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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.

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