The mode of wearing it was definitely prescribed to the Jews (
Leviticus 19:27 ;
21:5 ). Hence the import of Ezekiel's (
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 ).
These dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.