Exodus 30:3-13

3 Overlay the top, sides, and horns of the altar with pure gold, and run a gold molding around the entire altar.

4 Make two gold rings, and attach them on opposite sides of the altar below the gold molding to hold the carrying poles.

5 Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.

6 Place the incense altar just outside the inner curtain that shields the Ark of the Covenant, in front of the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—that covers the tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant. I will meet with you there.

7 “Every morning when Aaron maintains the lamps, he must burn fragrant incense on the altar.

8 And each evening when he lights the lamps, he must again burn incense in the LORD ’s presence. This must be done from generation to generation.

9 Do not offer any unholy incense on this altar, or any burnt offerings, grain offerings, or liquid offerings.

10 “Once a year Aaron must purify the altar by smearing its horns with blood from the offering made to purify the people from their sin. This will be a regular, annual event from generation to generation, for this is the LORD ’s most holy altar.”

11 Then the LORD said to Moses,

12 “Whenever you take a census of the people of Israel, each man who is counted must pay a ransom for himself to the LORD . Then no plague will strike the people as you count them.

13 Each person who is counted must give a small piece of silver as a sacred offering to the LORD . (This payment is half a shekel, based on the sanctuary shekel, which equals twenty gerahs.)

Exodus 30:3-13 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 Ark of the Testimony; also in 30:26 .
• [b]. Hebrew that covers the Testimony; see note on 25:16 .
• [c]. Or make atonement for; also in 30:10b .
• [d]. Or 0.2 ounces [6 grams].