In Their Own Words - The BAS Library

Home > Magazines > BAR > November/December 2015

Matthew 2:11 recounts that the wise men brought Jesus gold, frankincense and myrrh—costly gifts. In antiquity, frankincense and myrrh were both used in incense and perfume. Alan Millard, Rankin Professor Emeritus of Hebrew and Ancient Languages at the University of Liverpool, explains the ancient origins of incense—both its sacred and profane uses.1 Incense was an integral part of worship of the gods across the ancient Near East from the earliest periods … We may assume that in prehistoric times people noticed that certain things gave off a pleasant smell when put on fire … Observing that wood or sap […]

Please join the BAS Library or become an All Access member of BAS to gain full access to this article and so much more.

Join the BAS Library!

Already a library member? Log in here.

Institution user? Log in with your IP address or Username

Endnotes

From “Incense—the Ancient Room Freshener: The Exegesis of Daniel 2:46, ” in James K. Aitken, Katharine J. Dell and Brian A. Mastin, eds., On Stone and Scroll Essays in Honour of Graham Ivor Davies (Berlin/Boston: DeGruyter, 2011).