Topical Bible: Temple: Solomon's: The Altar of Incense, and Its Furniture

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The Altar of Incense, a significant component of Solomon's Temple, played a crucial role in the worship practices of ancient Israel. This altar was situated in the Holy Place, directly in front of the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. The altar was used for burning incense, symbolizing the prayers of the people ascending to God.

Construction and Design

The Altar of Incense in Solomon's Temple was crafted according to divine specifications, reflecting the sacredness and orderliness of worship. It was made of cedar wood and overlaid with pure gold, emphasizing its sanctity and the glory of God. The altar was square, measuring one cubit in length and width, and two cubits in height, with horns on each of its four corners. The top, sides, and horns were all overlaid with gold, and a gold molding encircled it, as described in 1 Kings 6:20-22.

Function and Ritual Use

The primary function of the Altar of Incense was to burn fragrant incense before the Lord, a practice that was to be carried out twice daily by the priests. Exodus 30:7-8 states, "And Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it every morning when he tends the lamps. When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he must burn the incense as a regular incense offering before the LORD throughout your generations." This ritual was a perpetual ordinance, symbolizing the continual prayers and intercession of the people.

The incense used was a specific blend of spices, as commanded by God, and was considered holy. Unauthorized incense or offerings were strictly prohibited, underscoring the importance of obedience and reverence in worship.

Symbolism and Spiritual Significance

The Altar of Incense held deep symbolic meaning within the worship practices of Israel. The rising smoke of the incense represented the prayers of the faithful ascending to God, as seen in Psalm 141:2 : "May my prayer be set before You like incense, my uplifted hands like the evening offering." This imagery reinforced the idea of a direct connection between the worshipers and the divine presence.

Furthermore, the placement of the altar before the veil signified the intercessory role of the priests, who mediated between God and the people. The altar's proximity to the Most Holy Place highlighted the importance of prayer and worship in drawing near to God.

Furniture and Accessories

In addition to the altar itself, the furniture associated with the Altar of Incense included utensils for handling the incense and maintaining the altar. These were also made of gold, reflecting the sacred nature of their use. The utensils included censers, shovels, and tongs, which were used in the daily rituals and in the preparation and offering of the incense.

The Altar of Incense, with its intricate design and profound symbolism, was an integral part of the worship in Solomon's Temple. It served as a constant reminder of the holiness of God, the importance of prayer, and the need for a mediator between God and humanity.

Nave's Topical Index

1 Kings 6:20
And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and so covered the altar which was of cedar.
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1 Kings 7:48,50
And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained to the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the show bread was,
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1 Chronicles 28:17,18
Also pure gold for the meat hooks, and the bowls, and the cups: and for the golden basins he gave gold by weight for every basin; and likewise silver by weight for every basin of silver:
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2 Chronicles 4:19,22
And Solomon made all the vessels that were for the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables where on the show bread was set;
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Library

The Temple and Its Dedication
... The brazen furniture,"the altar of burnt offering, the ... was the palatial building
which Solomon and his ... cedar and burnished gold, the temple structure, with ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 2 the temple and.htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... the making of the tables, flesh-hooks, cups, basins, altar of incense ... I say, he gave
David the pattern of the temple, so David gave Solomon the pattern of ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

Chronicles
... offered his dedicatory prayer before the altar (1 Kings 8 ... of silver for the building
of the temple (1 Chronicles 22 ... sum when we remember that Solomon himself had ...
/.../mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/chronicles.htm

Books of the Hebrew Canon.
... Altar of Burnt-offering (xxxviii.22"24 ... Again, whilst deals with the whole of Solomon's
public works before ... the history of the building of the Temple with the ...
/.../chapter ii books of the.htm

A Discourse
... Nor could anything in the temple more aptly express itself ... Now must the Lord's brazen
altar be removed from ... the golden armour provided by our Solomon, and put ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a discourse.htm

A Little Sanctuary
... horns of the altar to escape from Solomon's armed men ... and offerings come up with
acceptance on his altar. ... thy house." This applied to the whole temple, but the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 34 1888/a little sanctuary.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... and the Hebrew kingdom"Saul, David, Solomon, the defection ... a tent-pin, which she
drove into his temple. ... is peace").* This sanctuary, with its altar and ephod ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

How to Read the Bible
... he kindled the incense upon the brazen altar, as if ... the Sabbath days the priests
in the temple profane the ... up in such cases as Leviticus or Solomon's Song, and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 25 1879/how to read the bible.htm

Church Fabrics and Services.
... smooth the fine old sculptures over Solomon's porch, which ... far from being cast out
of the Temple.'[876] At ... the rostra would even overhang the altar, or occupy ...
/.../the english church in the eighteenth century/chapter x church fabrics and.htm