XXX. THE ALTAR OF INCENSE. (1) THOU SHALT MAKE AN ALTAR TO BURN INCENSE UPON. — Why the directions concerning the altar of incense were delayed until this place, instead of being given when the rest of the furniture of the holy place was described (Exodus 25), it is impossible to say. But there is... [ Continue Reading ]
FOURSQUARE SHALL IT BE. — OF the same shape with “the brazen altar” (Exodus 27:1), but much smaller — two cubits high instead of three cubits, and a cubit square at top instead of five cubits. This small space was ample for the burning of so precious a material, which could only be offered in small... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT OVERLAY IT WITH PURE GOLD. — Next to the Ark of the Covenant the most holy article of furniture contained either in the sanctuary or in its court was the altar of incense. It symbolised prayer in its general use (Psalms 141:2; Luke 1:10), and it symbolised expiation in the purpose whereto... [ Continue Reading ]
TWO GOLDEN RINGS. — The golden altar was so much smaller and lighter than the brazen one that two rings only were required for carrying it, instead of the “four rings” needed by the brazen altar (Exodus 27:4). BY THE TWO CORNERS THEREOF. — Rather, _on the two sides thereof._ The word used means, li... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE THE VAIL. — The ark was _behind_ the vail (Exodus 26:33; Exodus 40:3), the altar of incense directly in front of it, nearer to the vail than either the golden candlestick or the table of shewbread. Hence the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews speaks of it as belonging, in a certain sense, t... [ Continue Reading ]
AARON SHALL BURN THEREON SWEET INCENSE (Heb., _incense of spices_) EVERY MORNING. — On the composition of the incense, see Exodus 30:34. That the offering of incense regularly accompanied both the morning and evening sacrifice appears from Psalms 141:2; Luke 1:10. That it was symbolical of prayer ma... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL OFFER NO STRANGE INCENSE. — By _“strange_ incense” is meant any that was composed differently from that of which the composition is laid down in Exodus 30:34. NOR BURNT SACRIFICE, NOR MEAT OFFERING; NEITHER... DRINK OFFERING. — All these were to be offered on the brazen altar, not on the a... [ Continue Reading ]
AARON SHALL MAKE AN ATONEMENT UPON THE HORNS OF IT ONCE IN A YEAR. — This passage seems to determine the sense of Leviticus 16:18, where some have supposed that “the altar that is before the Lord” is the brazen altar. Once in the year, on the great day of atonement, the high priest, after entering w... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RANSOM OF SOULS. (12) WHEN THOU TAKEST THE SUM OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. — A formal enrolment and registration seems to be intended. Hitherto, nothing but a rough estimate of the number had been attempted (Exodus 12:37); now that a covenant had been made with God, an exact account of those who... [ Continue Reading ]
HALF A SHEKEL. — When shekels came to be coined, they were round pieces of silver, about the circumference of a shilling, but considerably thicker, and worth about 2s. 7 d. Of our money. Their average weight was about 220 grains troy. In Moses’s time coins were unknown, and a half-shekel was a small... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM TWENTY YEARS OLD AND ABOVE. — A Hebrew was not reckoned full grown till twenty. At twenty the liability to military service began (Numbers 1:3; 2 Chronicles 25:5). At twenty the Levites commenced their service in the sanctuary (1 Chronicles 23:24; 2 Chronicles 31:17; Ezra 3:8).... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RICH SHALL NOT GIVE MORE, AND THE POOR SHALL NOT GIVE LESS. — See Note 2 on Exodus 30:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT... APPOINT IT FOR THE SERVICE OF THE TABERNACLE. — It appears, by Exodus 38:27, that the silver collected by this tax, which amounted to above a hundred talents, was employed for making the sockets which supported the boards of the tabernacle (Exodus 26:19), and those of the pillars of th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BRAZEN LAVER. (18) THOU SHALT ALSO MAKE A LAVER OF BRASS. — Rather, _of bronze._ (See Note on Exodus 25:3.) Water was required for the ablutions of the priests (Exodus 30:19), for the washing of certain parts of the victim, (Exodus 29:27; Leviticus 1:9; Leviticus 1:13, &c.), and probably for th... [ Continue Reading ]
AARON AND HIS SONS SHALL WASH THEIR HANDS AND THEIR FEET. — Washing the hands symbolised purity in act; washing the feet, holiness in all their walk and conversation.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THEY DIE NOT. — Comp. Exodus 28:35; Exodus 28:43. It is not altogether easy to see why the death-penalty was threatened against neglect of certain ceremonial observances, and not of others. Ablution, however, was so easy, and probably so long-established a practice, that to omit it would imply... [ Continue Reading ]
A STATUTE FOR EVER. — Comp. Exodus 27:21; Exodus 28:43; Exodus 29:9. The external act was to continue so long as the dispensation lasted; the internal purity, which it symbolised, would be required of those who entered the Divine Presence for ever. (See Hebrews 12:14.) THE COMPOSITION OF THE HOLY O... [ Continue Reading ]
PRINCIPAL SPICES. — The East is productive of a great variety of spices; but of these some few have always been regarded with especial favour. Herodotus (iii. 107-112) mentions five “principal spices” as furnished by Arabia to other countries, whereof two at least appear to be identical with those h... [ Continue Reading ]
CASSIA. — In the original, _kiddâh_ not _kĕtsiôth._ Which is the exact equivalent of the Greek and Latin _cassia._ According to the best Hebrew authorities, however, cassia is intended by both words, which are derived from roots signifying “to split,” or “to peel off.” Cassia is the inner bark of a... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THE ART OF THE APOTHECARY. — Skill was to be called in. The spices were not to be pounded and mixed with the oil in a rude and unscientific way, but the best art of the time was to be employed in effecting the composition. Jewish tradition says that its essence was first extracted from each of... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT ANOINT THE TABERNACLE. — The tabernacle and its contents were to be first consecrated, then the priests. In the tabernacle itself, the consecration was to begin with the ark of the testimony in the Holy of Holies, then to proceed to the Holy place, where the table of shewbread with its “v... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT ANOINT AARON. — Comp. Exodus 29:7; Leviticus 8:12. AND HIS SONS. — See Exodus 29:21. THAT THEY MAY MINISTER UNTO ME. — As Aaron and his sons were unfit to minister until the holy oil had been poured on them, so Christian priests can be no otherwise fitted to discharge their office than... [ Continue Reading ]
UPON MAN’S FLESH SHALL IT NOT BE POURED — _i.e.,_ it shall not be in ordinary use as an unguent — a mere “man,” who is not a priest, shall not apply it to his private use. It shall be reserved altogether for holy purposes. NEITHER SHALL YE MAKE ANY OTHER LIKE IT, AFTER THE COMPOSITION OF IT — _i.e.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE COMPOSITION OF THE HOLY INCENSE. (34) TAKE UNTO THEE SWEET SPICES. — Rather, _Take unto thee spices._ The word translated “spices” has no epithet. Incense, as commonly used in the ancient world, was not a composition, but some single spice, most frequently frankincense. That, however, employed... [ Continue Reading ]
A CONFECTION AFTER THE ART OF THE APOTHECARY. — See Note on Exodus 30:25. Bezaleel’s art was called in, both for the composition of the holy oil and of the holy incense (Exodus 37:29). TEMPERED TOGETHER. — So the LXX., the Vulg., and the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan. But most moderns render “sal... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT... PUT IT BEFORE THE TESTIMONY. — Some pieces of the incense were to be continually before the ark of the covenant, either on the golden altar, or perhaps at its base ready for offering. This would symbolise the need of the perpetual offering of prayer.... [ Continue Reading ]
These instructions are similar to those given with respect to the holy oil (Exodus 30:32). Neither of the two holy compounds were to be applied to any profane use.... [ Continue Reading ]