אזוב, Exod. xii, 22; Lev. xiv, 4, 6, 49, 51, 52; Num. xix, 6,
18; 1 Kings iv, 33; Psalm li, 7; Matt, xxvii, 48; Mark xv, 36; ὑσσωπὸς,
John xix, 29; Heb. ix, 19. It grows plentifully on the mountains near
Jerusalem. It is of a bitter taste; and, from being considered as
possessing detersive and cleansing qualities, derived probably its
Hebrew name. The original word has been variously translated; and
Celsius has devoted forty-two pages to remove difficulties, occasioned
by the discordant opinions of the Talmudical writers, and to ascertain
the plant intended. That it is the hyssop seems most probable: the
passage in Heb. ix, 19, sufficiently identifies it. Under the law, it
was commonly used in purifications as a sprinkler. When the children of
Israel came out of Egypt, they were commanded to take a bunch of hyssop,
to dip it in the blood of the paschal lamb, and sprinkle it on the
lintel and the two side-posts of the door. It was also used in
sprinkling the leper. The hyssop is extremely well adapted to such
purposes, as it grows in bunches, and puts out many suckers from a
single root.
18; 1 Kings iv, 33; Psalm li, 7; Matt, xxvii, 48; Mark xv, 36; ὑσσωπὸς,
John xix, 29; Heb. ix, 19. It grows plentifully on the mountains near
Jerusalem. It is of a bitter taste; and, from being considered as
possessing detersive and cleansing qualities, derived probably its
Hebrew name. The original word has been variously translated; and
Celsius has devoted forty-two pages to remove difficulties, occasioned
by the discordant opinions of the Talmudical writers, and to ascertain
the plant intended. That it is the hyssop seems most probable: the
passage in Heb. ix, 19, sufficiently identifies it. Under the law, it
was commonly used in purifications as a sprinkler. When the children of
Israel came out of Egypt, they were commanded to take a bunch of hyssop,
to dip it in the blood of the paschal lamb, and sprinkle it on the
lintel and the two side-posts of the door. It was also used in
sprinkling the leper. The hyssop is extremely well adapted to such
purposes, as it grows in bunches, and puts out many suckers from a
single root.