The Incense Altar

30 “You are to make an altar for the burning of incense; make it of acacia wood.(A) It must be square, 18 inches long and 18 inches wide;[a] it must be 36 inches high.[b] Its horns must be of one piece.[c] Overlay its top, all around its sides, and its horns with pure gold; make a gold molding all around it. Make two gold rings for it under the molding on two of its sides; put these on opposite sides of it to be holders for the poles to carry it with. Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.

“You are to place the altar in front of the veil by the ark of the testimony—in front of the mercy seat that is over the testimony—where I will meet with you. Aaron must burn fragrant incense on it; he must burn it every morning when he tends the lamps.(B) When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he must burn incense. There is to be an incense offering before the Lord throughout your generations. You must not offer unauthorized incense on it,(C) or a burnt or grain offering; you are not to pour a drink offering on it.

10 “Once a year Aaron is to perform the purification rite[d] on the horns of the altar. Throughout your generations he is to perform the purification rite[e] for[f] it once a year, with the blood of the sin offering for atonement.(D) The altar is especially holy to the Lord.”

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 30:2 Lit one cubit its length and one cubit its width
  2. Exodus 30:2 Lit wide; and two cubits its height
  3. Exodus 30:2 Lit piece with it
  4. Exodus 30:10 Or to make atonement
  5. Exodus 30:10 Or to make atonement
  6. Exodus 30:10 Or on

The Altar of Incense

30 “You are to make an altar for burning incense. You are to make it of acacia wood. It is to be a square, one cubit[a] long and one cubit[b] wide, and it is to be two cubits[c] high, with its horns of one piece with it. You are to overlay it with pure gold, its top, its sides all around, and its horns, and you are to make a molding of gold all around it.

“You are to make two gold rings for it under its molding. You are to make them on its two opposite sides, and they are to be holders for poles by which to carry it. You are to make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. You are to put the altar[d] in front of the curtain that is over the Ark of the Testimony, in front of the Mercy Seat[e] that is over the Testimony where I’ll meet with you. Aaron is to offer fragrant incense on it. Every morning when he trims the lamps he is to offer it, and when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he is to offer it as a continual incense offering in the Lord’s presence throughout your generations. You are not to offer strange incense, a burnt offering, or a grain offering on it, nor are you to pour out a libation on it. 10 Each year Aaron is to make atonement on its horns with the blood of the sin offering of atonement. He is to make atonement on it each year throughout your generations. It is most holy to the Lord.”

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 30:2 I.e. about one and a half feet
  2. Exodus 30:2 I.e. about one and a half feet
  3. Exodus 30:2 I.e. about three feet
  4. Exodus 30:6 Lit. it
  5. Exodus 30:6 Or atonement place, and so throughout the book

The Altar of Incense(A)

30 “Make an altar(B) of acacia wood for burning incense.(C) It is to be square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high[a]—its horns(D) of one piece with it. Overlay the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it.(E) Make two gold rings(F) for the altar below the molding—two on each of the opposite sides—to hold the poles used to carry it. Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.(G) Put the altar in front of the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law—before the atonement cover(H) that is over the tablets of the covenant law—where I will meet with you.

“Aaron must burn fragrant incense(I) on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the Lord for the generations to come.(J) Do not offer on this altar any other incense(K) or any burnt offering or grain offering, and do not pour a drink offering on it. 10 Once a year(L) Aaron shall make atonement(M) on its horns. This annual atonement must be made with the blood of the atoning sin offering[b](N) for the generations to come.(O) It is most holy to the Lord.”

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 30:2 That is, about 1 1/2 feet long and wide and 3 feet high or about 45 centimeters long and wide and 90 centimeters high
  2. Exodus 30:10 Or purification offering