Exodus 30:6

6 Put this altar outside the curtain which hangs in front of the Covenant Box. That is the place where I will meet 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


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 carrying rings for it and attach them below the border on two sides to hold the poles with which it is to be carried.
5 Make these poles of acacia wood and cover them with gold.
6 Put this altar outside the curtain which hangs in front of the Covenant Box. That is the place where I will meet you.
7 Every morning when Aaron comes to take care of the lamps, he is to burn sweet-smelling incense on it.
8 He must do the same when he lights the lamps in the evening. This offering of incense is to continue without interruption for all time to come.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.