Exodus 30:22-38

Instructions for oil and incense

22 The LORD spoke to Moses:
23 Now take for yourself high-quality spices: five hundred weight of solid myrrh; half as much of sweet-smelling cinnamon, that is, two hundred fifty; two hundred fifty weight of sweet-smelling cane;
24 five hundred of cassia—measured by the sanctuary shekel—and a hin of olive oil.
25 Prepare a holy anointing oil, blending them like a skilled perfume maker to produce the holy anointing oil.
26 Use it to anoint the meeting tent, the chest containing the covenant,
27 the table and all its equipment, the lampstand and its equipment, the incense altar,
28 the altar for entirely burned offerings and all its equipment, and the washbasin with its stand.
29 Make them holy so that they may be perfectly holy. Whatever touches them will become holy.
30 Then anoint Aaron and his sons and make them holy to serve me as priests.
31 Say to the Israelites: This will be my holy anointing oil in every generation.
32 Don't allow anyone else to use this oil. Don't make another oil like it by using the same formula. This oil is holy, and you should regard it as holy.
33 Whoever blends an oil like it or whoever uses the oil on someone else will be cut off from the people.
34 The LORD said to Moses: Take an equal amount of each of these spices: gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense.
35 Like a skilled perfume maker, carefully blend them together and make incense, seasoned with salt, pure and holy.
36 Beat some of it into a fine powder and put part of it in front of the covenant document in the meeting tent where I will meet with you. You should regard it as perfectly holy.
37 When you make incense according to this formula, you shouldn't make any of it for your own use. You should regard it as holy to the LORD.
38 Whoever makes incense with this same formula to enjoy its fragrance will be cut off from the people.

Exodus 30:22-38 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 1

  • [a]. One hin is approximately one gallon.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible