Wikipedia's first sentence called it “oil that was used to add fragrance to sacrifices and anoint priests”. Today it says “prized oil used in antiquity”.
Measured, not asserted. Every count, date and revision on this page was taken from Wikipedia's own history and checked against the live article. The words quoted are theirs.
Machine-checked against the full current article on 2026-08-03.
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The opening as it read in 2010
Shemen Afarsimon is an oil that was used to add fragrance to sacrifices and anoint priests, prophets and kings in biblical times. In April 1988, archeologists discovered a small jug of oil in the Qumran region that some believe is the oil used in the Temple. The find was announced by the New York Times on February 15, 1989, and a feature article was published in National Geographic Magazine in October of that year. After testing by the Pharmaceutical Department of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem , the substance inside the juglet was said be the shemen afarsimon hinted at in Psalm 133. According to archaeologist Vendyl Jones, it is the first artifact discovered from the First Temple Period , and one of the treasures listed in the Copper Scroll . No one today knows exactly what plant was used to produce the biblical oil. According to one theory, it is the plant Commiphora opobalsamum - a small shrub, 10 to 12 feet high, with wandlike, spreading branches. The oil extracted from the seeds or branches of this plant has been used as a medicine, but more commonly as incense or perfumed oil. The biblical afarsimon was considered very valuable, and worth its weight in gold.1 The ancient Jewish community of Ein Gedi was known for its cultivation of the afarsimon. In modern Hebrew , the word afarsimon is translated as persimmon . The Aleph Society, promoting the educational efforts of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz. | Daf Yomi2
This is Wikipedia's own text, saved in our repository. Their copy of it is revision 339167023.
The opening as it stood in 2015 12 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
The oil of persimmon or oil of balsam ( , ) is an oil that in some rabbinical sources is identified with the "precious ointment" of Psalm 133 in the Hebrew Bible .It is to be distinguished from the Holy anointing oil of the priests .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 614782784.
The opening as it stood in 2020 2 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Biblical oil Shemen afarsimon ( ) was a prized oil used in antiquity.The ancient Jewish community of Ein Gedi was known for its cultivation of the afarsimon.The rural landscape of ancient Israel Aren M.Maeir, Shimʻon Dar, Zeev Safrai - 2003 "A government estate, which included the Balsam (afarsimon) areas, undoubtedly continued to be active in the Jericho region.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 961666841.
The opening as it stood in 2025
Biblical oil Shemen afarsimon ( Hebrew : שֶׁמֶן אֲפַרְסְמוֹן šemen ʾăp̄arsəmōn ) was a prized oil used in antiquity. The ancient Jewish community of Ein Gedi was known for its cultivation of the afarsimon. The rural landscape of ancient Israel Aren M. Maeir, Shimʻon Dar, Zeev Safrai - 2003 "A government estate, which included the Balsam (afarsimon) areas, undoubtedly continued to be active in the Jericho region.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1254591858. This is our newest snapshot; the live article may have moved again since.
Today
Wikipedia's first sentence called it “oil that was used to add fragrance to sacrifices and anoint priests”. Today it says “prized oil used in antiquity”. Read the current article and compare.
2010
2015
2020
Oct '23
2025
Counts in the opening at each snapshot. Green: the word gained ground. Red: it was cut. Grey: no change.
What Wikipedia says this is
Every article opens by defining its subject. This one was redefined since 2010, and today's defining sentence is their current revision.
Then
oil that was used to add fragrance to sacrifices and anoint priests
Now
prized oil used in antiquity
Struck red text is no longer in the article; dotted amber text was rewritten. Every revision id links to Wikipedia's copy; the text shown is our own saved copy. Data: /data. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA; quoted for the record; not affiliated with Wikipedia.
