Exodus 30:6

6 Place the incense altar in front of the veil that hangs before the chest containing the covenant, in front of the cover that is on top of the covenant document where I will meet with you.

Exodus 30:6 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 30:6

Thou shalt put it before the vail
That divides between the holy and the most holy place; not within the vail in the holy of holies, but before it at the holy place, for there the altar of incense stood: Josephus ^F15 says, between the candlestick and the table, i.e. of shewbread, stood the altar of incense; now the candlestick and shewbread were in the holy place; and with this account the Talmudists

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 agree, who say, that the table was in the north, distant from the wall two cubits and a half, and the candlestick on the south, distant from the wall two cubits and a half, and the altar was in the middle, and stood between them: and Maimonides ^F17 gives the like account of its situation, which is here further described:

that is by the ark of the testimony;
which vail was by it, before which the altar was placed; the ark of the testimony was the chest or coffer in which the law was put, and which was the testimony of the will of God, from whence it had this name; and it stood in the most holy place; and not by it in the same place, but over against it, in the holy place stood the altar of incense:

before the mercy seat,
that is over the testimony; the mercy seat that was over the ark, a lid or cover to it, where the testimony was; and towards this, before the face of it, was the altar of incense, where the priest officiating, looked directly towards it; having that in view for the acceptance of the people's prayers to God through Christ, which they were making while he was burning the incense:

where I will meet thee;
as he had before promised, ( Exodus 25:22 ) .

F15 Antiqu. l. 3. c. 6. sect. 8.
F16 T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 33. 2.
F17 Hilchot Beth. Habechirah, c. 1. sect. 7.

Exodus 30:6 In-Context

4 Make two gold rings and attach them under the molding on two opposite sides of the altar. They will house the poles used to carry the altar.

5 Make acacia-wood poles and cover them with gold.

6 Place the incense altar in front of the veil that hangs before the chest containing the covenant, in front of the cover that is on top of the covenant document where I will meet with you.

7 Aaron will burn sweet-smelling incense on the incense altar every morning when he takes care of the lamps.

8 And again when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he will burn incense. It should be a regular incense offering in the LORD's presence in every generation.