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Plans for the Incense Altar

30 “Then make another altar of acacia wood for burning incense. Make it 18 inches square and 36 inches high,[a] with horns at the corners carved from the same piece of wood as the altar itself. Overlay the top, sides, and horns of the altar with pure gold, and run a gold molding around the entire altar. Make two gold rings, and attach them on opposite sides of the altar below the gold molding to hold the carrying poles. Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. Place the incense altar just outside the inner curtain that shields the Ark of the Covenant,[b] in front of the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—that covers the tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant.[c] I will meet with you there.

“Every morning when Aaron maintains the lamps, he must burn fragrant incense on the altar. 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. 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[d] 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.”

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Footnotes

  1. 30:2 Hebrew 1 cubit [46 centimeters] long and 1 cubit wide, a square, and 2 cubits [92 centimeters] high.
  2. 30:6a Or Ark of the Testimony; also in 30:26.
  3. 30:6b Hebrew that covers the Testimony; see note on 25:16.
  4. 30:10 Or make atonement for; also in 30:10b.

Instructions for the incense altar

30 Make an acacia-wood altar for burning incense. The altar should be square, eighteen inches long and eighteen inches wide. It should be three feet high. Its horns should be permanently attached. Cover the altar with pure gold, including its top, all its sides, and its horns. You should also make a gold molding all around it. Make two gold rings and attach them under the molding on two opposite sides of the altar. They will house the poles used to carry the altar. Make acacia-wood poles and cover them with gold. Place the incense altar in front of the veil that hangs before the chest containing the covenant, in front of the cover that is on top of the covenant document where I will meet with you. Aaron will burn sweet-smelling incense on the incense altar every morning when he takes care of the lamps. And again when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he will burn incense. It should be a regular incense offering in the Lord’s presence in every generation. Don’t offer the wrong incense on the altar or an entirely burned offering or a grain offering. Don’t pour a drink offering on it. 10 Once a year Aaron should perform a ritual of reconciliation on its horns with the blood of the purification offering for reconciliation. Once a year in every generation he should perform a ritual of reconciliation at the altar. It is most holy to the Lord.

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