Exodus 30: The Altar of Incense
1 You shall make an altar to burn incense on; you shall make it of acacia wood. 2 A cubit shall be its length and a cubit its width—it shall be square—and two cubits shall be its height. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. 3 And you shall overlay its top, its sides all around, and its horns with pure gold; and you shall make for it a molding of gold all around. 4 Two gold rings you shall make for it, under the molding on both its sides. You shall place them on its two sides, and they will be holders for the poles with which to bear it. 5 You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. 6 And you shall put it before the veil that is before the ark of the Testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony, where I will meet with you. 7 Aaron shall burn on it sweet incense every morning; when he tends the lamps, he shall burn incense on it. 8 And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations. 9 You shall not offer strange incense on it, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering; nor shall you pour a drink offering on it.
Prayer in the name of Jesus unlocks the power of the Most Holy. The altar of incense “must be ranked first among the articles of furniture in the Holy Place due to its placement near the veil, entitling it actually to be associated with the Holy of Holies as in Hebrews 9:4.” (Coffman Commentary)
"Incense signifies the prayers of God’s people, Psalms 141:2 Revelation 8:3; which are not acceptable to God except they be offered upon the true altar, Christ.” (Poole) "That incense would be among the offerings which God would require to be offered to Him had appeared already in Exodus 25:6. Its preciousness, its fragrance, and its seeming to mount in cloud after cloud to heaven, gave it a natural place in the symbolism of worship, and led to its employment in the religious rites of a variety of nations.” (Ellicott)
"After the account we have given of the former altars, there is nothing difficult in the description of this; which was a little more than half a yard square, and as high again as it was broad. From being covered all over with pure gold, it was commonly called the golden altar, Numbers 4:11. It appears from other passages of Scripture, that the priest took fire from the brazen altar, and put it into a golden censer; and then placed this censer with the fire upon the golden altar, to burn incense upon it. See Leviticus 10:1. Numbers 17:13…. Aaron, as chief, Exodus 30:7 and the other priests in their course, Luke 1:8-9 were to offer the sacred incense; to point out to us the figurative and spiritual meaning of which, we find that the people in the court of the temple and tabernacle were at prayers, while the priest burnt the incense, Luke 1:10. And, in Revelation 8:3 we read that an angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints, upon the golden altar which was before the throne…” (Thomas Coke)
10 And Aaron shall make atonement upon its horns once a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonement; once a year he shall make atonement upon it throughout your generations. It is most holy to Yahweh.
"This ceremony was to be performed on the great day of expiation; see Leviticus 16:18-19 when the high-priest alone entered into the holy of holies, and made an atonement by blood, which he offered for himself and for the errors of the people, Hebrews 9:7. These atonements and purifications were used, no doubt, to express the weakness and imperfections of all the legal ceremonies; which, though types of the great gospel blessings, yet themselves needed to be purified; see Heb. chapters 9: and 10: throughout.” (Thomas Coke)
"Once in a year, on the day of expiation, Leviticus 16:19 Numbers 29:7. With the blood of the sin-offering of atonements; to note, that the prayers of the saints are acceptable to God no otherwise but through the blood of Christ, who was offered for the expiation of our sins.” (Poole)
"The absolute holiness of Jehovah was further enhanced in the minds of the people by the thought that altars and holy places would after a time be liable to contract some defilement, and hence the solemn purifications of all once in the year, on the great day of atonement. See on Leviticus 16, where the ceremonies of this day are given in detail.” (Whedon)
"And Aaron shall make an atonement— We should observe here the correspondence between the two altars; for, as the Israelites were admonished that the sacrifices would not please God, unless all uncleanness were wiped away by pure and holy prayers, so also the altar of incense was purified by the sprinkling of blood, that they might learn that their prayers obtained acceptance through sacrifices. Although this was only done once a year, yet it was daily to be called to mind, in order that they might offer the death of Christ by faith and prayer, and yet might know that their prayers had no sweet savor, unless in so far as they were sprinkled with the blood of atonement.” (John Calvin)
After his conversion, John Wesley exclaimed, "All my works, all my righteousness, my prayers, need an atonement for themselves; so that my mouth is stopped. I have nothing to plead. God is holy; I am unholy. God is a consuming fire; I am altogether a sinner, meet to be consumed.”
Morning Repost: Exodus 30: The Ransom Money
11 Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying: 12 “When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number, then every man shall give a ransom for himself to Yahweh, when you number them, that there may be no plague among them when you number them. 13 This is what everyone among those who are numbered shall give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel is twenty gerahs). The half-shekel shall be an offering to Yahweh.
"Israel's leaders collected this money whenever they took a census. In time it became a yearly 'temple tax' (Matthew 17:24). A half shekel weighed .2 ounces (6 grams), and it was silver. 'Money' in Exodus 30:16 is literally 'silver.' In our Lord's day it amounted to two days wages (Matthew 17:24)." (Thomas Constable) This silver was the metal signifying redemption.
"It was melted down for use in the sanctuary, so as to be a ‘memorial’ permanently present to God when His people met with Him. The greater portion was made into bases for the boards of the sanctuary. That is, God’s dwelling with men and our communion with Him all rest on the basis of ransom. We are ‘brought nigh by the blood of Christ.” (MacLaren)
The need for redemption is the foundation of our faith. "Do you recognize that you belong to a redeemed world? Even if all do not avail themselves of the Redemption which has been achieved, yet it is available for all; and more benefits than we can ever estimate are always accruing since God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son." (F. B. Meyer)
"That there be no plague among them.—If a man did not feel his need of ‘ransom,' and gladly pay the small sum at which the ransom was fixed, he would show himself so proud and presumptuous that he might well provoke a Divine 'plague,' or punishment.” (Ellicott's Commentary) Moreover from the collector’s perspective: When King David numbered the people, it was for his own glory. Look at the numbers that follow me! "If a count was made without receiving the ransom money, a census communicated the idea that a king or a human leader owned Israel, when God alone did. This was David's problem in 2 Samuel 24:1-25, when David took a census without the ransom money and God plagued Israel.” (David Guzik)
14 "Everyone included among those who are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering to Yahweh. 15 The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when you give an offering to Yahweh, to make atonement for yourselves. 16 And you shall take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shall appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of meeting, that it may be a memorial for the children of Israel before Yahweh, to make atonement for yourselves.”
“The tax was not levied from women, minors, old men (Numbers 1:42; 45), and the Levites (Numbers 1:47), they being not numbered...”(Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) for service... but still being included in the deal.
"Try to realize an Israelite’s thoughts at the census. ‘I am enrolled among the people and army of God: am I worthy? What am I, to serve so holy a God?’...Its identity for all. Rich or poor, high or low, all men are equal in sin. There are surface differences and degrees, but a deep identity beneath. So on the same principle all souls are of the same value. Here is the true democracy of Christianity. So there is one ransom for all, for the need of all is identical.” (Alexander MacLaren)
"This was not a voluntary contribution, but a ransom for the soul or lives of [all of] the people. It was required from all classes alike, and a refusal to pay implied a wilful exclusion from the privileges of the sanctuary, as well as exposure to divine judgments. It was probably the same impost that was exacted from our Lord (Matthew 17:24-27)..." (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown)
"When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, 'Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?'He said, 'Yes.' And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, 'What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?'Peter said to Him, 'From strangers.' Jesus said to him, 'Then the sons are free. Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a shekel; take that and give it to them for Me and you.'" (Matt 17:24-27)
"This tax was exacted on numbering the people. It was a very small amount, about fifteen pence, so it was clearly symbolical in its significance. Notice-
I. The broad principle of equality of all souls in the sight of God. Contrast the reign of caste and class in heathendom with the democracy of Judaism and of Christianity.
II. The universal sinfulness. Payment of the tax was a confession that all were alike in this: not that all were equally sinful, but all were sinful, whatever variations of degree might exist.
‘There is no difference, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.’
III. The one ransom. It was a prophecy of which we know the meaning. Recall the incident of the ‘stater’ in the fish’s mouth.
Christ declares His exemption from the tax. Yet He voluntarily comes under it, and He provides the payment of it for Himself and for Peter.
He does so by a miracle.
The Apostle has to ‘take and give it’; so faith is called into exercise.
Thus there is but one Sacrifice for all; and the poorest can exercise faith and the richest can do no more. ‘None other name.’” (Alexander MacLaren)
Morning Repost: Exodus 30: The Bronze Laver
17 Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying: 18 “You shall also make a laver of bronze, with its base also of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar. And you shall put water in it, 19 for Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in water from it. 20 When they go into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire to the Lord, they shall wash with water, lest they die. 21 So they shall wash their hands and their feet, lest they die. And it shall be a statute forever to them—to him and his descendants throughout their generations.”
"This laver was provided for the priests alone[—those ministering in the tabernacle of meeting]. But in the Christian dispensation all believers are priests; and hence, the apostle exhorts them how to draw near to God...” (Jamieson, Fausset, Brown) "by water and the blood." (1 John 5:6)
“For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in water from it." "Not in it, but at it; the laver had mouths or spouts, as Ben Melech says, from whence the water flowed when the priests washed their hands and feet at it; and so Bartenora says they did not wash out of the laver, but from water flowing out of it; it is said 'out of it', not in it.” (Gill's Exposition)
"Wash, O God, our sons and daughters
Where your cleansing waters flow
Number them among your people
Bless as Christ blessed long ago
Weave them garments bright and sparkling
Compass them with love and light
Fill, anoint them, send your Spirit
Holy Dove and heart’s Delight." (Ruth C Duck)
"They then had a laver for the priests only to wash in, but to us now there is a fountain opened for Judah and Jerusalem, Zechariah 13:1 , an inexhaustible fountain of living water, so that it is our own fault if we remain in our pollution. Aaron and his sons were to wash their hands and feet at this laver every time they went in to minister… Though they washed themselves ever so clean at their own houses, that would not serve, they must wash at the laver [of God]. This was designed, to teach them purity in all their ministrations, and to possess them with a reverence of God's holiness, and a dread of the pollutions of sin. They must not only wash and be made clean when they were first consecrated, but they must wash and be kept clean, whenever they went in to minister. He only shall stand in God's holy place that hath clean hands and a pure heart, Psalm 24:3-4 . And it was to teach us, who are daily to attend upon God, daily to renew our repentance for sin, and our believing application of the blood of Christ to our souls for remission.” (Wesley's Explanatory Notes)
"When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation,
they shall wash with water... This intimates to us the necessity as of pure hearts, so of pure hands, in order to compass the altar of God, to attend public worship, and particularly prayer, in which holy hands should be lifted up, 1 Timothy 2:8.” (Gill's Exposition)
"that they die not - This was certainly an emblematical washing; and as the hands and the feet are particularly mentioned, it must refer to the purity of their whole conduct. Their hands - all their works, their feet - all their goings, must be washed - must be holiness unto the Lord. And this washing must be repeated every time they entered into the tabernacle, or when they came near to the altar to minister. This washing was needful because the priests all ministered barefoot; but it was equally so because of the guilt they might have contracted, for the washing was emblematical of the putting away of sin, or what St. Paul calls the laver of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost, ( Titus 3:5;), as the influences of the Spirit must be repeated for the purification of the soul, as frequently as any moral defilement has been contracted.” (Adam Clarke's Commentary)
"The laver and altar situated in the same court, signified the same; as the water and blood issuing out of Christ’s side, viz., the necessary concurrence of justification and sanctification in all that shall be saved.” (Trapp) "According to Exodus 38:8, it was made of the mirrors of the women who were wont to assemble at the entrance of the tabernacle.” (Whedon's Commentary) THUS before ministering the priest were given an opportunity to examine themselves and wash before gong about their work. God’s Word provides us with the same opportunity,
The "Israelites were thus chiefly reminded how unworthy they were to offer sacrifices to God, since the impurity of the very priests, who were chosen to this once, prevented them from exercising it, until they were cleansed with water. The washing of the hands and feet denoted that all parts of the body were infected with uncleanness; for, since Scripture often uses the word
hands' for the actions of life, and compares the whole course of life to a way or journey, it is very suitable to say by synecdoche that all impurity is purged away by the washing of the hands and feet. The comparison with Christ now remains to be considered; but this we shall understand better a little beyond in reference to the sacrifices.” (Calvin's Commentaries)
Jesus only lived a perfect life; He provides a Way of His followers.
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him." (1 Peter 3:18-22)
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:25-27)
The laver was brass representing judgment. Later Jesus "appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:14-16)
Evening Repost w Much Striving: Exodus 30: The Holy Anointing Oil
22 Moreover Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying: 23 “Also take for yourself quality spices—five hundred shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much sweet-smelling cinnamon (two hundred and fifty shekels), two hundred and fifty shekels of sweet-smelling cane, 24 five hundred shekels of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil. 25 And you shall make from these a holy anointing oil, an ointment compounded according to the art of the perfumer. It shall be a holy anointing oil. 26 With it you shall anoint the tabernacle of meeting and the ark of the Testimony; 27 the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense; 28 the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the laver and its base. 29 You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy; whatever touches them must be holy. 30 And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister to Me as priests.
Take onto yourself quality spices: "According to Jewish tradition, the essences of the spices were first extracted, and then mixed with the oil.” (Barnes) "Thus, the ingredients were four in number, blended together; their fragrance being borne along in the power of the oil. Scholars tell us that the Hebrew word for 'spices' is from a root meaning to 'smell sweetly.' Therefore, the basal thought in the ointment is its sweet scent. 'Principal spices' signifies those which exceeded others in their rich odor, pre-eminent in their aroma. Surely it is evident that they speak to us of Christ. Our minds at once turn to Psalm 45 where God says to Him, 'Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness; therefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows. All Thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made Thee glad' (vv. 7, 8)." (Gleanings In Exodus by A. W. Pink)
"With this oil God's tent and all the furniture of it were to be anointed; it was to be used also in the consecration of the priests. It was to be continued throughout their generations, Exodus 30:31. Solomon was anointed with it, 1:39 , and some other of the kings, and all the high priests, with such a quantity of it, as that it ran down to the skirts of the garments; and we read of the making it up, 1 Chronicles 9:30 . Yet all agree that in the second temple there was none of this holy oil, which was probably owing to a notion they had, that it was not lawful to make it up; Providence over - ruling that want as a presage of the better unction of the Holy Ghost in gospel - times, the variety of whose gifts was typified by these sweet ingredients.” (Wesley’s Explanatory Notes)
Morning Repost: Exodus 30: The Incense
34 And Yahweh said to Moses: “Take sweet spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum, and pure frankincense with these sweet spices; there shall be equal amounts of each. 35 You shall make of these an incense, a compound according to the art of the perfumer, salted, pure, and holy. 36 And you shall beat some of it very fine, and put some of it before the Testimony in the tabernacle of meeting where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you. 37 But as for the incense which you shall make, you shall not make any for yourselves, according to its composition. It shall be to you holy for Yahweh. 38 Whoever makes any like it, to smell it, he shall be cut off from his people.”
"It remained to give directions concerning the composition of the incense, which, according to verse 7, was to be burnt upon the altar of gold (representing prayers). That it was to be of one and one only peculiar kind had been already implied in the prohibition to burn 'strange incense' (ver. 9). Moses is now told exactly how it was to be composed.” (Adam Clarke)
Take sweet spices: "Stacte, and onycha, and galbanum: the Jews themselves are not agreed what these were, and it concerns not Christians much to know, the use of them being abolished. It is evident they were each of them sweet spices, and therefore this galbanum was not of the common kind, which gives a very ball scent.
Of each shall there be a like weight, Heb. 'alone shall be with alone,' i.e. each of these alone shall be with another alone, to wit, in equal quantity. Or it may note, that each of these was to be taken and beaten apart, and then mixed together. Or, it shall be 'alone alone,' i.e. absolutely and certainly alone, the doubling of the word increasing the signification, and thus it doth not belong to all the ingredients, because the Hebrew verb is here of the singular number, but only to the frankincense; and the sense may be, that whereas the other things shall be tempered together, the frankincense should be alone, which may seem most agreeable both to the common use of frankincense, and to its differing nature from the other things mentioned, two of them at least being confessedly liquid things.” (Matthew Poole)
Prehaps, frankincense represents the prayers of Christ interceding for us, and the other sweet spices depict sweet prayers in His name.
"Frankincense was used alone or with other materials for incense. It was one of the ingredients of the holy incense used for worship in the tabernacle (Ex 30:34). It was placed on the bread of the Presence (Lv 24:7) and mixed with oil on the cereal offerings (Lv 2:1- 2, 14- 16; 6:15), but it was excluded from the sin offering (5:11). A supply of frankincense was maintained in the Jerusalem temple (Neh 13:5, 9). It was later used in cosmetics and perfume (Sg 3:6). Both the costly value and its use for worship made the presentation of frankincense to the infant Jesus an appropriate gift (Mt 2:11).” (Tyndale Bible Dictionary)
"A prohibition is added, similar to that given with respect to the holy oil: no one is to make any like it for private use, under pain of being 'cut off from his people' (vers. 37, 38).” (Pulpit Commentary) Yet, "Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire before the Lord (Lev 10); and their destruction by the fire of Jehovah is recorded as a lasting warning to all presumptuous worshippers, and to all who attempt to model his religion, according to their own caprice, and to minister in sacred things without that authority which proceeds from himself alone. The imposition of hands whether of pope, cardinal, or bishop can avail nothing here. The call and unction of God alone can qualify the minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” (Adam Clarke)
Isaiah prophesied: “Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of Yahweh is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but Yahweh will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising... They shall bring gold and incense,and they shall proclaim the praises of Yahweh.” (Isa 60:1-3; 6b) “The birth of Christ did indeed occur at a time of universal spiritual darkness… The vain philosophy of the Greeks and Romans provided no relief from the awful darkness of that era. Nations shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising… The mention of 'kings' coming to the brightness of the rising of that Light received a token fulfillment at the birth of Christ, when… the 'three Kings of Orient' came with gifts of gold, and frankincense, and myrrh; but the ultimate fulfillment came when the wisest and greatest of earth believed on Him and received His Word...” (Coffman)- and offer prayers concerning His Coming Kingdom in His name.
"Gold speaks of His birth. He is born a King. Frankincense speaks of the fragrance of His life. Myrrh speaks of His death. All of this is indicated in the gifts that were brought to Him at His first coming." (Dr. J. Vernon McGee. Thru The Bible)