Description
A typical Israelite oil press had a centrally located stone basin for the crushing of the olives. On either side were stone vessels buried in the ground with a central opening. The crushed olives were placed in circular baskets on these stone vessels. A beam with weights pressed on these baskets and the oil flowed into the stone vessels, from where it was collected.
Olive oil was used in the services of the Tabernacle and the Temple (Exodus 25.6; 27.20; 1 Chronicles 9.29). It was also used in the anointing of kings (1 Samuel 10.1; 16.1; 1 Kings 1.39).