Frankincense (Lebonah, λίβανος)

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 6
Frankincense—Boswellia Sacra
A fragrant resin. It was an ingredient in the holy anointing oil, and was used in the temple service (Ex. 30:3434And the Lord said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: (Exodus 30:34); Lev. 2:1, 15-161And when any will offer a meat offering unto the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon: (Leviticus 2:1)
15And thou shalt put oil upon it, and lay frankincense thereon: it is a meat offering. 16And the priest shall burn the memorial of it, part of the beaten corn thereof, and part of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof: it is an offering made by fire unto the Lord. (Leviticus 2:15‑16); Lev. 5:1111But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering. (Leviticus 5:11); Lev. 24:77And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the Lord. (Leviticus 24:7); Song of Sol. 3: 6, Song of Sol. 4: 6, 14). It formed part of the gifts presented to the Lord by the Magi (Matt. 2:1111And when they were 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 unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11)); and was among the things carried to Babylon the Great (Rev. 18:1313And cinnamon, and odors, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. (Revelation 18:13)). It is traced to the Boswellia serrata of the botanists, which grows in India. By cutting slits in the bark the gum exudes. The best is white and bitter to the taste, though the yellowish in color is extensively used. The Mahometans choose the white, but the Greek and Roman churches use much of the colored.
Frankincense—Boswellia Serrata