The Torah in Parashat Ki-Tisa (Shemot 30:32) commands that the Shemen Ha’mish’ha – the special oil used for anointing Kohanim Gedolim and kings – may not be used by anybody other than those for whom it is intended. An ordinary person may not take this oil and place it on his body.
The Sefer Ha’hinuch explains that something which is earmarked for a certain exclusive use is naturally respected and regarded as special. Something to which most people do not have access is seen as a uniquely precious commodity. The Torah therefore forbade the use of the Shemen Ha’mish’ha by anybody besides those who are to be anointed with it, in order to raise the oil’s esteem in people’s eyes, which will, in turn, raise their esteem for the people anointed with this special oil.
The Sefer Ha’hinuch notes the tradition that the initial supply of Shemen Ha’mish’ha which Moshe prepared will miraculously last forever, and will never be depleted. As such, the prohibition against misusing the Shemen Ha’mish’ha remains binding even today, because this oil is still in existence. If, somehow, this oil is discovered, it would be forbidden for anybody to use it.
One who intentionally violates this prohibition by applying this oil on his body is liable to Karet (eternal excision from the Jewish Nation). If one violates this prohibition mistakenly, then he must bring a sin-offering.
The Sefer Ha’hinuch comments that only kings from Malchut Bet David – the Davidic royal dynasty – are anointed with the Shemen Ha’mish’ha. Other kings are anointed with a different oil – the fragrant “Shemen Afarsamon.”
This distinction gives rise to a question regarding the formal anointing of the first king of Israel – Shaul, who was from the tribe of Binyamin, and ruled before David. According to most Rishonim, Shaul was anointed with the Shemen Ha’mish’ha. Seemingly, if only kings from Malchut Bet David are to be anointed with this oil, Shaul’s anointing with this oil transgressed this grave prohibition, which is punishable by Karet. How, then, was Shaul allowed to be anointed with the Shemen Ha’mish’ha?
One answer given is that it was only once David became king that this distinction took effect. Before David’s ascent to the throne and the establishment of his line as the eternal Jewish dynasty, anyone appointed as king over Israel was to be anointed with the Shemen Ha’mish’ha. It was only once David was designated as the founder of the exclusive, eternal dynasty that other kings were no longer given the distinction of being anointed with this special oil.
The Meiri (Rav Menahem Meiri, 1249-1310) suggested a different answer. He posits that Shaul was chosen to be king – despite the fact that the kingship was to emerge from the tribe of Yehuda – because at the time when Beneh Yisrael requested a king, nobody from Yehuda was worthy of the position. The most suitable person for the position at that time was Shaul, and so he was appointed king even though he did not belong to the tribe of Yehuda. Essentially, the Meiri writes, Shaul served as a temporary “substitute” for Malchut Bet David. Although he was not from the Davidic line, he was taking the place of David’s family in the interim until a worthy candidate would arise. Therefore, as he was filling the role of Malchut Bet David, he was anointed with the Shemen Ha’mish’ha as though he was actually from the line of King David.