Oil

The Bible refers to olive oil more than 250 times.  The olive branch persists as a symbol of peace since the time of Noah’s Ark. The fruits and leaves of the olive tree were relied upon as food, medicine and fuel in ancient Israel. To this day, olive leaf extract and tea are a useful traditional medicine with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and antioxidant properties. Olive oil was a staple in people’s diet in the lands and times of the Bible because olives were available to them in quantity. Flax oil extracted from flax seeds was also used, but to a lesser degree.  When Israel obeyed God, He said that He would bless their oil.

     Deuteronomy 7:13:

     And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy

     womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy

     kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

    Deuteronomy 8:8:

    A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil

    olive, and honey;

Israel’s terraced hillsides are home to many ancient olive trees that have witnessed centuries of

human history. In biblical times, olive oil was used to cook, light lamps, make soap and as a

skin moisturizer. Olive oil remains a main component of a Mediterranean Diet and is a

valuable commodity in Israel today. The olive fruit and olive oil are very healthy foods that

have been discovered to cleanse the liver and lower harmful cholesterol. Much of the bread in

bible times was made with oil and/or fried in oil.

     Leviticus 2:7:

     And if thy oblation be a meat offering baken in the fryingpan, it shall be made of fine

     flour with oil.

     Leviticus 7:12:

     If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving

     unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes

     mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried.

Today, there is a vast array of oils available because technology has made it possible to extract

oils from plants that otherwise cannot be naturally pressed. The vegetable oils are extracted

using petroleum based solvents and because of high levels of impurities need to be chemically

deodorized before sale. In addition, they are usually laden with pesticides and rancid. This

causes them to have an abundance of free radicals, known as the “marauders” of the body, which are highly reactive molecules that cause damage to bodily tissues and accelerate aging.