The Incense Altar

30 “You are to make an altar for the burning of incense; make it of acacia wood.^{(A) 2} It must be square, eighteen inches long and eighteen inches wide;^[a] it must be thirty-six inches high.^[b] Its horns must be of one piece with it. ³ Overlay its top, all around its sides, and its horns with pure gold; make a gold molding all around it. ⁴ 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. ⁵ Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.

⁶ “You are to place the altar in front of the curtain by the ark of the testimony—in front of the mercy seat that is over the testimony—where I will meet with you. ⁷ Aaron must burn fragrant incense on it; he must burn it every morning when he tends the lamps.^{(B) 8} 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. ⁹ 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 atonement ceremony for the altar. Throughout your generations he is to perform the atonement ceremony for^[c] it once a year, with the blood of the sin offering for atonement on the horns.^(D) The altar is especially holy to the Lord.”