What is the purpose of the altar of incense in this passage?

The altar of incense is a small golden-covered altar placed in front of the inner curtain, near the ark and mercy seat. Aaron is to burn sweet incense on it every morning and evening when he tends the lamps. This shows that the rising incense is closely tied to drawing near to God. The incense points to the prayers of God’s people, which are pleasing to Him when offered His way. The warning against “strange incense” teaches that worship and prayer must follow God’s command, not whatever people invent.

Why is incense burned every morning and evening on the altar?

Incense is burned every morning when Aaron dresses the lamps and every evening when he lights them. This makes a “perpetual incense” before the LORD through all generations. Morning and evening burning teaches that prayer and fellowship with God should be steady and ongoing, not just now and then. It also links prayer with the light from the lampstand, showing that life in God’s presence is meant to be ordered by His light and covered by prayer, day by day, in a regular pattern of worship.

What is the meaning of the half shekel ransom for each person?

The half shekel ransom is paid whenever the people are counted. Every man twenty years old and over must give the same amount, no more and no less. This payment is called “a ransom for his soul” and is meant so that no plague comes on them when they are numbered. It shows that every life belongs to God and that all stand equal before Him. The money is used for the service of the tent, reminding the people that they are redeemed and that their lives and worship are under God’s care.

Why did the rich give no more and the poor no less than half a shekel?

The rich are not allowed to give more, and the poor are not allowed to give less, because the ransom is not about showing wealth or status. It is about every person’s life having the same worth before God. All need atonement in the same way. This equal payment reminds the whole community that no one can buy a better standing with God by giving extra, and no one is too poor to be counted among His people. It keeps their hearts humble and united as they support God’s worship together.

What was the bronze laver for, and why did the priests have to wash?

The bronze laver, with its base, is set between the tent of meeting and the altar and filled with water. Aaron and his sons must wash their hands and feet there whenever they go into the tent or come near the altar to serve. God says that if they do not wash, they will die. This shows that His presence is holy and cannot be approached carelessly. The washing points to the need for cleansing from sin and dirtiness of life before serving God, reminding us that “clean hands and a pure heart” are needed when we draw near to Him.

Why was the holy anointing oil recipe not allowed to be copied?

The anointing oil is made from specific spices mixed with olive oil. It is used to anoint the tent, the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the laver, and Aaron and his sons. God says it is holy and must not be poured on ordinary people or copied for personal use. Anyone who makes oil like it or puts it on a stranger will be cut off from the people. This strict command shows that what God sets apart for Himself is not common. His worship and His servants are to be treated with special respect, not turned into everyday perfume.

What is the meaning of the special incense and why was copying it forbidden?

God gives a careful list of sweet spices with pure frankincense to make a perfume for the sanctuary. It is to be beaten very small and placed in front of the testimony where God meets with His people. It is called “most holy.” The people are told not to make incense for themselves using this same mixture. Anyone who does, just to smell it, will be cut off. This shows that the nearness and sweetness of God’s presence is not a toy or a luxury item. The scent belongs to worship, not to personal pleasure.

What does this passage teach about God’s holiness and atonement?

This passage shows that God’s holiness shapes every part of worship. The incense altar stands near the ark, but even it needs blood on its horns once a year for atonement. The census requires ransom money so that a plague does not break out. The priests must wash or they will die. The oil and incense are holy and cannot be copied. All this teaches that people cannot come to God on their own terms. There must be cleansing, ransom, and set-apart service, pointing ahead to a fuller atonement that truly cleanses the worshipper.

Exod.30.1

Exodus 30:1

KJV GOD

And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.

The Altar of Incense

1 And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.

2 A cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof; foursquare shall it be: and two cubits shall be the height thereof: the horns thereof shall be of the same.

3 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about.

4 And two golden rings shalt thou make to it under the crown of it, by the two corners thereof, upon the two sides of it shalt thou make it; and they shall be for places for the staves to bear it withal.

5 And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.

6 And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.

7 And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.

8 And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations.

9 Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.

10 And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the Lord.

The Census Offering

11 ¶ And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

12 When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the Lord, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.

13 This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the Lord.

14 Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the Lord.

15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls.

16 And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls.

The Bronze Basin

17 ¶ And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

18 Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.

19 For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:

20 When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the Lord:

21 So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.

The Anointing Oil

22 ¶ Moreover the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

23 Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels,

24 And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin:

25 And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.

26 And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony,

27 And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense,

28 And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot.

29 And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.

30 And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office.

31 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations.

32 Upon man’s flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you.

33 Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people.

The Incense

34 ¶ And the Lord said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight:

35 And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy:

36 And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.

37 And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the Lord.

38 Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.