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