Katrina Rosales
The burning of incense has been an important component of priestly liturgy in Judaism, with the practice continuing in Samaritan synagogues even today. The incense offering, or qəṭōreṯ, involved the use of costly and carefully guarded spices and aromatic condiments, with the priests of the House of Avtinas keeping the exact proportions a secret. The offering was performed twice daily, in the morning and evening, and was believed to have multiple purposes, including purifying the air, warding off evil spirits, and shielding the priest from the presence of God. The process of lighting incense is described in detail, with specific rituals and utensils to be used. However, opinions vary on whether it is appropriate for prayer in personal spaces, with some considering it a non-Jewish practice.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Twice a day: morning and evening |
| Location | In the Temple in Jerusalem |
| Priests | Two priests were involved in the process |
| Utensils | Pan, censer, spoonlike vessel ("kaf"), brazier ("maḥtah"), jar ("bazak") |
| Ingredients | Sweet spices, rosin, onycha, ḥelbanah, pure frankincense, stacte, galbanum, salt |
| Number of Ingredients | 4 according to the Book of Exodus, 7 according to the Talmud, 11 according to the Rabbis and Sages, 13 according to Josephus |
| Preparation | Ingredients were to be re-pounded twice a year, chanted over during preparation |
| Purpose | To cover the Holy of Holies with a "smoke screen", to purify the air, to ward off evil spirits, to atone for the "evil tongue", to symbolise prayer |
| Limitations | Forbidden to burn incense on Yom Tov, forbidden to light a fire on the Sabbath |
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What You'll Learn
- The incense offering is a sacred practice, performed twice daily by priests
- The ingredients are costly and the blend is a carefully guarded secret
- The offering is made on a special altar, and the smoke is believed to symbolise prayer
- The act of burning incense is forbidden on Yom Tov, but allowed at other times
- The practice is still followed in Samaritan synagogues, but not by Rabbinic Jews
The incense offering is a sacred practice, performed twice daily by priests
The correct blend of spices and condiments used in the incense offering is a carefully guarded secret, known only to the compounders. The ingredients are to be re-pounded twice a year, and the blend is made with costly materials contributed by the congregation. The exact recipe is outlined in the Book of Exodus, which states:
> Take unto yourself sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: And you shall make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together [salted], pure and holy: And you shall beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with...
The offering is performed by a priest carrying the incense in a jar, which he holds over a spoon-shaped utensil to prevent any grains from dropping on the floor. When the command "burn the incense" is issued, the priest spreads the incense upon the coals. The smoke from the incense is thought to symbolise or act as a vehicle for prayer, as well as to cover the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant resided, to shield the priest from the presence of God.
The practice of burning incense is also observed in Samaritan synagogues, where it is burned every Sabbath Eve before the Sabbath, as well as during morning prayers on the Days of Forgiveness.
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The ingredients are costly and the blend is a carefully guarded secret
The practice of burning incense in Jewish synagogues is an ancient tradition, with archaeological evidence of incense burners found in ancient synagogues in Israel and Syria. Incense offerings are mentioned in the Torah, the Talmud, and the Hebrew Bible, and are associated with the Temple in Jerusalem and the Tabernacle. The practice is also mentioned in the New Testament and is still observed in Samaritan synagogues and some Christian churches.
The ingredients used in the incense offering were costly and included sweet spices, aromatic condiments, and other precious materials contributed by the congregation. The Book of Exodus provides a recipe for the incense, instructing Moses to take "sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense." Each spice was to be pounded separately and then blended together with salt to create a holy and pure perfume.
The process of preparing the incense was a carefully guarded secret, known only to the compounders, the priests of the House of Avtinas during the Second Temple period. The rabbis rebuked them for keeping the technique and exact proportions secret, as mentioned in the Mishnah, Yoma 3:11. The blend of spices was so distinctive that it could be sensed from far away, as some claim, even in the mountains of Transjordan.
The rabbis and sages received a tradition that there were 11 spices in the holy incense, although the Torah mentions only four. The rabbis expanded the description of the recipe from four to 11 ingredients, with each mina of incense corresponding to a day of the solar year. The Kohen Gadol would bring two handfuls of incense into the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur, returning the remaining three mina to the mortar the day before to be ground thoroughly.
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The offering is made on a special altar, and the smoke is believed to symbolise prayer
The offering of incense is a sacred practice in Judaism, with the smoke believed to symbolise prayer. This practice is mentioned in the Book of Exodus, which describes the recipe for the incense as a blend of costly and aromatic sweet spices, including rosin, onycha, ḥelbanah, and pure frankincense. The correct blend was a closely guarded secret, known only to the compounders during the Second Temple period. The preparation and offering of incense followed a meticulous ceremony. After the morning's burnt offering, two priests would remove the ashes and sacrificial animals, and lots would be drawn to determine which priest would offer the incense. The officiating priest would then enter the sanctuary, carrying the incense in a jar and a spoon-like vessel to prevent any spillage.
The offering itself was made on a special altar, known as the incense altar. This altar held significant importance, as evidenced by its introduction for the incense offering. The altar was located at the end of the Holy compartment of the tabernacle, next to the curtain dividing it from the Most Holy. The incense was burned on this altar twice a day, in the morning and towards the evening, with priests taking turns. The smoke from the incense offering was believed to symbolise prayer, and it served multiple purposes. Firstly, it was used to cover the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant resided, creating a "smoke screen" to shield the priest from the presence of God. Additionally, the smoke was thought to purify the air and perfume it, masking any unpleasant odours from the sacrificed animals.
The practice of burning incense has continued in Samaritan synagogues, where it is burned every Sabbath Eve before the Sabbath and during festivals. However, among Rabbinic Jews, the custom of burning incense in synagogues came to an end, possibly due to concerns about idolatry raised by the Karaites. The use of incense in prayer is a complex question in Judaism. While some individuals light incense during personal prayer, it is advised to avoid this practice to prevent any association with non-Jewish prayer traditions.
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The act of burning incense is forbidden on Yom Tov, but allowed at other times
The burning of incense has been an important practice in Judaism. The Bible mentions the use of incense in the Book of Exodus, where God says that it is where He 'will meet' with the priest. The Bible also states that the incense was to be made from sweet spices, rosin, onycha, ḥelbanah, and frankincense, with each spice pounded separately. The exact formula for the incense was a closely guarded secret, known only to the compounders during the Second Temple period.
The act of burning incense is an ancient custom, with archaeological evidence of its use in synagogues in the late fourth or early fifth century. The practice was also mentioned in the 613 mitzvot, which instructed the burning of incense daily, and it was linked to Exodus 30:7. The importance of the incense-offering is further emphasized by the fact that it was offered twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, by the priests.
However, the practice of burning incense is forbidden on Yom Tov, a Jewish holiday, as it is considered a sacred act that must be performed by priests. This prohibition may be due to concerns about idolatry, as the burning of incense is closely associated with the Temple and its rituals. Nevertheless, burning incense is allowed at other times, and it is still practised in Samaritan synagogues on certain occasions, such as on the eve of the Sabbath and during festivals.
The act of burning incense holds symbolic significance and is believed to have multiple purposes. One purpose is to cover the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant resided, creating a 'smoke screen' to shield the priest from the presence of God. Additionally, the rising smoke was seen as a symbol or vehicle of prayer, and the fragrant scent was valued during davening, or prayer. The burning of incense was also believed to purify the air, masking the unpleasant odours from sacrificed animals, and it may have been used to ward off evil spirits and demons.
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The practice is still followed in Samaritan synagogues, but not by Rabbinic Jews
The practice of lighting incense by a Jewish priest, known as a kohen, was an integral part of ancient Jewish rituals and worship in the Biblical Temple of Jerusalem. However, with the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, the role of kohanim underwent a significant transformation, especially among Rabbinic Jews.
Today, the practice of lighting incense is no longer observed by Rabbinic Jews, who constitute the majority of the Jewish population. Rabbinic Judaism shifted its focus to prayer and the study of Torah as central forms of worship, adapting to the new reality without a Temple. The destruction of the Temple marked a turning point, and Rabbinic Jews redirected their religious practices, emphasizing prayer and the synagogue as the new centre of Jewish worship.
On the other hand, the Samaritan community, a distinct religious group with roots in ancient Samaria, continues to preserve and practice the lighting of incense in their synagogues. Samaritans trace their lineage to the ancient Israelite tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh and follow a version of the Torah known as the Samaritan Pentateuch. In their synagogues on Mount Gerizim, near Shechem (Nablus), the lighting of incense remains an integral part of their religious rituals.
The Samaritan community, though small in number, passionately maintains these ancient traditions. Their religious practices, including the lighting of incense, are deeply rooted in their interpretation of the Torah and their unique cultural heritage. The incense used by the Samaritans is prepared according to traditional methods, and the act of lighting it holds symbolic significance in their worship and connection to God.
While Rabbinic Jews have adapted their religious practices over time, the Samaritans have preserved ancient traditions, including the lighting of incense, as a testament to their enduring faith and cultural identity. This contrast in practices reflects the diversity within the Jewish faith and the different interpretations and paths that have emerged over centuries of religious evolution and transformation.
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Frequently asked questions
The ceremony involves various steps, including cleaning the altar, removing ashes, and killing sacrificial animals. The entire process could take a significant amount of time, but the duration is not explicitly mentioned.
The incense is burned until it is fully consumed. The time this takes is not specified, but it likely depends on the quantity of incense used.
During the time of the Tabernacle and the First and Second Temple periods, priests offered incense twice a day: once in the morning and once in the evening.
On the Day of Atonement, coals and incense are taken into the Holy of Holies, where the incense is made to smoke. This ritual is performed once a year and is a significant part of the Jewish priest's duties.
