Exodus 30:1-10

1 "Make an altar out of acacia wood for burning incense.

2 Make it square -- eighteen inches long and eighteen inches wide -- and make it thirty-six inches high. The corners that stick out like horns must be one piece with the altar.

3 Cover its top, its sides, and its corners with pure gold, and put a gold strip all around the altar.

4 Make two gold rings beneath the gold strip on opposite sides of the altar, and slide poles through them to carry the altar.

5 Make the poles from acacia wood and cover them with gold.

6 Put the altar of incense in front of the curtain that is near the Ark of the Agreement, in front of the lid that covers that Ark. There I will meet with you.

7 "Aaron must burn sweet-smelling incense on the altar every morning when he comes to take care of the oil lamps.

8 He must burn incense again in the evening when he lights the lamps, so incense will burn before the Lord every day from now on.

9 Do not use this altar for offering any other incense, or burnt offering, or any kind of grain offering, or drink offering.

10 Once a year Aaron must make the altar ready for service to God by putting blood on its corners -- the blood of the animal offered to remove sins. He is to do this once a year from now on. This altar belongs completely to the Lord's service."

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.