Beard: The mode of wearing it was definitely prescribed to the Jews
(Leviticus 19:27; 21:5) Hence the import of Ezekiel's
(Ezekiel 5:1-4) description
of the "razor" i.e., the agents of an angry providence being used
against the guilty nation of the Jews. It was a part of a Jew's daily
toilet to anoint his beard with oil and perfume
(Psalms 133:2) Beards
were trimmed with the most fastidious care
(2 Samuel 19:24) and their
neglet was an indication of deep sorrow
(Isaiah 15:2; Jeremiah 41:5) The
custom was to shave or pluck off the hair as a sign of mourning
(Isaiah 50:6; Jeremiah 48:37; Ezra 9:3) The beards of David's ambassadors
were cut off by Hanun
(2 Samuel 10:4) as a mark of indignity. On the
other hand, the Egyptians carefully shaved the hair off their faces,
and they compelled their slaves to do so also
(Genesis 41:14)
