Torah Portion: Ki Sisa
It shall not be smeared on human flesh (Shemos 30:32).
It is a negative commandment that no-one may be smeared with the anointing oil that was prepared by Moshe other than kohenim, as it is written, It shall not be smeared on human flesh (Shemos 30:32). One who willfully smears on their flesh is liable for excision (kareis), as it is written, Anyone who shall… put it upon an alien shall be cut off from his people (ibid. v. 33). If it was done inadvertently, the person must bring a sin-offering.
Among the roots of the mitzvah is the aim of elevating the Temple and everything that it contains. It is therefore not proper the common people use exalted oil of the Temple for anyone but those chosen among the people, which are the kings and the kohanim. By withholding it from the masses it will make it more valuable in their eyes, for such is the nature of people; the scarcer something is the more valuable it is.
The laws of the commandment include: It is not used to anoint all the commencing kohanim throughout the ages except for a Kohen Gadol, a Mashu’ach Milchamah (a kohen appointed to encourage the soldiers before going out to war) and kings of the House of David. Other kings are not anointed with this oil but with balsam oil. And even among kings of the House of David the son of king is not anointed unless there is some dispute about him becoming king.
This commandment against using the oil of anointment applies wherever the oil is located, at all times, to both men and women.
