Exodus 30 – The incense altar
(not previously mentioned—possibly an addition) is 18” long and 18” wide and
36” high (using the Today’s English
Version so as to get away from cubits). It has “projections,” rings and poles to make it moveable. And it is placed “outside the curtain
which hangs in front of the Covenant Box” (30:6).
There
shall be incense burned morning and evening for all time to come. No holocausts or cereal offerings or
libations shall be made on it, but once a year Aaron shall perform the
“atonement rite” on its horns (30:10).
This “altar is most sacred to the Lord.”
When
they have a census (seen here as in other places as threatening. Schocken says, that it seemed people
thought if you could be counted, you could be controlled—an early argument
against government interference in people’s lives), each Israelite (age 20+
which was the age for military service) shall give the lord “a forfeit for his
life, so that no plague may come upon them for being registered” (30:12), It is
a half-shekel offering. This tax shall go to keeping up the meeting tent “that
there it may be the Israelites’ reminder before the Lord, of the forfeit paid
for their lives” (30:16).
A
wash-bowl is to be placed between the meeting tent and the altar for the
priests to wash their hands and feet whenever they enter or approach the altar
to offer an oblation.
Anointing
oil shall be made of the finest spices—myrrh, cinnamon, cane, cassia—and oil.
Everything shall be anointed with it and the priests as well. There are directions for the incense as
well.
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