Friday, April 6, 2012

F is for Frankincense


Frankincense
Λιβανος

“And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11, NKJV)

Frankincense is a substance or ingredient that is referenced in Exodus 30:34, Leviticus 2:1, Nehemiah 13:5, 9, and Isaiah 66:3. The Hebrew term comes from a root meaning “whiteness.” This refers to the white, “milky” color of the fresh juice. Our English word comes from an old French word franc encens, which translated means “pure incense.”

Frankincense comes from trees which grow in southern Arabia, India, and a few other places. These trees are related to terebinth trees and the shrubs from which balsam and myrrh comes from. The gum is removed by making incisions in the bark. The trees start producing resin when they are about 8 to 10 years old. Tapping is done 2 to 3 times a year Frankincense is bitter to the taste and has a very strong balsamic odor when it is heated.

Frankincense was considered very valuable in Egypt and was used for both fumigation and embalming. It was used in some ceremonies including burial ceremonies by the ancient Hebrews. They probably picked this up when they lived in Egypt prior to the exodus.

Frankincense is used in perfumery and aromatherapy. Frankincense essential oil is obtained by steam distillation of the dry resin. Some of the smell of the frankincense smoke is due to the products of pyrolysis. The magi, whom we don’t know how many there were, nor from where they came, (other than the east)  nor what their names were gave frankincense to the young child Jesus in the house when Jesus was about two (2), (not while in the manager.) Please don't take your theology from Christmas cards.

11 comments:

Alice said...

Last year I saw some Frankincense essential oil at the health food store. It was very pricey!

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Of course I have heard of Frankincense but never knew the origin of it.
Thanks for enlightening me Gregg,

Yvonne.

Persis said...

"Please don't take your theology from Christmas cards."

That's good advice, Gregg. :) Great series of post so far!

Anonymous said...

Hahaha yeah, Christmas cards are not the best place to learn theology. I did not know this about frankincense. I learned a few new things today. Thanks for the post!

Petra said...

No, not from Christmas cards. You crack me up! Great A to Z posts!

Sara Hill said...

Imagine that! The magi came to Jesus's house and not to the manger! Very interesting and informative. I look forward to your post on myrrh.

Golden Eagle said...

Interesting facts about frankincense!

Thank you for coming by my blog.

MOV said...

Hello Gregg,

Great post, very informative! I think I just found my new favorite blog. Love the way you write.

I discovered your site through the A to Z Challenge and am now a follower. I look forward to reading more.

Feel free to take a peek at my blog too if you have time. I am writing a travel theme:

http://wordcut.blogspot.com

best,
MOV

Hold my hand: a social worker's blog said...

Gregg,
This post is so informative, especially the last part... Very interesting!

Your writing is so delightful.

Happy Easter, Gregg.

Doris

Anonymous said...

LOVE your thought at the end "please don't take your theology from Christmas cards" -- nor Christmas carols :-)

Betty Alark said...

Frankincense - really like the smell of it!

It's very powerful to. I had the flu so bad one year and I mixed frankincense and myrrh together, put a blanket over my head and just allowed the aroma to fill my nostrils; it cured me immediately!

I burn them both often- at least I use to.

Thanks for the information! Think ill buy some and start burning it again!