Exodus 30:19-29

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.

25 Like a skilled incense maker, blend these ingredients to make a holy anointing oil.

26 Use this sacred oil to anoint the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant,

27 the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and all its accessories, the incense altar,

28 the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the washbasin with its stand.

29 Consecrate them to make them absolutely holy. After this, whatever touches them will also become holy.

Exodus 30:19-29 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]. Hebrew 500 [shekels] [5.7 kilograms] of pure myrrh, 250 [shekels] [2.9 kilograms] of fragrant cinnamon, 250 [shekels] of fragrant calamus.
• [b]. Hebrew 500 [shekels] [5.7 kilograms] of cassia.
• [c]. Hebrew 1 hin [3.8 liters] of olive oil.