1Und du sollst einen Räuchaltar machen für das Räucherwerk. Aus Schittimholz sollst du ihn machen. 2Eine Elle seine Länge und eine Elle seine Breite, geviert soll er sein, und zwei Ellen seine Höhe, aus ihm seien seine Hörner. 3Und du sollst ihn mit reinem Gold überziehen, sein Dach und seine Wände ringsum und seine Hörner, und du sollst ihm einen goldenen Kranz machen ringsumher. 4Und zwei goldene Ringe mache ihm daran, unterhalb seines Kranzes, an seinen zwei Seitenwänden, auf seinen beiden Seiten sollst du sie machen, und sie seien Behälter für die Stangen, ihn damit zu tragen. 5Und die Stangen mache von Schittimholz und überziehe sie mit Gold. 6Und stelle ihn vor den Vorhang, der bei der Lade des Zeugnisses ist, vor dem Gnadenstuhl, der über dem Zeugnisse, wo Ich mit dir zusammenkomme. 7Und auf ihm lasse Aharon Morgen nach Morgen Räucherwerk der Spezereien anzünden. Wenn er die Lampen zurichtet, soll er damit räuchern. 8Und wenn Aharon die Lampen aufsteckt gegen Abend, soll er damit räuchern, ein beständiges Räuchwerk vor Jehovah in euren Geschlechtern. 9Kein fremdes Räuchwerk sollt ihr darauf aufgehen lassen, noch Brandopfer und Speiseopfer. Und kein Trankopfer sollt ihr daraufgießen. 10Und Aharon versöhne einmal im Jahr auf den Hörnern desselben mit dem Blut des Sündopfers der Versöhnungen. Einmal im Jahr soll er darauf versöhnen für eure Geschlechter. Das Allerheiligste ist er für Jehovah. 11Und Jehovah redete zu Mose und sprach: 12Wenn du die Häupter erhebst der Söhne Israels nach ihrer Musterung, soll jeder Mann dem Jehovah eine Sühne für seine Seele geben, wenn man sie mustert; auf daß in der Musterung keine Plage wider sie komme. 13Jeder, der zu den Gemusterten übergeht, soll einen halben Schekel geben, nach dem Schekel des Heiligtums, zwanzig Gerah auf den Schekel. Der halbe Schekel soll ein Hebeopfer für Jehovah sein. 14Jeder, der zu den Gemusterten übergeht von dem Sohne von zwanzig Jahren und darüber, soll dem Jehovah ein Hebeopfer geben. 15Der Reiche mehre nicht und der Arme mache es nicht weniger als die Hälfte eines Schekels, um eine Hebe zu geben für Jehovah, für eure Seelen zu sühnen. 16Und nimm das Silber der Versöhnungen von den Söhnen Israels, und gib es zum Dienste des Versammlungszeltes, und es sei den Söhnen Israels zum Gedächtnis vor Jehovah, daß ihr für eure Seelen sühnetet. 17Und Jehovah redete zu Mose und sprach: 18Und du sollst ein Becken von Erz und sein Gestell von Erz machen zum Waschen, und es zwischen das Versammlungszelt und den Altar stellen und Wasser darein tun. 19Und Aharon und seine Söhne sollen daraus ihre Hände und Füße waschen. 20Wenn sie in das Versammlungszelt hineingehen, sollen sie sich mit Wasser waschen, auf daß sie nicht sterben; oder wenn sie zu dem Altare herzutreten, um den Dienst zu tun, dem Jehovah ein Feueropfer anzuzünden. 21Und sie sollen ihre Hände und ihre Füße waschen, auf daß sie nicht sterben; und es soll dies ihnen eine ewige Satzung sein, ihm und seinem Samen für ihre Geschlechter. 22Und Jehovah redete zu Mose und sprach: 23Und du, nimm dir die hauptsächlichen Gewürze, der edelsten Myrrhe fünfhundert, und würzigen Zimt, die Hälfte davon, zweihundertfünfzig, und würzigen Kalmus zweihundertfünfzig, 24Und Kassia fünfhundert, nach dem Schekel des Heiligtums, und Olivenöl ein Hin. 25Und mache es zu Salböl der Heiligkeit, die Salbe der Salbe, ein Werk des Salbenmischers, das Salböl der Heiligkeit soll es sein. 26Und salbe damit das Versammlungszelt und die Lade des Zeugnisses, 27Und den Tisch und alle seine Geräte, und den Leuchter und seine Geräte, und den Rauchaltar; 28Und den Brandopferaltar und alle seine Geräte, und das Becken und sein Gestell; 29Und sollst sie heiligen, und sie sollen das Allerheiligste sein; ein jeder, der sie anrührt, soll geheiligt sein. 30Und Aharon und seine Söhne sollst du salben und sie heiligen, auf daß sie Mir Priesterdienst tun. 31Und zu den Söhnen Israels sollst du reden und sprechen: Das Salböl der Heiligkeit ist dies für Mich in euren Geschlechtern. 32Auf das Fleisch eines Menschen soll es nicht gegossen werden; auch sollt ihr nach seinem Maß kein solches machen. Heilig ist es, heilig sei es euch. 33Der Mann, der eines mischt gleich ihm, und davon einem Fremden gibt, der soll von seinem Volke ausgerottet werden. 34Und Jehovah sprach zu Mose: Nimm dir Spezereien, Stakte, Räucherklaue und Galbanum, Spezereien, riechenden und lauteren Weihrauch. Teil zu Teil soll es sein. 35Und mache daraus ein Räuchwerk, eine Mischung, ein Werk des Salbenmischers; gesalzen, rein, heilig. 36Und zermalme davon, zerstoße und tue davon vor das Zeugnis in das Versammlungszelt, wo Ich mit dir zusammenkomme, das Allerheiligste sei es euch. 37Und solch Räucherwerk, das du machst, nach demselben Maß sollt ihr es euch nicht machen, Heiliges sei es dir für Jehovah. 38Der Mann, der ein solches macht, um den Geruch davon zu machen, der soll von seinem Volke ausgerottet werden.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 THE ALTAR OF INCENSE. (Exo. 30:1-38)
thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon, &c.--Its material was to be like that of the ark of the testimony, but its dimensions very small [
Exod 25:10].
2 foursquare--the meaning of which is not that it was to be entirely of a cubical form, but that upon its upper and under surface, it showed four equal sides. It was twice as high as it was broad, being twenty-one inches broad and three feet six inches high. It had "horns"; its top or flat surface was surmounted by an ornamental ledge or rim, called a crown, and it was furnished at the sides with rings for carriage. Its only accompanying piece of furniture was a golden censer or pan, in which the incense was set fire to upon the altar. Hence it was called the altar of incense, or the "golden altar" [
Exod 39:38;
Exod 40:26], from the profuse degree in which it was gilded or overlaid with the precious metal. This splendor was adapted to the early age of the church, but in later times, when the worship was to be more spiritual, the altar of incense is prophetically described as not of gold but of wood, and double the size of that in the tabernacle, because the church should be vastly extended (
Mal 1:11).
6 thou shalt put it before the veil that is by the ark of the testimony--which separated the holy from the most holy place. The altar was in the middle between the table of showbread and the candlestick next the holy of holies, at equal distances from the north and south walls; in other words, it occupied a spot on the outside of the great partition veil, but directly in front of the mercy seat, which was within that sacred enclosure; so that although the priest who ministered at this altar could not behold the mercy seat, he was to look towards it, and present his incense in that direction. This was a special arrangement, and it was designed to teach the important lesson that, though we cannot with the eye of sense, see the throne of grace, we must "direct our prayer to it and look up" [
Ps 5:3] (compare
2Cor 3:14;
Heb 10:20;
Rev 4:1).
7 Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense--literally, "incense of spices"--Strong aromatic substances were burnt upon this altar to counteract by their odoriferous fragrance the offensive fumes of the sacrifices; or the incense was employed in an offering of tributary homage which the Orientals used to make as a mark of honor to kings; and as God was Theocratic Ruler of Israel, His palace was not to be wanting in a usage of such significancy. Both these ends were served by this altar--that of fumigating the apartments of the sacred edifice, while the pure lambent flame, according to Oriental notions, was an honorary tribute to the majesty of Israel's King. But there was a far higher meaning in it still; for as the tabernacle was not only a palace for Israel's King, but a place of worship for Israel's God, this altar was immediately connected with a religious purpose. In the style of the sacred writers, incense was a symbol or emblem of prayer (
Ps 141:2;
Rev 5:8;
Rev 8:3). From the uniform combination of the two services, it is evident that the incense was an emblem of the prayers of sincere worshippers ascending to heaven in the cloud of perfume; and, accordingly, the priest who officiated at this altar typified the intercessory office of Christ (
Luke 1:10;
Heb 7:25).
every morning . . . at even--In every period of the national history this daily worship was scrupulously observed.
8 Aaron shall burn incense--seemingly limiting the privilege of officiating at the altar of incense to the high priest alone, and there is no doubt that he and his successors exclusively attended this altar on the great religious festivals. But "Aaron" is frequently used for the whole priestly order, and in later times, any of the priests might have officiated at this altar in rotation (
Luke 1:9).
9 Ye shall offer no strange incense--that is, of a different composition from that of which the ingredients are described so minutely.
11 When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel, &c.--Moses did so twice, and doubtless observed the law here prescribed. The tax was not levied from women, minors, old men (
Num 1:42,
Num 1:45), and the Levites (
Num 1:47), they being not numbered. Assuming the shekel of the sanctuary to be about half an ounce troy, though nothing certain is known about it, the sum payable by each individual was two and four pence. This was not a voluntary contribution, but a ransom for the soul or lives 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 (
Matt 17:24-
Matt 17:27), and it was usually devoted to repairs and other purposes connected with the services of the sanctuary.
18 Thou shalt . . . make a laver of brass--Though not actually forming a component part of the furniture of the tabernacle, this vase was closely connected with it; and though from standing at the entrance it would be a familiar object, it possessed great interest and importance from the baptismal purposes to which it was applied. No data are given by which its form and size can be ascertained; but it was probably a miniature pattern of Solomon's--a circular basin.
his foot--supposed not to be the pedestal on which it rested, but a trough or shallow receptacle below, into which the water, let out from a cock or spout, flowed; for the way in which all Eastern people wash their hands or feet is by pouring upon them the water which falls into a basin. This laver was provided for the priests alone. But in the Christian dispensation, all believers are priests, and hence the apostle exhorts them how to draw near to God (
John 13:10;
Heb 10:22).
23 Take thou also . . . principal spices, &c.--Oil is frequently mentioned in Scripture as an emblem of sanctification, and anointing with it a means of designating objects as well as persons to the service of God. Here it is prescribed by divine authority, and the various ingredients in their several proportions described which were to compose the oil used in consecrating the furniture of the tabernacle.
myrrh--a fragrant and medicinal gum from a little known tree in Arabia.
sweet cinnamon--produced from a species of laurel or sweet bay, found chiefly in Ceylon, growing to a height of twenty feet: this spice is extracted from the inner bark, but it is not certain whether that mentioned by Moses is the same as that with which we are familiar.
sweet calamus--or sweet cane, a product of Arabia and India, of a tawny color in appearance; it is like the common cane and strongly odoriferous.
24 cassia--from the same species of tree as the cinnamon--some think the outer bark of that tree. All these together would amount to one hundred twenty pounds, troy weight.
hin--a word of Egyptian origin, equal to ten pints. Being mixed with the olive oil--no doubt of the purest kind--this composition probably remained always in a liquid state, and the strictest prohibition issued against using it for any other purpose than anointing the tabernacle and its furniture.
34 the Lord said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices--These were:
stacte--the finest myrrh;
onycha--supposed to be an odoriferous shell;
galbanum--a gum resin from an umbelliferous plant.
frankincense--a dry, resinous, aromatic gum, of a yellow color, which comes from a tree in Arabia, and is obtained by incision of the bark. This incense was placed within the sanctuary, to be at hand when the priest required to burn on the altar. The art of compounding unguents and perfumes was well known in Egypt, where sweet-scented spices were extensively used not only in common life, but in the ritual of the temples. Most of the ingredients here mentioned have been found on minute examination of mummies and other Egyptian relics; and the Israelites, therefore, would have the best opportunities of acquiring in that country the skill in pounding and mixing them which they were called to exercise in the service of the tabernacle. But the recipe for the incense as well as for the oil in the tabernacle, though it receives illustration from the customs of Egypt, was peculiar, and being prescribed by divine authority, was to be applied to no common or inferior purpose.