Exodus 30:1-10

Exodus 30:1-10

[1] And thou shalt make  an altar  to burn  incense  upon: of shittim  wood  shalt thou make  [2] A cubit  shall be the length  thereof, and a cubit  the breadth  thereof; foursquare  shall it be: and two cubits  shall be the height  thereof: the horns  [3] And thou shalt overlay  it with pure  gold,  the top  thereof, and the sides  thereof round about,  and the horns  thereof; and thou shalt make  unto it a crown  of gold  round about.  [4] And two  golden  rings  shalt thou make  to it under the crown  of it, by the two  corners  thereof, upon the two  sides  of it shalt thou make  it; and they shall be for places  for the staves  to bear  it withal.  [5] And thou shalt make  the staves  of shittim  wood,  and overlay  them with gold.  [6] And thou shalt put  it before  the vail  that is by the ark  of the testimony,  before  the mercy seat  that is over the testimony,  where I will meet  with thee. [7] And Aaron  shall burn  thereon sweet  incense  every morning:  when he dresseth  the lamps,  he shall burn incense  [8] And when Aaron  lighteth  the lamps  at even,  he shall burn incense  upon it, a perpetual  incense  before  the LORD  throughout your generations.  [9] Ye shall offer  no strange  incense  thereon, nor burnt sacrifice,  nor meat offering;  neither shall ye pour  drink offering  [10] And Aaron  shall make an atonement  upon the horns  of it once  in a year  with the blood  of the sin offering  of atonements:  once  in the year  shall he make atonement  upon it throughout your generations:  it is most  unto the LORD. 

What does Exodus 30:1-10 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The place of this altar in the tabernacle has been a problem for some readers of the Book of Hebrews. Hebrews 9:4 can be understood as describing its location as being inside the holy of holies with the ark. The writer of Hebrews probably meant that the veil, not the holy of holies, had the altar of incense and the ark of the covenant connected with it ( Hebrews 9:3-4). These pieces of furniture were on either side of the veil. Describing it this way clarified that the writer meant the veil between the holy place and the holy of holies. Old Testament passages say that the incense altar was inside the holy place with the golden lampstand and the table of showbread (cf. Exodus 30:6; Exodus 40:3-5; Exodus 40:21-27). Most commentators on Exodus locate it in the holy place. [1] Furthermore, Leviticus 16:2 and Hebrews 9:7 say that the high priest went into the holy of holies only once a year on the Day of Atonement. Another view is that the altar of incense was in the holy of holies. [2]
The priests would offer incense on this altar each morning and each evening, and the incense would burn all the time. The priests presented the daily burnt offering and the daily incense offering together each day. Both were demonstrations of constant uninterrupted devotion to God. Students of Exodus have almost universally recognized the incense offered as a symbol of prayer that ascends to God (cf. Revelation 5:8). It was a sweet aroma in His nostrils and was essential to the maintenance of the divine-human relationship.
"Morning and evening prayers have been the habit of all ages. With the one we go forth to our labour till the evening, asking that our Father will give us His God-speed and guidance and protection. With the other we entreat forgiveness and mercy." [3]
"He who offers no sacrifice in his prayer, who does not sacrifice his self-will, does not really pray." [1]
The horns of this altar ( Exodus 30:10), as well as the horns on the altar of burnt offerings (the brazen altar), probably symbolized strength. [5]
Once a year Aaron applied the atonement blood on this altar to cleanse it afresh for another year ( Exodus 30:10). The description "most holy to the LORD" means the altar could not be used for any other purpose than what is stated here.
The directions concerning the sanctuary conclude with this section.