Êxodo 30

Êxodo 30

Morgan - “The table of showbread represented communion with God, the lampstand spoke of testimony to the world, and now the golden altar speaks of the offering of adoration.” Question: What was the significance of the altar of incense? Answer: The altar of incense is first mentioned in Exodus chapter 30 as one of the items inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The top of the altar was square—one cubit per side—and the whole altar was two cubits high. A cubit was about twenty inches, or just under two feet. The altar of incense was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. It had four “horns,” one at each corner, similar to the altar of sacrifice in the courtyard (Exodus 27:2). Rings of gold were built into the altar so that it could be carried with acacia wood poles that were slipped through the rings. The altar of incense was placed before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. On the other side of the veil was the Ark of the Testimony, where the presence of God was (Exodus 25:22). Aaron was instructed to burn incense on the altar each morning and at twilight, every day, as a regular offering to the Lord (Exodus 30:7–8). God gave the recipe for making the incense and stipulated that no other incense ever be burned on the altar (verses 34–38). The fire used to burn the incense was always taken from the altar of burnt offering outside the sanctuary (Leviticus 16:12). Never was the altar of incense to be used for a burnt offering, a grain offering, or a drink offering (Exodus 30:9). Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest was to put blood on the horns of the altar of incense to cleanse it. The altar of incense was called “most holy to the Lord” (verse 10). Of course, God’s primary desire for His people is that they be holy. Simply going through the rituals required by the Law—including the burning of incense on the altar of incense—was not enough to make the Israelites right with God. The Lord wanted their hearts and lives to be right, not just their formalities. During Isaiah’s time, the people were disobedient to God, yet they still maintained the temple rites, and that’s why God said through the prophet, “Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me” (Isaiah 1:13). More important than burning the proper incense at the proper time with the proper fire with the proper implements was having a proper heart before God. In Scripture, incense is often associated with prayer. David prayed, “May my prayer be set before you like incense” (Psalm 141:2). In his vision of heaven, John saw that the elders around the throne “were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people” (Revelation 5:8; cf. 8:3). As Zechariah the priest was offering incense in the temple in Luke 1:10, “all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.” The altar of incense, then, can be seen as a symbol of the prayers of God’s people. Our prayers ascend to God as the smoke of the incense ascended in the sanctuary. As the incense was burned with fire from the altar of burnt offering, our prayers must be kindled with heaven’s grace. The fact that the incense was always burning means that we should always pray (Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). The altar of incense was holy to the Lord and was atoned for with the blood of the sacrifice; it is the blood of Christ applied to our hearts that makes our prayers acceptable. Our prayers are holy because of Jesus’ sacrifice, and therefore they are pleasing to God. The altar of incense can also be seen as a picture of the intercession of Christ. Just as the altar of sacrifice in the courtyard was a type of Christ’s death on our behalf, the altar of incense in the Holy Place was a type of Christ’s mediation on our behalf—Christ’s work on earth and in heaven. The altar of incense was situated before the mercy-seat of the Ark—a picture of our Advocate’s standing in the presence of the Father (Hebrews 7:25; 9:24). The incense was to be burning continually on the altar of incense, which shows the perpetual nature of Christ’s mediation. Christ’s intercession on our behalf is a sweet-smelling savor to God. It is beautiful to know that God considers the prayers of believers to be like a sweet smell of incense. Because of Christ, we can now enter God’s holy presence by faith, with full assurance (Mark 15:38; Hebrews 4:16). We offer our prayers upon the altar, trusting in Jesus, our eternal, perfect, and faithful High Priest (Hebrews 10:19–23).(Source: GotQuestions.org) Exodus 30:7 "Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it; he shall burn it every morning when he trims the lamps. NET Exodus 30:7 Aaron is to burn sweet incense on it morning by morning; when he attends to the lamps he is to burn incense. NLT Exodus 30:7 "Every morning when Aaron maintains the lamps, he must burn fragrant incense on the altar. ESV Exodus 30:7 And Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it. Every morning when he dresses the lamps he shall burn it, NIV Exodus 30:7 "Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. KJV Exodus 30:7 And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. LXE Exodus 30:7 And Aaron shall burn upon it fine compound incense every morning; whensoever he trims the lamps he shall burn incense upon it. ASV Exodus 30:7 And Aaron shall burn thereon incense of sweet spices: every morning, when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn it. CSB Exodus 30:7 Aaron must burn fragrant incense on it; he must burn it every morning when he tends the lamps. NKJ Exodus 30:7 "Aaron shall burn on it sweet incense every morning; when he tends the lamps, he shall burn incense on it. NRS Exodus 30:7 Aaron shall offer fragrant incense on it; every morning when he dresses the lamps he shall offer it, YLT Exodus 30:7 'And Aaron hath made perfume on it, perfume of spices, morning by morning; in his making the lamps right he doth perfume it, he trims: Ex 27:20,21 1Sa 2:28 3:3 1Ch 23:13 Lu 1:9 Ac 6:4 Exodus 30 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries PROPER PRACTICE WITH INCENSE ALTAR Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it; he shall burn it every morning when he trims (lit "makes them good") the lamps - NET = "Aaron is to burn sweet incense on it morning by morning; when he attends to the lamps he is to burn incense." Trims ("makes them good") he replaces oil and wicks and cleans the lamps, making them in effect as "good as new." The timing of burning the fragrant incense coincided with the morning and evening sacrifices described in Ex 29:38–42. Exodus 27:20; 21 “You shall charge the sons of Israel, that they bring you clear oil of beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually. 21 “In the tent of meeting, outside the veil which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall keep it in order from evening to morning before the LORD; it shall be a perpetual statute throughout their generations for the sons of Israel. Thompson - When he trimmed the lamps and took care of the wicks in the morning, he was to burn incense. It is clear that God wants His people talking with Him every morning. Kaiser - The effective use of anything depends on following correct procedures. The incense that was to be burned every morning and evening symbolized the prayers of the saints and communion with God (vv.7–8; cf. Ps 141:2; Luke 1:10; Rev 5:8; 8:3–4). What was not to be used on the altar of incense is explicitly pointed out (v.9). Failure to follow this would result in the desecration of the altar. Also, it was necessary that once a year the altar be cleansed with blood from the atoning offering (v.10). NET Note on when he trims - The Hebrew is בְּהֵיטִיבוֹ (béhetivo), a Hiphil infinitive construct serving in a temporal clause. The Hebrew verb means “to make good” and so in this context “to fix” or “to dress.” This refers to cleansing and trimming the lamps. NET Note on burn incense - The point of the little golden altar of incense is normally for intercessory prayer, and then at the Day of Atonement for blood applied atonement. The instructions for making it show that God wanted his people to make a place for prayer. The instructions for its use show that God expects that the requests of his people will be pleasing to him. Arnold Fruchtenbaum - The responsibilities of the priesthood were fivefold. First, they were to burn the Incense on the Altar of Incense (Ex. 30:7–8). Secondly, they were responsible for burning the offerings and sacrifices (Ex. 29:38–42; Lev. 6:13). While the Incense was burned on the Altar of Incense within the Holy Place, the sacrifices were slaughtered and burned on the Altar of Sacrifice outside the Tabernacle in the courtyard. The third responsibility of the priesthood was to inspect the animals before the sacrifice to make sure these animals were without spot and without blemish (Lev. 27:11–12). The fourth responsibility of the priesthood was to keep the lamp burning so that the seven branched Lampstand would be continually burning (Lev. 24:1–4). The fifth responsibility was to teach Israel (Deut. 17:8–13; 19:15–20; 21:5). It should be remembered that, at this time of history, it was impossible for everyone to possess their own copy of the Scriptures. This was not to be until the printing press was invented. So the Tribe of Levi was given the responsibility to maintain the Scriptures by making new copies after the old copies became worn, and they were to teach the other tribes of Israel the Law of Moses, which were the Scriptures of that day. Exodus 30:8 "When Aaron trims the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense. There shall be perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations. NET Exodus 30:8 When Aaron sets up the lamps around sundown he is to burn incense on it; it is to be a regular incense offering before the LORD throughout your generations. NLT Exodus 30:8 And each evening when he lights the lamps, he must again burn incense in the LORD's presence. This must be done from generation to generation. ESV Exodus 30:8 and when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he shall burn it, a regular incense offering before the LORD throughout your generations. NIV Exodus 30:8 He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the LORD for the generations to come. KJV Exodus 30:8 And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations. LXE Exodus 30:8 And when Aaron lights the lamps in the evening, he shall burn incense upon it; a constant incense-offering always before the Lord for their generations. ASV Exodus 30:8 And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn it, a perpetual incense before Jehovah throughout your generations. CSB Exodus 30:8 When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he must burn incense. There is to be an incense offering before the LORD throughout your generations. NKJ Exodus 30:8 "And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations. NRS Exodus 30:8 and when Aaron sets up the lamps in the evening, he shall offer it, a regular incense offering before the LORD throughout your generations. YLT Exodus 30:8 and in Aaron's causing the lamps to go up between the evenings, he doth perfume it; a continual perfume before Jehovah to your generations. at twilight. Ex 12:6 *marg: perpetual: Ro 8:34 1Th 5:17 Heb 7:25 9:24 Exodus 30 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries PERPETUAL INCENSE When Aaron trims the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense - Trims here is literally "causing the lamps to go up." "It is clear that God wants His people talking with Him every evening.When Aaron went back in the evening to check and care for the lamps, he was to burn incense. So this was a twice daily regimen. The timing of these morning and evening matters coincided with the morning and evening sacrifices that were being offered. So there were things going on outside the Tabernacle/Tent and things going on inside the Tabernacle/Tent. The sacrifices outside the tent took care of the sin problem and the incense inside the tent illustrated communication one may have with God once the sin problem has been resolved." (Thompson) There shall be perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations - The soothing aroma of the incense was continually before Yahweh. This speaks of continual prayer. While believers are called to pray without ceasing, it is Jesus Who in fact is praying without ceasing for us! Thompson - Israel did a relatively good job of maintaining this custom for many years. In fact, one of the main episodes in the program of God occurred while this very ritual was being followed. Zacharias was functioning as the high priest of Israel and was actually in the temple burning incense, while the people outside were praying and it was at that very moment that an angel of the Lord appeared to him and actually stood to the right of the incense altar. That angel revealed to Zacharias that his wife would give birth to John, who would be the forerunner of Jesus (Luke 1:8-17) Passages that associate prayer with incense: Psalm 141:2 May my prayer be counted as incense before You; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering. Revelation 5:8 When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Revelation 8:3-4 Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. Who is praying continually? Jesus and His disciples Romans 8:34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes (present tense = continually) for us. Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession (present tense = continually) for them. (See also Hebrews 9:24) (Possibly Related to Intercession ) Hebrews 9:24 For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) without ceasing; Exodus 30:9 "You shall not offer any strange incense on this altar, or burnt offering or meal offering; and you shall not pour out a drink offering on it. NET Exodus 30:9 You must not offer strange incense on it, nor burnt offering, nor meal offering, and you must not pour out a drink offering on it. NLT Exodus 30:9 Do not offer any unholy incense on this altar, or any burnt offerings, grain offerings, or liquid offerings. ESV Exodus 30:9 You shall not offer unauthorized incense on it, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering, and you shall not pour a drink offering on it. NIV Exodus 30:9 Do not offer on this altar any other incense or any burnt offering or grain offering, and do not pour a drink offering on it. KJV Exodus 30:9 Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon. LXE Exodus 30:9 And thou shalt not offer strange incense upon it, nor and offering made by fire, nor a sacrifice; and thou shalt not pour a drink-offering upon it. ASV Exodus 30:9 Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt-offering, nor meal-offering; and ye shall pour no drink-offering thereon. CSB Exodus 30:9 You must not offer unauthorized incense on it, or a burnt or grain offering; you are not to pour a drink offering on it. NKJ Exodus 30:9 "You shall not offer strange incense on it, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering; nor shall you pour a drink offering on it. NRS Exodus 30:9 You shall not offer unholy incense on it, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering; and you shall not pour a drink offering on it. YLT Exodus 30:9 'Ye do not cause strange perfume to go up upon it, and burnt-offering, and present, and libation ye do not pour out on it; Exodus 30 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries NO STRANGE INCENSE You shall not offer any strange incense on this altar, or burnt offering or meal offering; and you shall not pour out a drink offering on it - "You must not offer unauthorized incense" (CSB). No offerings other than incense. Strange is used of the "strange fire" offered up by Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu which resulted in their deaths. (see Lev 10:1-7+) Note that the statement prohibiting these other offerings probably relates to the fact that on the bronze altar, food mixed with incense could be offered (Lev 2:1–2, 15–16; Lev 6:15). David Thompson applies this - We cannot offer up prayer to God on our terms, it must be on His terms. Three specific terms we know are: #1 - We must offer up prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. John 14:13 #2 - We must not hide iniquity in our hearts. Psalm 66:18 #3 - We must abide in fellowship with Christ based on God’s Word. John 15:7 So a person could offer up as many prayers as they want and be offering strange incense which is not acceptable to God. It must be in conformity with the prerequisites of God. Criswell - There was one proper type of incense, and one correct way for it to be offered. Man cannot come to God in his own way (cf. Prov. 12:15, note). He must come in God's way or not at all. Meal (grain) offering (offering) (04503)(minchah) means a gift (given to another without compensation = Ge 32:13, 2Ki 8:8), tribute ( payment by one ruler or nation to another in acknowledgment of submission or as the price of protection = Jdg 3:14, 2Sa 8:2; Hos 10:6) or offering (as a gift offered to God). The most common sense by far in the OT is as an offering (usually "grain offering" in the NAS but it could refer to animal offerings Ge 4:3-5 or "sacrifices" in general Isa 19:21). Henry Morris on Strange Incense - The exact composition of the incense is specified in Exodus 30:34-35. Since the incense represents the prayers of believers, this instruction indicates that effective prayer must be in accord with God's specifications (see note on James 4:3). Bush has an excellent comment - Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon. That is, incense of a different composition from that prescribed, v. 34. Gr. θυμιαμα ἑτερον, another incense. Chal. ‘Incense of strange spices.’ The incense was to be that alone which God had appointed; and special care was to be taken to make no confusion between the offerings belonging to the respective altars, of which the one kind was for atonement, the other for acceptance only. So when drawing nigh to God in prayer, we are not to bring the fervor of mere animal spirits, which may easily be mistaken for true devotion; but a broken and a contrite heart, which alone sends forth an odor that is well-pleasing to God. Nor are we to imagine that by our prayers, or by any thing else that we can bring to God, we can atone for sin, or contribute in the least degree towards the efficacy of Christ’s atonement. These must be kept quite distinct; and whilst our prayers are offered on the Altar of Incense, our pleas must be taken solely from the Altar of Burnt-offering. Exodus 30:10 "Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once a year; he shall make atonement on it with the blood of the sin offering of atonement once a year throughout your generations. It is most holy to the LORD." NET Exodus 30:10 Aaron is to make atonement on its horns once in the year with some of the blood of the sin offering for atonement; once in the year he is to make atonement on it throughout your generations. It is most holy to the LORD." NLT Exodus 30:10 "Once a year Aaron must purify the altar by smearing its horns with blood from the offering made to purify the people from their sin. This will be a regular, annual event from generation to generation, for this is the LORD's most holy altar." ESV Exodus 30:10 Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once a year. With the blood of the sin offering of atonement he shall make atonement for it once in the year throughout your generations. It is most holy to the LORD." NIV Exodus 30:10 Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on its horns. This annual atonement must be made with the blood of the atoning sin offering for the generations to come. It is most holy to the LORD." KJV Exodus 30:10 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 holy unto the LORD. LXE Exodus 30:10 And once in the year Aaron shall make atonement on its horns, he shall purge it with the blood of purification for their generations: it is most holy to the Lord. ASV Exodus 30:10 And Aaron shall make atonement upon the horns of it once in the year; with the blood of the sin-offering of atonement once in the year shall he make atonement for it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto Jehovah. CSB Exodus 30:10 "Once a year Aaron is to perform the purification rite on the horns of the altar. Throughout your generations he is to perform the purification rite for it once a year, with the blood of the sin offering for atonement. The altar is especially holy to the LORD." NKJ Exodus 30:10 "And Aaron shall make atonement upon its horns once a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonement; once a year he shall make atonement upon it throughout your generations. It is most holy to the LORD." NRS Exodus 30:10 Once a year Aaron shall perform the rite of atonement on its horns. Throughout your generations he shall perform the atonement for it once a year with the blood of the atoning sin offering. It is most holy to the LORD. YLT Exodus 30:10 and Aaron hath made atonement on its horns, once in a year, by the blood of the sin-offering of atonements; once in a year doth he make atonement for it, to your generations; it is most holy to Jehovah.' Aaron: Ex 29:36,37 Lev 16:18,29,30 23:27 Heb 1:3 9:7,22,23,25 sin offering: Lev 16:5,6 Exodus 30 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries ANNUAL DAY OF ATONEMENT Related Passage: Leviticus 16:34+ Now you shall have this as a permanent statute, to make atonement for the sons of Israel for all their sins once every year.” And just as the LORD had commanded Moses, so he did. Recall that a sin-removal ceremony was required for the sanctification of the bronze altar on a daily basis (Ex 29:36-37), whereas cleansing of the altar of incense was to be done annually at the time of the Day of Atonement. Aaron shall make atonement (kapar/kaphar) on its horns once a year; he shall make atonement (kapar/kaphar) on it with the blood of the sin offering of atonement (kippur/kippurim) once a year throughout your generations - Did you notice the "key word"? Atonement occurs three times in one verse! Note the phrase atonement once a year is a reference to the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) which was to be carried out once per year. God is simply saying that once each year the altar of incense was to be daubed with blood so that it could be atoned for (presumably the idea is that sinful men had been ministering in the Holy Place and this was the annual "clean up day" so to speak." Thompson - A special sin removing and sin cleansing ceremony was required on this altar once a year (see Lev 16:16). One time per year Aaron was to place blood on the horns of this altar as atonement for sin. This is a holy place and even a high priest like Aaron was still a sinner. Now only the priests could get into this place at this altar and pray at this place. But all priests were still fleshly sinners. It does not matter how high the position, we are still all fleshly sinners. The Apostle Paul near the end of his life called himself the “chief of sinners” (1 Ti 1:15). The Greek grammar of Paul’s statement “I am the foremost of sinners” is written in such a way that Paul emphatically saw this about himself continually all of the time. Paul did not strut around viewing himself as some sinless saint. He recognized his need of cleansing just like these priests needed to recognize it.