Exodus 30:14-24

14 All who have reached their twentieth birthday must give this sacred offering to the LORD .

15 When this offering is given to the LORD to purify your lives, making you right with him, the rich must not give more than the specified amount, and the poor must not give less.

16 Receive this ransom money from the Israelites, and use it for the care of the Tabernacle. It will bring the Israelites to the LORD ’s attention, and it will purify your lives.”

17 Then the LORD said to Moses,

18 “Make a bronze washbasin with a bronze stand. Place it between the Tabernacle and the altar, and fill it with water.

19 Aaron and his sons will wash their hands and feet there.

20 They must wash with water whenever they go into the Tabernacle to appear before the LORD and when they approach the altar to burn up their special gifts to the LORD —or they will die!

21 They must always wash their hands and feet, or they will die. This is a permanent law for Aaron and his descendants, to be observed from generation to generation.”

22 Then the LORD said to Moses,

23 “Collect choice spices—12 pounds of pure myrrh, 6 pounds of fragrant cinnamon, 6 pounds of fragrant calamus,

24 and 12 pounds of cassia —as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel. Also get one gallon of olive oil.

Exodus 30:14-24 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]. Or to make atonement for your lives; similarly in 30:16 .
• [b]. Hebrew Tent of Meeting; also in 30:18, 20, 26, 36 .
• [c]. Hebrew 500 [shekels] [5.7 kilograms] of pure myrrh, 250 [shekels] [2.9 kilograms] of fragrant cinnamon, 250 [shekels] of fragrant calamus.
• [d]. Hebrew 500 [shekels] [5.7 kilograms] of cassia.
• [e]. Hebrew 1 hin [3.8 liters] of olive oil.