Arcana Coelestia #10011
10011. 'And pour it on his head, and anoint him' means a representative sign of Divine Good in the Lord, suffusing His whole Human. This is clear from the meaning of 'pouring oil on Aaron's head' as Divine Good suffusing the Lord's whole Human, for 'oil' means Divine Good, 4582, 9474, 'Aaron' the Lord in respect of Divine Good, 9806, and 'head' the whole Human; and from the meaning of 'anointing' as a representative sign of this thing, dealt with in 9474, 9954. The reason why 'the head' means the whole Human, or the whole person, is that everything in the human being comes down from the head; for the body is an extension from the head. Therefore also what a person thinks or wills, an activity that takes place in the head, presents itself in the body as an effect. The situation with the head is like that with what is highest or inmost in the heavens. This comes down and flows into heavens below, bringing them into being and making them extensions from itself. Therefore also the human head corresponds to the inmost heaven, the body down to the loins to the middle heaven, and the feet to the lowest heaven. In short, in things that are extensions only that which is inmost has life essentially. From this it is evident that since God is the inmost in all things, or what amounts to the same thing, is the highest of them all, from Him alone comes the life that all things possess. Therefore insofar as a person receives what is of God he has life within him.
[2] Furthermore the oil that a priest was anointed with flowed from the top of his head right down onto his body, as may be seen in David,
It is like the good oil upon the head running down onto Aaron's beard, which runs down over the collar 1 of his garments. Psalms 133:2.
In Matthew,
A woman poured an alabaster flask of balm over Jesus' head as He reclined [at the table]. Jesus said, She has poured this balm over My body to [prepare it for] the tomb. Matthew 26:7, 12.
And in Mark,
A woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly spikenard 2 ; and breaking the alabaster flask she poured it over Jesus' head. And Jesus said, This woman has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. Mark 14:3, 8.
From these places it is also evident that 'anointing the head' is anointing the whole body.
[3] The use of 'the head' to mean the whole person is further clear from very many places in the Word, for example in Isaiah,
The redeemed of Jehovah will return, and will come to Zion with song, and everlasting joy upon their heads. Isaiah 35:10.
In Moses,
Let the precious things of the produce of the sun, the firstfruits of the mountains of the east, and the precious things of the earth come on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of the Nazirite among his brothers. Deuteronomy 33:14-16.
In Jeremiah,
Jehovah's storm will burst upon the heads of the wicked. Jeremiah 30:23.
In Ezekiel,
I will bring their way upon their own heads. Ezekiel 11:21; 16:43; 22:31.
[Similar words occur in] Joel 3:4, 7; Obadiah verse 15. In Ezekiel,
Woe to those who make veils upon the head [of persons] of every stature to hunt souls! Ezekiel 13:18.
In David,
God will bruise the head of [His] enemies, the hairy scalp 3 . Psalms 68:21.
From all these places it is now evident that 'head' is used to mean the whole person, so that 'pouring oil on Aaron's head' means Divine Good in the Lord, suffusing His whole Human. While He was in the world the Lord made Himself Divine Truth, and when He left the world He made Himself Divine Good, see the places referred to in 9315(end), 9199(end).
Footnotes:
1. literally, the mouth
2. literally, flask of ointment of liquid and very costly
3. literally, the crown of hair
Psalms 68
1
Let God arise! Let his enemies be scattered! Let them who hate him also flee before him.
2
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away. As wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
3
But let the righteous be glad. Let them rejoice before God. Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.
4
Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Extol him who rides on the clouds: to Yah, his name! Rejoice before him!
5
A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
6
God sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.
7
God, when you went forth before your people, when you marched through the wilderness... Selah.
8
The earth trembled. The sky also poured down rain at the presence of the God of Sinai-- at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9
You, God, sent a plentiful rain. You confirmed your inheritance, when it was weary.
10
Your congregation lived therein. You, God, prepared your goodness for the poor.
11
The Lord announced the word. The ones who proclaim it are a great company.
12
"Kings of armies flee! They flee!" She who waits at home divides the spoil,
13
while you sleep among the campfires, the wings of a dove sheathed with silver, her feathers with shining gold.
14
When the Almighty scattered kings in her, it snowed on Zalmon.
15
The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains. The mountains of Bashan are rugged.
16
Why do you look in envy, you rugged mountains, at the mountain where God chooses to reign? Yes, Yahweh will dwell there forever.
17
The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands. The Lord is among them, from Sinai, into the sanctuary.
18
You have ascended on high. You have led away captives. You have received gifts among men, yes, among the rebellious also, that Yah God might dwell there.
19
Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the God who is our salvation. Selah.
20
God is to us a God of deliverance. To Yahweh, the Lord, belongs escape from death.
21
But God will strike through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of such a one as still continues in his guiltiness.
22
The Lord said, "I will bring you again from Bashan, I will bring you again from the depths of the sea;
23
That you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies."
24
They have seen your processions, God, even the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
25
The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, in the midst of the ladies playing with tambourines,
26
"Bless God in the congregations, even the Lord in the assembly of Israel!"
27
There is little Benjamin, their ruler, the princes of Judah, their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
28
Your God has commanded your strength. Strengthen, God, that which you have done for us.
29
Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings shall bring presents to you.
30
Rebuke the wild animal of the reeds, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples. Being humbled, may it bring bars of silver. Scatter the nations that delight in war.
31
Princes shall come out of Egypt. Ethiopia shall hurry to stretch out her hands to God.
32
Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth! Sing praises to the Lord! Selah.
33
To him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which are of old; behold, he utters his voice, a mighty voice.
34
Ascribe strength to God! His excellency is over Israel, his strength is in the skies.
35
You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries. The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to God! For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Lilies." By David.
