S-th

For fear of being reprimanded I will exclude the actual spelling of Shib**ol**h.....but we will take a look at the origin and meaning of this word.

From the Bible in the 12th chapter of the Book of Judges....that in fact the battle of the Gileadites and the Ephramites did occur and that the mighty people of Gilead inflicted great victory and pain on the invading Ephramites.

When the Ephramites attempted to cross the Jordan river back into their home country, they were tested to determine if they could properly pronounce S-th....and we have learned that because of their trifling defect, they were unable to pronounce the word and met with death......we also learn from the ritual the number was forty and two thousand.

In our rituals we learn that it is represented by ears of corn hanging near a waterfall. This ancient Hebrew word literally means the part of a plant containing grains...such as an ear of corn....in other contexts is can mean a stream, a torrent....thus the waterfall.

For anyone that has been near a waterfall.....the word torrent is very good description of the power of the water.

In latter years the term S-th....is used to distinguish the in-group from the out-group.....thus in our fraternal use of the word it is to separate the brothers from the profane and the Fellowcrafts from the EAs.

We also learn that the wages of a Fellowcraft are the corn of nourishment, the wine of refreshment, and the oil of joy....which denote plenty, happiness, and peace. Corn has many references in the Bible and is mentioned a number of times in our ritual. Corn of Biblical years can be interpreted beyond corn as we know it today.....in the old times, corn could also mean grain of many varieties or sustenance.

Wine of refreshment....a part of the wages was used to refresh....back in those days, drinking water could kill you....which seems odd to us today, but wine and later beer was used as a way to purify water which was notoriously unstable.

The third part of the wages of a Fellowcraft was and is the oil of joy.....again during Biblical days oil was a very special component of society.....not only was it used in food but in soothing the body from the heat and toil of the day. We learn in our ritual that the oil which ran down upon the head of Aaron to his beard and so on. In the bible we learn that Jesus was anointed with oil and also used oil on his followers as a way of expressing joy and to bring comfort.

So the next time you have the opportunity to attend a Fellowcraft degree......look for the painting of ears of corn hanging near a waterfall.....or pay close attention to the slide if the painting is not near the Junior Warden's station. S-th.....has a historic meaning....and the ears of corn and waterfall are accurate descriptions of the ancient Hebrew word.

Once again, the creators of our ritual packed so much meaning into very few words.....those words are there waiting for us to discover the true meaning.....the question remains, how many of us will seek out those meanings.....or as we like to banter around......further light in Masonry.