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COSTUMES AND ADORNMENTS
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oil and applied.171 We cannot vouch for positive results.
171.
Erman and Ranke, p. 261.
b) Hair styles among Hebrews. When we deal with some physical characteristics of the Israelites in certain Bible periods, such as the era of Moses, we are confronted with a lack of specific and detailed description, the existence of which would be most desirable for the making of a motion picture such as The Ten Commandments. The same paucity of data exists on the subject of hair as it does with Hebrew costumes.
The Bible does have some hints describing the color of hair as black,172 red173 or ruddy,174 if the general appearance of Esau and David can be applied to hair in the last two references.
Some specific instructions, though of a date later than the Exodus, tell how hair is to be worn. An ordinance prescribes that the corners of the head not be rounded nor the corners of the beard marred;175 that the head not be shaved, but the hair polled and no long locks worn.176 The priests are commanded not to shave their heads as a sign of mourning,177 which does imply that the lay people followed a custom of shaving their heads.
Hair was considered sacred among some ancient people and thought of as the seat of life.178 This concept may well apply to the story of Samson, whose strength left him when Delilah caused a man "to shave off the seven locks of his head."179 The Nazarites, of whom Samson was one, when putting themselves under the obligation of a vow, were forbidden to have a razor "come upon [their heads]."180 When their vow was fulfilled the hair was shaved off and placed into the "fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings."181
While we cannot pinpoint a specific Israelite hairdress for the general era of the picture, we can again rely to some extent on the monuments of antiquity, which show us Semitic men and women.
These Semitic men wear the hair of their heads
172. Cant. 5:11.
173. Gen. 25:25.
174.
I Sam. 16:12.
175. Lev. 19:27.
176. Ezek. 44:20.
177. Lev. 21:5.
178. Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics, ed.
J. Hastings, VI (New York, 1922), 474.
179. Judg. 16:19.
180. Num. 6:5.
181. Num. 6:18.