheelock  .......... Hebrew Roots Ministries
Eddie Chumney  .......... Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int'l
Robert Somerville ....... Awareness Ministries
Steven Berkowitz  ....... Hineni Ministries Int'l
Dr. Danny Ben-Gigi ...... Hebrew Language Instructor

Our target for 1999 is 500 attendees.

The Feast of Tabernacles at Ocean Shores is a non-denominational,
non-sectarian event sponsored by Christian Renewal Ministries
International (CRMI).  Attendance is open to all. There is no
conference registration fee and no fee to attend workshops and
seminar's during the festival celebration. It is paid for entirely by
donations to CRMI. All contributions, to CRMI, pay for this event
because our staff are all volunteers. Hotel discounts are available.

More information about the 1999 Feast of Tabernacles at Ocean Shores,
Washington is available at: http://www.Shalom-CRMI.org/html/ftos.htm

E-mail: Rick@shalom-crmi.org
Phone: 1-800-333-5208

P.S. Since CRMI provide's airfare and accomodations for our guest
speakers our expenses are quite high.  If you would like to help us in
this effort you can send a tax-deductible donation to:

CRMI
P.O. Box 111
Auburn, WA 97071-0111