And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.
A cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof; foursquare shall it be: and two cubits shall be the height thereof: the horns thereof shall be of the same.
And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about.
And two golden rings shalt thou make to it under the crown of it, by the two corners thereof, upon the two sides of it shalt thou make it; and they shall be for places for the staves to bear it withal.
And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.
And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.
And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.
And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations.
Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.
And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the Lord.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the Lord, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.
This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the Lord.
Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the Lord.
The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls.
And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.
For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:
When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the Lord:
So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.
Moreover the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels,
And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin:
And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.
And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony,
And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense,
And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot.
And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.
And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations.
Upon man’s flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you.
Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight:
And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy:
And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.
And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the Lord.
Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people.
Exodus 30 provides detailed instructions regarding various aspects of worship within the Tabernacle, emphasizing the holiness and precision required in approaching God. This chapter covers the altar of incense, the atonement money, the bronze basin, the anointing oil, and the incense, each carrying profound symbolic and practical significance. These elements underscore God's meticulous nature and the high regard with which He expects to be approached.
The Altar of Incense (Exodus 30:1-10)
God commanded the construction of a special altar, not for burnt offerings, but specifically for burning incense. This altar, overlaid with pure gold (Exodus 30:2-5), was to be positioned before the curtain leading into the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Testimony resided (Exodus 30:6). Aaron was responsible for burning fragrant incense on it twice daily, in the morning and at twilight (Exodus 30:7-8). The daily offering of incense symbolized the prayers of the people ascending to God, a sweet aroma pleasing to Him. Exodus 30:10 mentions an atonement ceremony, referring to the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16), highlighting the altar's role in seeking forgiveness and reconciliation with God.
The ministry surrounding the altar of incense was a holy and serious endeavor. God explicitly forbade the offering of unauthorized incense (Exodus 30:9). This prohibition highlights the importance of adhering to God's specific instructions in worship. The tragic story of Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's sons, who were punished for offering "unauthorized fire before the LORD" (Leviticus 10:1-2), serves as a stark reminder that God is not to be trifled with and that obedience to His commands is paramount.
The Atonement Money (Exodus 30:11-16)
God instructed Moses to collect a ransom from each Israelite man twenty years old or older (Exodus 30:12, 14). This atonement money served two crucial purposes. First, it acted as an atonement for their lives, preventing plagues from afflicting them should they disobey God's commands (Exodus 30:12, 15-16). Second, the collected funds were used to maintain the Tent of Meeting (Exodus 30:16), ensuring the proper upkeep of the sanctuary and its services. This contribution was not based on wealth or status; the rich were not to give more, and the poor were not to give less (Exodus 30:15). This equality emphasized that every life was equally precious in God's eyes, and all were equally in need of atonement.
The Bronze Basin (Exodus 30:17-21)
The bronze basin served as a reservoir of water for the priests to perform ritual washings before ministering in the Tabernacle. This act of purification symbolized the need for cleansing from sin and defilement before approaching God. The priests were required to wash their hands and feet to avoid death (Exodus 30:20-21), underscoring the seriousness of approaching God with clean hands and a pure heart.
The Anointing Oil (Exodus 30:22-33)
God meticulously detailed the ingredients and preparation of the holy anointing oil (Exodus 30:22-25). Nothing was left to human ingenuity; God specified the precise components and their proportions. This anointing oil was to be used to consecrate the Tent of Meeting, its furnishings, and its utensils (Exodus 30:26-29), setting them apart for holy use. Aaron and his sons were also to be anointed with this oil, consecrating them for their priestly service (Exodus 30:30).
The anointing oil was holy and exclusively reserved for its designated purpose (Exodus 30:31-32). Any unauthorized use of the oil would result in being "cut off" (Exodus 30:33), signifying exclusion from the covenant community. This strict prohibition highlights the sanctity of God's provisions and the consequences of treating them lightly.
The Incense (Exodus 30:34-38)
Similar to the anointing oil, God provided specific instructions for the composition of the incense (Exodus 30:34-35). This incense was to be holy and used only within the Tabernacle (Exodus 30:35-36). Replicating the sacred incense for personal use was strictly forbidden, and any violation would result in being "cut off" from the people (Exodus 30:38). The exclusivity of the incense emphasized its sacredness and its unique role in worship.
Exodus 30 reveals God's meticulous nature and His desire for worship that is both reverent and obedient. The instructions for the altar of incense, atonement money, bronze basin, anointing oil, and incense underscore the importance of approaching God with purity, humility, and a deep respect for His holiness. These elements serve as reminders that true worship is not a matter of personal preference but a response to God's specific commands and His revealed character.
And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.
A cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof; foursquare shall it be: and two cubits shall be the height thereof: the horns thereof shall be of the same.
And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about.
And two golden rings shalt thou make to it under the crown of it, by the two corners thereof, upon the two sides of it shalt thou make it; and they shall be for places for the staves to bear it withal.
And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.
And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.
And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.
And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations.
Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.
And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the Lord.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the Lord, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.
This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the Lord.
Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the Lord.
The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls.
And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.
For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:
When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the Lord:
So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.
Moreover the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels,
And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin:
And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.
And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony,
And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense,
And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot.
And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.
And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations.
Upon man’s flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you.
Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight:
And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy:
And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.
And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the Lord.
Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people.
Exodus 30 provides detailed instructions regarding various aspects of worship within the Tabernacle, emphasizing the holiness and precision required in approaching God. This chapter covers the altar of incense, the atonement money, the bronze basin, the anointing oil, and the incense, each carrying profound symbolic and practical significance. These elements underscore God's meticulous nature and the high regard with which He expects to be approached.
The Altar of Incense (Exodus 30:1-10)
God commanded the construction of a special altar, not for burnt offerings, but specifically for burning incense. This altar, overlaid with pure gold (Exodus 30:2-5), was to be positioned before the curtain leading into the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Testimony resided (Exodus 30:6). Aaron was responsible for burning fragrant incense on it twice daily, in the morning and at twilight (Exodus 30:7-8). The daily offering of incense symbolized the prayers of the people ascending to God, a sweet aroma pleasing to Him. Exodus 30:10 mentions an atonement ceremony, referring to the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16), highlighting the altar's role in seeking forgiveness and reconciliation with God.
The ministry surrounding the altar of incense was a holy and serious endeavor. God explicitly forbade the offering of unauthorized incense (Exodus 30:9). This prohibition highlights the importance of adhering to God's specific instructions in worship. The tragic story of Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's sons, who were punished for offering "unauthorized fire before the LORD" (Leviticus 10:1-2), serves as a stark reminder that God is not to be trifled with and that obedience to His commands is paramount.
The Atonement Money (Exodus 30:11-16)
God instructed Moses to collect a ransom from each Israelite man twenty years old or older (Exodus 30:12, 14). This atonement money served two crucial purposes. First, it acted as an atonement for their lives, preventing plagues from afflicting them should they disobey God's commands (Exodus 30:12, 15-16). Second, the collected funds were used to maintain the Tent of Meeting (Exodus 30:16), ensuring the proper upkeep of the sanctuary and its services. This contribution was not based on wealth or status; the rich were not to give more, and the poor were not to give less (Exodus 30:15). This equality emphasized that every life was equally precious in God's eyes, and all were equally in need of atonement.
The Bronze Basin (Exodus 30:17-21)
The bronze basin served as a reservoir of water for the priests to perform ritual washings before ministering in the Tabernacle. This act of purification symbolized the need for cleansing from sin and defilement before approaching God. The priests were required to wash their hands and feet to avoid death (Exodus 30:20-21), underscoring the seriousness of approaching God with clean hands and a pure heart.
The Anointing Oil (Exodus 30:22-33)
God meticulously detailed the ingredients and preparation of the holy anointing oil (Exodus 30:22-25). Nothing was left to human ingenuity; God specified the precise components and their proportions. This anointing oil was to be used to consecrate the Tent of Meeting, its furnishings, and its utensils (Exodus 30:26-29), setting them apart for holy use. Aaron and his sons were also to be anointed with this oil, consecrating them for their priestly service (Exodus 30:30).
The anointing oil was holy and exclusively reserved for its designated purpose (Exodus 30:31-32). Any unauthorized use of the oil would result in being "cut off" (Exodus 30:33), signifying exclusion from the covenant community. This strict prohibition highlights the sanctity of God's provisions and the consequences of treating them lightly.
The Incense (Exodus 30:34-38)
Similar to the anointing oil, God provided specific instructions for the composition of the incense (Exodus 30:34-35). This incense was to be holy and used only within the Tabernacle (Exodus 30:35-36). Replicating the sacred incense for personal use was strictly forbidden, and any violation would result in being "cut off" from the people (Exodus 30:38). The exclusivity of the incense emphasized its sacredness and its unique role in worship.
Exodus 30 reveals God's meticulous nature and His desire for worship that is both reverent and obedient. The instructions for the altar of incense, atonement money, bronze basin, anointing oil, and incense underscore the importance of approaching God with purity, humility, and a deep respect for His holiness. These elements serve as reminders that true worship is not a matter of personal preference but a response to God's specific commands and His revealed character.