The Israelites always cultivated the beard, and highly valued it. The law forbade them to “mar the corners of their beards” (Lev. 19:27), and a priest must not shave off the corner of his beard as a sign of mourning (Lev. 21:5). King Hanun inflicted a sore indignity when he marred the beards of David’s ambassadors (2 Sam. 10:4). Ezra in great grief at the sin of the people plucked off the hair of his head and of his beard (Ezra 9:3: Compare. Jer. 41:5). God’s judgment on Israel is compared to the beard being consumed by a razor, (Isa. 7:20); and they were to be scattered as hair that is cut off (Ezek. 5:1, 2, 12). Of Moab it was said, every beard should be cut off (Isa. 15:2; Jer. 48:37).