The Jews shaved their beards and hair in time of mourning, repentance, or distress, Job 1:20 Jeremiah 48:37 , and in certain ceremonial purifications, Leviticus 14:9 Numbers 8:7 . At other times they wore them long, like other oriental nationsexcept the Egyptians, who kept their beards shaved, as we learn from Herodotus and from antique monuments. Hence Joseph shaved before he was presented to Pharaoh, Genesis 41:14 . See BEARD .