The Incense Altar
1“You are to make an altar for the burning of incense; make it of acacia wood.a 2It must be square, 18 inches long and 18 inches wide;b it must be 36 inches high.c Its horns must be of one piece.d 3Overlay its top, all around its sides, and its horns with pure gold; make a gold molding all around it. 4Make two gold rings for it under the molding on two of its sides; put these on opposite sides of it to be holders for the poles to carry it with. 5Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.
6“You are to place the altar in front of the veil by the ark of the •testimony — in front of the •mercy seat that is over the testimony — where I will meet with you. 7Aaron must burn fragrant incense on it; he must burn it every morning when he tends the lamps.e 8When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he must burn incense. There is to be an incense offering before the LORD throughout your generations. 9You must not offer unauthorized incense on it,f or a •burnt or •grain offering; you are not to pour a •drink offering on it.
10“Once a year Aaron is to perform the purification riteg on the horns of the altar. Throughout your generations he is to perform the purification riteh fori it once a year, with the blood of the •sin offering for •atonement.j The altar is especially holy to the LORD.”
The Atonement Money
11The LORD spoke to Moses: 12“When you take a censusk of the Israelites to register them, each of the men must pay a ransoml for himself to the LORD as they are registered. Then no plaguem will come on them as they are registered. 13Everyone who is registered must pay half a •shekeln according to the sanctuary shekel (20 gerahs to the shekel). This half shekel is a contribution to the LORD.o 14Each man who is registered, 20 years old or more, must give this contribution to the LORD. 15The wealthy may not give more and the poor may not give lessp than half a shekel when giving the contribution to the LORD to atone forq your lives. 16Take the atonement moneyr from the Israelites and use it for the service of the tent of meeting. It will serve as a reminder for the Israelites before the LORD to atone fors your lives.”t
The Bronze Basin
17The LORD spoke to Moses: 18“Make a bronze basinu for washing and a bronze stand for it. Set it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. 19Aaron and his sons must wash their hands and feet from the basin. 20Whenever they enter the tent of meeting or approach the altar to minister by burning up an offering to the LORD, they must wash with water so that they will not die. 21They must wash their hands and feet so that they will not die; this is to be a permanent statutev for them, for Aaron and his descendants throughout their generations.”
The Anointing Oil
22The LORD spoke to Moses: 23“Take for yourself the finest spices:w 12 1/2 poundsx of liquid myrrh, half as much (6 1/4 poundsy) of fragrant cinnamon, 6 1/4 poundsz of fragrant cane, 2412 1/2 poundsaa of cassia (by the sanctuary shekel), and one gallonab of olive oil.ac 25Prepare from these a holy anointing oil, a scented blend, the work of a perfumer; it will be holy anointing oil.ad
26“With it you are to anointae the tent of meeting, the ark of the testimony, 27the table with all its utensils, the lampstand with its utensils, the altar of incense, 28the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. 29Consecrate them and they will be especially holy. Whatever touches them will be consecrated. 30Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrateaf them to serve Me as priests.
31“Tell the Israelites: This will be My holy anointing oil throughout your generations. 32It must not be used for ordinary anointing on a person’s body, and you must not make anything like it using its formula. It is holy, and it must be holy to you. 33Anyone who blends something like it or puts some of it on an unauthorized person must be cut offag from his people.”
The Sacred Incense
34The LORD said to Moses: “Take fragrant spices: stacte, onycha, and galbanum; the spices and pure frankincense are to be in equal measures. 35Prepare expertly blended incense from these; it is to be seasoned with salt, pure and holy. 36Grind some of it into a fine powder and put some in front of the testimony in the tent of meeting, where I will meet with you. It must be especially holyah to you. 37As for the incense you are making, you must not make any for yourselves using its formula. It is to be regarded by you as sacred to the LORD. 38Anyone who makes something like it to smell its fragrance must be cut off from his people.”
Footnotes:
a. 30:1 Ex 37:25; Rv 8:3
b. 30:2 Lit one cubit its length and one cubit its width
c. 30:2 Lit wide; and two cubits its height
d. 30:2 Lit piece with it
e. 30:7 Ex 27:21; 1Sm 2:28; 1Ch 23:13; Lk 1:9
f. 30:9 Lv 10:1
g. 30:10 Or to make atonement
h. 30:10 Or to make atonement
i. 30:10 Or on
j. 30:10 Lv 16:18
k. 30:12 Nm 1:2; 2Sm 24:2
l. 30:12 Nm 31:50; Mt 20:28
m. 30:12 Ex 12:13; 2Sm 24:13,21,25
n. 30:13 About 2/5 of an ounce of silver
o. 30:13 Ex 38:26; Nm 3:47; Mt 17:24
p. 30:15 Pr 22:2; Eph 6:9
q. 30:15 Or to ransom
r. 30:16 Lit the silver of the atonement
s. 30:16 Or to ransom
t. 30:16 Ex 38:25-28; Nm 16:40
u. 30:18 Ex 38:8; 40:7,30; 1Kg 7:38
v. 30:21 Ex 27:21; 28:43
w. 30:23 Sg 4:14; Ezk 27:22
x. 30:23 Lit 500 (shekels)
y. 30:23 Lit 250 (shekels)
z. 30:23 Lit 250 (shekels)
aa. 30:24 Lit 500 (shekels)
ab. 30:24 Lit a hin
ac. 30:24 Ex 29:40; Ps 45:8
ad. 30:25 Ex 37:29; Nm 35:25
ae. 30:26 Ex 40:9; Lv 8:10; Nm 7:1
af. 30:30 Ex 29:7; Lv 8:12,30
ag. 30:33 Gn 17:14; Ex 30:38
ah. 30:36 Ex 29:37; Lv 2:3
