Exodus 30:1-10

Instructions for Making the Incense Altar

1 "And you will make an altar [for] burning incense; you will make it of acacia wood,

2 a cubit its length and a cubit its width--it will be square--and two cubits its height, its horns {of one piece with it}.

3 And you will overlay it with pure gold, its top and its sides all around and its horns, and you will make for it a gold molding all around.

4 And you will make two gold rings for it; under its molding {on two opposite sides} you will make [them] as {holders} for poles to carry it with them.

5 You will make the poles of acacia wood, and you will overlay them [with] gold.

6 And you will put it before the curtain that [is] upon the ark of the testimony, before the atonement cover, which [is] on the testimony, there where I will meet with you.

7 "And on it Aaron will turn fragrant incense into smoke; {each morning} when he tends the lamps, he will turn it into smoke.

8 And when Aaron sets up the lamps {at twilight}, he will turn it into smoke--incense of continuity--before Yahweh throughout your generations.

9 You will not offer on it strange incense or a burnt offering or a grain offering, and you will not pour a libation on it.

10 And Aaron will make atonement on its horns one time in the year from the blood of the sin offering of the atonement; one time in the year he will make atonement on it throughout your generations; it is a most holy thing for Yahweh."

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.

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "from it"
• [b] Literally "on two of its sides you will make on two of its sides"
• [c] Literally "houses"
• [d] Literally "in the morning in the morning"
• [e] Literally "between the two evenings"