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Exodus 30:1-10

Listen to Exodus 30:1-10
1 “Then make another altar of acacia wood for burning incense.
2 Make it 18 inches square and 36 inches high, with horns at the corners carved from the same piece of wood as the altar itself.
3 Overlay the top, sides, and horns of the altar with pure gold, and run a gold molding around the entire altar.
4 Make two gold rings, and attach them on opposite sides of the altar below the gold molding to hold the carrying poles.
5 Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.
6 Place the incense altar just outside the inner curtain that shields the Ark of the Covenant, in front of the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—that covers the tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant. I will meet with you there.
7 “Every morning when Aaron maintains the lamps, he must burn fragrant incense on the altar.
8 And each evening when he lights the lamps, he must again burn incense in the LORD ’s presence. This must be done from generation to generation.
9 Do not offer any unholy incense on this altar, or any burnt offerings, grain offerings, or liquid offerings.
10 “Once a year Aaron must purify the altar by smearing its horns with blood from the offering made to purify the people from their sin. This will be a regular, annual event from generation to generation, for this is the LORD ’s most holy altar.”

Exodus 30:1-10 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.

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Exodus 30:1-10 Study Resources

Sermons

Incense and Intimacy: The Way Into Glory
Incense and Intimacy: The Way Into Glory
Dr. Robyn Kassas and Dr. Nathan Kassas

In this powerful episode of First Love, Dr. Robyn Kassas and Dr. Nathan Kassas guide us deeper into the Tabernacle journey, moving from illumination to intimacy. After encountering the Golden Lampstand and the Holy Spirit’s light, we now stand before the Altar of Incense—the final place of alignment before the veil. Here, prayer is no longer urgency-driven but devotion-refined. Incense represents transformed desire: praise and worship rising continually as a sweet fragrance before God, preparing the heart to enter His glory.The Altar of Incense reveals that intimacy with God requires order, balance, and surrender. We cannot step into the Holy of Holies carrying the scent of the world; our inner life must be aligned to “smell like Jesus.” Incense prayer bypasses panic, purifies motivation, and draws us into heart-level communion, where worship becomes who we are—not just what we do.Dr. Robyn and Dr. Nathan call us to return to our first love—yet not to remain immature there. We are invited to grow from the passion of first love into the stability, depth, and devotion of mature love, where intimacy sustains us and glory transforms us.

Footnotes 4

  • [a] Hebrew 1 cubit [46 centimeters] long and 1 cubit wide, a square, and 2 cubits [92 centimeters] high.
  • [b] Or Ark of the Testimony; also in 30:26 .
  • [c] Hebrew that covers the Testimony; see note on 25:16 .
  • [d] Or make atonement for; also in 30:10b .
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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