Anisha Riggs
The burning of incense was an important part of priestly liturgy in the Temple in Jerusalem. Priests would burn incense in the morning and evening, so a sweet-smelling smoke issued forth day and night. The incense was burned on a golden altar, which was placed outside the Holy of Holies, where God resided in the Temple above the Ark of the Covenant. The priests would sprinkle three aromatic spices onto the coals of the altar, and the smoke from the altar was thought to make the prayers of the people rise to God. The burning of incense is mentioned in the Old Testament, and it is often associated with prayer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of priests burning incense | 1 per day, selected by the casting of "lots" |
| Number of priests involved in the process | 81 (including the high priest) |
| Time of day incense was burned | Morning and evening |
| Frequency of incense burning | Daily |
| Materials used to make the altar of incense | Gold and acacia wood |
| Materials used to make the incense | 11 kinds of spices, including stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense |
| Weight of each type of spice | 70 mina (19.02% of total weight) for the first four spices, 16 mina (4.35%) for the next three, 12 mina (3.26%) for costus, 3 mina (0.82%) for aromatic bark, and 9 mina (2.45%) for cinnamon |
| Total weight of the incense mixture | 368 mina |
| Other ingredients | Carshina lye, Cyprus wine, Sodom salt, a minute amount of Jordan amber, and old white wine |
| Warnings | Honey was not to be added, and omission of any of the 11 spices was punishable by death |
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What You'll Learn
- Priests burned incense in the temple each day, morning and evening
- The incense was burned on a golden altar
- The incense was made from costly, sweet-smelling spices
- The smoke from the incense was believed to symbolise the prayers of the people rising to God
- The altar of incense was considered part of the Holy of Holies
Priests burned incense in the temple each day, morning and evening
The burning of incense is mentioned in the Book of Exodus, which prescribes the specific ingredients and rituals associated with this practice. According to Exodus 30:7-10, the high priest, Aaron, was responsible for ensuring that incense was burned before the Lord all day, every day. This involved burning incense in the morning and at twilight, resulting in perpetual incense before the Lord. The Hebrew word for burn, "qatar," signifies the ritualistic nature of this act, as it refers to "causing something to rise up in smoke."
The altar of incense was situated in the Holy Place, just before the veil leading to the Holy of Holies, where God resided above the Ark of the Covenant. The incense was burned on a golden altar, and the fragrant smoke rose above the veil, filling the inner sanctum. The sweet-smelling smoke from the incense served to mask unpleasant odours, similar to the practice of burning incense in the presence of royalty.
The priests played a crucial role in tending to the altar daily and ensuring that the incense was burned at the appropriate times. The incense itself was composed of costly and carefully measured spices, with deviations from the prescribed formula carrying severe consequences. The ingredients for the incense were contributed by the congregation, and the mixture was considered sacred.
The act of burning incense was symbolic of intercessory prayer, as mentioned in Psalms and the Book of Revelation. The rising smoke represented the prayers of God's people ascending to God, emphasizing the importance of a sincere and dedicated heart before God. The altar of incense, therefore, served as a reminder of the perpetual nature of prayer and mediation.
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The incense was burned on a golden altar
The burning of incense on a golden altar was a sacred practice in the Bible, specifically mentioned in Exodus 30:1–10. This altar, situated in the Holy Place, was constructed from acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold, measuring 1.5 feet on each side and 3 feet in height. Four horns protruded from its corners, and it was adorned with carrying poles for transportation.
The incense burned on this altar was comprised of a special mixture of four precious spices: stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense. Priests would tend to this altar daily, refilling it with incense in the morning and evening, ensuring a continuous sweet-smelling smoke day and night. The burning incense symbolized the intercessory prayers of God's people, rising up to God like the smoke ascending to the heavens.
The golden altar of incense was distinct from the brazen altar, and it held a specific purpose. It was not to be used for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or drink offerings, as these practices were associated with pagan worship. Instead, it served as a place for humble petition before the Lord, where the sweet fragrance of incense represented the pleasing nature of the prayers offered.
The altar of incense was to be purified annually through the sprinkling of blood on its horns, symbolizing the cleansing of sins and the power of Christ's blood in prayer. This ritual was performed by the high priest, who bore the responsibility for ensuring the proper use of the altar. The burning of incense on the golden altar was a sacred act, symbolizing the perpetual nature of prayer and mediation before God.
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The incense was made from costly, sweet-smelling spices
The burning of incense in the temple was a sacred practice, and the incense itself was made from costly, sweet-smelling spices. The Bible, in Exodus 30:7-10, provides the recipe for this holy incense, which was to be used solely for its intended purpose and not for private use. The recipe included sweet spices like stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense, each weighing seventy mina and comprising 19.02% of the total weight. In addition, there were myrrh, cassia, spikenard, and saffron, each weighing sixteen mina and making up 4.35% of the total. The remaining ingredients were costus, aromatic bark, and cinnamon, contributing 3.26%, 0.82%, and 2.45% respectively. The incense was carefully prepared, with specific weight proportions for each spice, and any deviation from this formula was not tolerated.
The incense's sweet fragrance was symbolic of the prayers of the saints, as mentioned in the Book of Revelation. It represented the intercessory prayers of God's people, rising up to God like the smoke of the incense. The priests taught that the smoke from the altar, with its pleasing aroma, carried the prayers of the people to God. This belief is reflected in David's prayer in Psalm 141:2, where he likens his prayer to incense rising before God.
The altar of incense was located in the Holy Place, and the sweet-smelling smoke filled the inner Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant resided. The priests would refill the incense on the golden altar in the morning and evening, ensuring a continuous sweet fragrance. The incense was burned with fire taken from the altar of burnt offering, symbolising the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation.
The incense offering was an important component of priestly liturgy in the Temple in Jerusalem during the Tabernacle and the First and Second Temple periods. The costly materials used in the incense were contributed by the congregation, reflecting their devotion and dedication to the Lord. The incense was more than just a pleasant aroma; it held deep spiritual significance, representing the prayers and intercession of God's people.
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The smoke from the incense was believed to symbolise the prayers of the people rising to God
The burning of incense was a significant ritual in the Old Testament. The priests taught that the smoke from the incense altar made the prayers of the people rise to God. The altar of incense was considered part of the holy of holies, where God resided in the Temple above the Ark of the Covenant. The incense was burned with fire from the altar of burnt offerings, and the smoke ascended in the sanctuary.
The incense was burned morning and evening, and it was to be sanctified each year along with the priests through the sprinkling of blood. The high priest, Aaron, was responsible for ensuring that this was done, and the task could be delegated to other priests. The incense was made from costly materials, including spices, contributed by the congregation. The Book of Exodus describes the recipe, which includes sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense. The Talmud lists additional components, and the exact composition is still being studied.
The altar of incense was situated before the Ark of the Covenant, and its fragrant odour would rise above the veil and fill the inner holy of holies. The smoke from the incense was believed to symbolise the prayers of the people rising to God. This symbolism is reflected in the Book of Psalms, where a psalm attributed to David petitions the Lord: "Let my prayer be set forth as incense before you" (Psalm 141:2). Similarly, in the Book of Revelation, incense is described as symbolic of "the prayers of the saints" (Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4).
The altar of incense was also associated with the concept of Christ's mediation. The perpetual burning of incense represented the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation, and the sweet-smelling savour of the incense was likened to the prayers of believers, which are pleasing to God.
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The altar of incense was considered part of the Holy of Holies
The altar of incense was considered a sacred part of the Holy of Holies. It was located in the Holy Place, just "before the veil" that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. The altar of incense was made with gold and acacia wood, and it was adorned with four horns on each corner, likely symbolizing power.
The altar of incense was a place of intercessory prayer, where the priests would burn incense morning and evening, so that a sweet-smelling smoke issued forth from it day and night. The incense was always taken from the altar of burnt offering outside the sanctuary, and it was never to be used for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or drink offerings. The altar of incense was to be sanctified each year on the Day of Atonement, when the high priest would put blood on its horns to cleanse it.
The smoke from the altar was believed to carry the prayers of the people up to God, and it was associated with the coming of the Messiah. The altar of incense was also seen as a symbol of Christ's mediation and intercession on behalf of humanity. The perpetual burning of incense on the altar represented the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation, and the sweet-smelling aroma was thought to represent the pleasing nature of the prayers of believers to God.
The altar of incense was considered so sacred that it was referred to as "most holy to the Lord." The placement of the altar of incense in relation to the Holy of Holies has been a subject of debate among scholars, with some arguing that the writer of the book of Hebrews made a mistake in describing its location.
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Frequently asked questions
The number of priests burning incense in the temple each day is unclear, but it was the duty of the high priest, Aaron, to ensure incense was burned before the Lord all day, every day. It was burned in the morning and at twilight.
The incense was made of costly spices, including stacte, onycha, galbanum, frankincense, myrrh, cassia, spikenard, and saffron. The Book of Exodus describes the recipe.
Incense was burned as a symbol of the prayers of God’s people. It was also used to mask the odors of livestock and unwashed bodies.
The incense was burned on the altar of incense, which was situated before the mercy seat of the Ark. The altar was made of gold and acacia wood.
