THE ALTAR OF INCENSE. THE RANSOM MONEY. THE LAVER. THE ANOINTING OIL. THE INCENSE 1-10. The Altar of Incense. The use of incense in worship was probably due to the worshipper's desire to honour God by offering to Him what he enjoys himself. 'Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart' (Proverbs 27:9). I... [ Continue Reading ]
On the HORNS, see on Exodus 27:2. OF THE SAME] see on Exodus 25:31.... [ Continue Reading ]
PURE GOLD] Hence this altar is called 'the golden altar' (Exodus 39:38; Exodus 40:26; Numbers 4:11; Hebrews 9:4; RM, etc.), to distinguish it from the altar of burnt offering, which is called the 'brazen altar' (Exodus 39:39). CROWN] i.e. rim or moulding, as in Exodus 25:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE THE VAIL] This means outside the veil and, therefore, in the Holy Place, not in the Holy of Holies, where it would be inaccessible save once a year, when the High Priest entered on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16): see on Exodus 40:5. In Hebrews 9:4, however, it is said to have stood withi... [ Continue Reading ]
STRANGE INCENSE] i.e. incense prepared differently from that prescribed in Exodus 30:34 : see on Leviticus 10:1. MEAT OFFERING] RV 'meal offering': see on Leviticus 2.... [ Continue Reading ]
MAKE ATONEMENT UPON IT] RV 'for it.' Owing to the imperfection of all human worship, the altar itself needs to be cleansed with a special rite: see on Exodus 28:38; Exodus 29:36. The reference here is to the ceremonial of the yearly Day of Atonement, for which see Leviticus 16. MOST HOLY] see on Lev... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THOU TAKEST THE SUM] A census of the people was probably in contemplation at this time, and was made twice during the forty years' sojourn in the wilderness: see Numbers 1:26. Whether it was done regularly does not appear. In time the half shekel became an annual tax devoted to the maintenance... [ Continue Reading ]
HALF A SHEKEL] A silver shekel was equal to fully half-a-crown. The SHEKEL OF THE SANCTUARY seems to have been a standard weight, and was probably preserved by the priests in the sanctuary.... [ Continue Reading ]
TWENTY was the age when liability to military service began (Numbers 1:3).... [ Continue Reading ]
All give alike, for it is a ransom for the soul or life, and all souls are equal in the sight of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE SERVICE OF THE TABERNACLE] see Exodus 38:25. 17-21. The Laver. This was of bronze (see on Exodus 25:3), and stood in the court of the tabernacle between the altar of burnt offering and the door of the sanctuary, and held the water required for the ablutions of the priests (Exodus 30:19 see o... [ Continue Reading ]
CALAMUS] The word means 'reed' or 'cane.' Several species of aromatic reed are known in the East.... [ Continue Reading ]
CASSIA] a kind of cinnamon of a very pungent flavour. AN HIN] about a gallon and a half.... [ Continue Reading ]
APOTHECARY] RV 'perfumer.' In the warm East ointments and perfumes are greatly employed as cosmetics, and the art of preparing these is carried to a high degree of perfection. Among the Jews there was a guild of perfumers in later times.... [ Continue Reading ]
MOST HOLY] see on Leviticus 2:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
UPON MAN'S FLESH SHALL IT NOT BE POURED] It must be reserved for the priests, and not used as an ordinary unguent: see Exodus 30:33.... [ Continue Reading ]
STRANGER] one who is not a priest, as in Exodus 29:33. CUTOFF] see on Exodus 12:15. 34-38. The Incense.... [ Continue Reading ]
STACTE] a kind of gum, probably myrrh. ONYCHA] part of the shell of a shell fish. It burns with a pungent odour. GALBANUM] a gum resin. FRANKINCENSE] a fragrant gum obtained by slitting the bark of an Indian tree, which was also to be found in ancient times in Arabia: see e.g. Isaiah 60:6; Ezekiel 2... [ Continue Reading ]
RV 'and thou shalt make of it incense, a perfume after the art of the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy.' Salt, as preventing corruption, is the symbol of purity and durability; it was used with all sacrifices both animal and vegetable: see Leviticus 2:13; Ezra 6:9; Ezekiel 43:24; Mark 9:4... [ Continue Reading ]
This particular compound is not to be used for any profane purpose: cp. the similar direction in the case of the holy anointing oil (Exodus 30:32).... [ Continue Reading ]