{An alabaster cruse of exceeding precious ointment}
(alabastron murou barutimou). The flask was of alabaster, a
carbonate of lime or sulphate of lime, white or yellow stone,
named alabaster from the town in Egypt where it was chiefly
found. It was used for a phial employed for precious ointments in
ancient writers, inscriptions and papyri just as we speak of a
glass for the vessel made of glass. It had a cylindrical form at
the top, as a rule, like a closed rosebud (Pliny). Matthew does
not say what the ointment (murou) was, only saying that it was
"exceeding precious" (arutimou), of weighty value, selling at
a great price. Here only in the N.T. "An alabaster of nard
(murou) was a present for a king" (Bruce). It was one of five
presents sent by Cambyses to the King of Ethiopia (Herodotus,
iii. 20). {She poured it upon his head} (katecheen epi t(8873)
kephal(8873) autou). So Mark ( Mr 14:3 ), while John ( Joh 12:3 )
says that she "anointed the feet of Jesus." Why not both? The
verb katecheen is literally to pour down. It is the first
aorist active indicative, unusual form.