Numbers 4:16 says that 'Aaron's son Eleazar* shall be responsible for the oil for the light...' (The Living Bible). These days we may no longer need to tend to the oil in order to keep our lights functioning, but we sure appreciate it when someone keeps their inner light shining for all to see.
Mary Baker Eddy offers the following insight into the spiritual sense of oil:
OIL. Consecration; charity; gentleness; prayer; heavenly inspiration.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 592:25)
Christian Science lectures offer a 'how to' on letting our light shine (see Matthew 5: 14-16). Join Alexandre Fischer, CS, next Tuesday May 19 at 7.30pm AEST. Click HERE for more information.
Thomas Leishman has a fascinating article about the possible role of Eleazar in the preparation of the Greek translation of the Jewish Bible, 'the Septuagint'. The background is that Greek was the lingua franca at this period (around 5-600 BC) and many Jews, having lost their ability to speak Hebrew through living in countries like Egypt, wanted a Bible in the language of their day. See The Origin of the Septuagint and its Translators by Thomas Leishman in the June 1936 issue of The Christian Science Journal.
* Eleazar is often referred to as 'the priest' or 'chief priest'. Eleazar is the Hebrew rendering of the Greek name Lazarus.
Julie Swannell
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