Heidi Norton
The altar of incense is mentioned in Exodus chapter 30 as one of the items inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The altar was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, standing at two cubits high with a square top. The burning of incense is linked with prayer and was offered to God in the tabernacle of Israel, His earthly throne room. The incense was to be burnt continually, with fresh incense placed on the altar every morning and evening. The altar of incense was also connected with the sacrificial rituals of Israel, with the blood of the offering being smeared on its horns.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Materials | Gold and acacia wood |
| Shape | Square top, four "horns" |
| Size | 2 cubits high, 1 cubit per side |
| Mobility | Fitted with poles for transportation |
| Incense type | "Sweet", "pure", "most holy" |
| Incense offering | Linked with the prayers of God's people |
| Incense offering frequency | Twice daily |
| Incense purpose | To scent the air, to accompany the lampstand's pillar of fire |
| Incense symbolism | The perpetual nature of Christ's mediation, the sweet smell of believers' prayers |
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What You'll Learn
The altar of incense's biblical origins
The altar of incense is first mentioned in the Bible in Exodus chapter 30, as one of the items inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The Bible describes the altar as being made of acia wood and overlaid with gold. It was square, with each side measuring one cubit (approximately twenty inches or just under two feet), and a height of two cubits. The altar had four "horns", one at each corner, with gold rings attached to two of its sides so that it could be carried with acacia wood poles.
The altar of incense was placed before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, near the Ark of the Covenant. The Bible states that Aaron was to place fresh incense on the altar every morning and evening, and that the incense was to burn continually. This continual burning of incense symbolises the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation and the prayers of believers rising like incense before God.
The altar of incense was also connected with sacrificial rituals. When a sin offering was required due to a failure on the part of the high priest, the blood of the offering was smeared on the horns of the altar and poured out at its base. This act of atonement was performed once a year by Aaron, as described in Exodus 30.
The altar of incense, along with the smoke from the incense, held symbolic significance for God's people. The smoke rising from the altar symbolised the prayers of God's people constantly ascending before the Lord. In the tabernacle, only priests could offer incense, serving as mediators between the people and God and bringing their prayers into God's presence.
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The materials used to construct the altar
The altar of incense, as described in Exodus, was crafted from acacia wood and adorned with gold. Its square top measured one cubit on each side, and its total height was two cubits. The altar featured four "horns," one at each corner, akin to the altar of sacrifice. Gold rings were affixed to the altar, enabling it to be carried using acacia wood poles slipped through the rings.
The materials chosen for the altar hold symbolic value. For instance, gold is often associated with holiness and divinity, reflecting the altar's sacred purpose. Meanwhile, the acacia wood used for both the altar and the carrying poles speaks to durability and resilience, ensuring the altar could withstand the weight of the incense and the rigors of transportation.
The incense itself was also of profound importance. God provided a specific recipe for the incense, emphasizing its exclusivity and holiness. The unique fragrance of the incense was reserved solely for His presence, creating a powerful sensory connection to the divine. This exclusivity ensured that the act of burning incense became intricately linked with the presence of God and the sanctity of the ritual.
The altar of incense, with its carefully selected materials and sacred incense, served as a powerful symbol of prayer, intercession, and the constant presence of God in the lives of His people. The rising smoke from the incense symbolized the prayers of the faithful ascending to God, reinforcing the altar's pivotal role in religious ceremonies and the spiritual lives of the worshippers.
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The incense's significance and its connection to prayer
The use of incense during prayer has been a common practice in various religions and cultures since ancient times. The burning of incense is believed to have symbolic significance, often associated with offerings, purification, and the act of prayer itself.
In Christianity, the use of incense during prayer is rooted in biblical passages and has been a part of worship since antiquity, particularly in Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, and Anglican churches. The smoke rising from burning incense is interpreted as a symbol of the faithful's prayers ascending to heaven. This symbolism is reflected in Bible verses such as Psalm 141:2, where it says, "Let my prayer come like incense before you". Similarly, in the Book of Revelation, incense is mentioned as being connected to the prayers of the saints in heaven, with their prayers rising like incense towards the altar of God.
In the Bible, the altar of incense is first mentioned in Exodus chapter 30, where it is described as being located inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The altar was constructed from acacia wood, overlaid with gold, and had four "horns" at each corner. The altar of incense was considered sacred, and its continuous burning symbolised the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation and the sweetness of believers' prayers to God.
Incense also holds significant value in other religious traditions. In Hinduism, for example, incense has been used since ancient times and remains a common practice in modern-day India and Hindu communities worldwide. Incense is offered to various forms of God, such as Krishna and Rama, as a traditional and integral part of daily worship. Similarly, in Mandaeism, incense is offered during rituals and prayers to establish a connection between humans on Earth and celestial beings in the World of Light.
The use of incense during prayer thus serves as a symbolic act, linking the earthly and the divine. It adds a sensory element to prayer, with the aroma of incense creating an atmosphere of reverence and devotion.
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The placement of the altar in the Holy Place
The altar of incense is first mentioned in Exodus chapter 30 as one of the items inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The altar was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, with a square top and a height of two cubits. It featured four "horns", one at each corner, and rings of gold built into it so that it could be carried with acacia wood poles. The altar of incense was placed before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, with the Ark of the Testimony on the other side. Aaron was instructed to burn incense on the altar each morning and at twilight as a regular offering to the Lord.
The altar of incense was an important part of the worship rituals in the tabernacle and temple. The smoke from the incense symbolized the prayers of God's people constantly ascending before the Lord. In the tabernacle, only priests could offer incense, serving as mediators between the people and God. The incense was always burned with fire taken from the altar of burnt offering, and it was never to be used for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or drink offerings. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would put blood on the horns of the altar of incense to cleanse it.
The placement of the altar of incense in relation to the Holy of Holies is described in Exodus 30:6 and 40:5, which state that the altar was located outside the Holy of Holies, separated by a curtain. However, other scriptures suggest that the altar of incense was used more frequently than just on the Day of Atonement when the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies. This contradiction can be understood theologically, as the altar of incense is closely associated with the Holy of Holies, with the incense offered daily floating into the Holy of Holies.
The Holy of Holies, or Most Holy Place, was considered the most sacred site in certain branches of Christianity and Judaism. It was entered only once a year by the High Priest on Yom Kippur, who would offer the blood of sacrificial animals and incense upon the Ark of the Covenant. The exact location of the Holy of Holies is a contentious issue, with several theories proposed regarding its placement in relation to the Temple Mount.
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The role of the altar in sacrificial rituals
In Hinduism, the sacrificial altar is a sacred space designated for offerings to deities and is pivotal for various rituals, including marriage rites and Yajnas. It symbolises the connection between the earthly and the divine. Similarly, in Christianity, the altar is a sacred space embodying the connection between the earthly realm and the divine in ritualistic practices.
In ancient Greek and Roman practices, altars were built in a variety of locations, including the entrances and courtyards of houses, marketplaces, public buildings, and sacred groves in the countryside. The type of altar varied depending on the deity being worshipped, with more imposing altars reserved for powerful gods like Zeus or Athena, while lower altars were used for domestic deities.
The altar of incense, first mentioned in Exodus chapter 30, is significant in sacrificial rituals. It was made of acacia wood overlaid with gold and had four "horns," one at each corner. The incense was to be burned continually, symbolising the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation and the sweet-smelling savour of believers' prayers to God.
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Frequently asked questions
The altar of incense is a religious artifact mentioned in Exodus chapter 30, which is placed in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. It is made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, with four "horns" at each corner. The incense is burned to pleasantly scent the air and is linked to the prayers of God's people.
The burning of incense on the altar is meant to be continuous, representing the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation. It symbolises the sweet-smelling savor of Christ's intercession on our behalf, making our prayers acceptable to God.
Aaron was instructed to place fresh incense on the altar every morning and evening.
Only authorized incense may be offered on the altar, as specified in Exodus 30:9. The incense is made by combining frankincense with other ingredients to form a "sweet", "pure", and "most holy" mixture.
