Exodus 30:1-19

The Altar of Incense

1 “Make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense.

2 It is to be square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high^[a] —its horns of one piece with it.

3 Overlay the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it.

4 Make two gold rings for the altar below the molding—two on each of the opposite sides—to hold the poles used to carry it.

5 Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.

6 Put the altar in front of the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law—before the atonement cover that is over the tablets of the covenant law—where I will meet with you.

7 “Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps.

8 He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the LORD for the generations to come.

9 Do not offer on this altar any other incense or any burnt offering or grain offering, and do not pour a drink offering on it.

10 Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on its horns. This annual atonement must be made with the blood of the atoning sin offering^[b] for the generations to come. It is most holy to the LORD.”

Atonement Money

11 Then the LORD said to Moses,

12 “When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the LORD a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them.

13 Each one who crosses over to those already counted is to give a half shekel,^[c] according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the LORD.

14 All who cross over, those twenty years old or more, are to give an offering to the LORD.

15 The rich are not to give more than a half shekel and the poor are not to give less when you make the offering to the LORD to atone for your lives.

16 Receive the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the tent of meeting. It will be a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD, making atonement for your lives.”

Basin for Washing

17 Then the LORD said to Moses,

18 “Make a bronze basin, with its bronze stand, for washing. Place it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it.

19 Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it.

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Exodus 30:1-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 30

This chapter treats of the altar of incense, its form and use, Ex 30:1-10 of the ransom of the Israelites, with the half shekel when numbered, Ex 30:11-16 of the laver for the priests to wash their hands and feet at before service, Ex 30:17-21 of the anointing oil, the ingredients of it, and what was to be done with it, Ex 30:22-33, and of the perfume, the composition and use of it, Ex 30:34-38.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 26

1. Exodus 40:5,26; Numbers 4:11; 1 Kings 6:20; Ezekiel 41:22; Exodus 37:25
2. S Exodus 25:6; Exodus 37:29; Luke 1:11; Hebrews 9:4; Revelation 8:3
3. S Exodus 27:2; Revelation 9:13
4. S Exodus 25:11
5. S Exodus 25:12
6. S Exodus 25:13
7. Exodus 25:22; S Exodus 26:34
8. S Exodus 25:6; Exodus 40:27; Numbers 3:10; Deuteronomy 33:10; ver 34-35; Exodus 27:21; 1 Samuel 2:28; 1 Chronicles 6:49; 2 Chronicles 2:4; 2 Chronicles 26:18; 2 Chronicles 29:7
9. S Exodus 25:37; S Exodus 29:42
10. Leviticus 10:1; Numbers 16:7,40
11. Leviticus 16:2
12. Leviticus 9:7; Leviticus 16:18-19,30; Leviticus 23:27,28; Leviticus 25:9
13. Exodus 29:14; Leviticus 4:3; Leviticus 6:25; Leviticus 7:7; Leviticus 8:2,14; Numbers 6:11
14. S Exodus 29:42
15. Exodus 38:25; Numbers 1:2,49; Numbers 4:2,29; Numbers 14:29; Numbers 26:2; Numbers 31:26; 2 Samuel 24:1; 2 Kings 12:4
16. Exodus 38:26; Numbers 31:50; S Matthew 20:28
17. Numbers 14:12; Deuteronomy 28:58-61; 2 Samuel 24:13; 1 Kings 8:37
18. ver 24; Exodus 38:24,26; Leviticus 5:15; Leviticus 27:3,25; Numbers 3:47; Numbers 7:13; Numbers 18:16; Ezekiel 4:10; Ezekiel 45:12; Matthew 17:24
19. Exodus 38:26; Numbers 1:3,18; Numbers 14:29; Numbers 26:2; Numbers 32:11; 2 Chronicles 25:5
20. Proverbs 22:2; Ephesians 6:9
21. ver 12
22. Exodus 38:25-28; 2 Chronicles 24:5
23. Numbers 31:54
24. Exodus 31:9; Exodus 35:16; Exodus 38:8; Exodus 39:39; Exodus 40:7,30; 1 Kings 7:38; 2 Chronicles 4:6
25. Exodus 40:31-32; Isaiah 52:11; John 13:10
26. Exodus 29:4; Exodus 40:12; Leviticus 8:6; Psalms 26:6; Hebrews 10:22

Footnotes 3

[a]. That is, about 1 1/2 feet long and wide and 3 feet high or about 45 centimeters long and wide and 90 centimeters high
[b]. Or "purification offering"
[c]. That is, about 1/5 ounce or about 5.8 grams; also in verse 15