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The Israelites always cultivated the beard, and highly valued it. The law forbade them to 'mar the corners of their beards,' Lev. 19: 27, and a priest must not shave off the corner of his beard as a sign of mourning. Lev. 21: 5. King Hanun inflicted a sore indignity when he marred the beards of David's ambassadors. 2 Sam. 10: 4. Ezra in great grief at the sin of the people plucked off the hair of his head and of his beard. Ezra 9: 3: cf. Jer. 41: 5. God's judgement on Israel is compared to the beard being consumed by a razor, Isa. 7: 20; and they were to be scattered as hair that is cut off. Ezek. 5: 1, 2, 12. Of Moab it was said, every beard should be cut off. Isa. 15: 2; Jer. 48: 37.