“With it you shall anoint the Tent of Meeting and the Ark of Testimonial-Tablets.”

Rashi, based on the Gemara in Keritut 5, explains that all the anointing with Moshe’s oil were made like a Greek “X” except that of kings which were like a crown.

Even the Tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting had to be anointed with oil. Even the Ark had to be anointed. They were not holy until that moment of anointing. The Holy Ark was not ready to receive the tablets until it was anointed.

Moshe’s oil lasted forever. It was used all during the First Temple until it was hidden together with all the Holy Vessels of the Temple.

The anointing oil was the physical expression that it was God’s choice to imbue the Mishkan and the Ark and all the vessels with His Presence. It was God’s seal of approval. It was, so to speak, God’s kiss. The oil that would last Lanetzach – for all eternity – was God’s blessing that all this oil touched would maintain its holiness forever.

Until the moment the oil touched its surface, the Mishkan was a physical structure. Once the oil touched it became something more, something eternal.

I wonder, what is the oil we can use today?

And, there’s more…