Seamus Hammond
The altar of incense, mentioned in Exodus chapter 30, was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. It was placed in the Holy Place of the tabernacle, before the veil that separated it from the Holy of Holies. The Bible describes how the incense was to be prepared and burned on the altar, with God giving the recipe and stipulating that no other incense was to be used. The incense was made from a mix of fine spices and was to be burned every morning and evening, with the smoke symbolising the prayers of God's people rising up to the Lord.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Shape | Square |
| Side length | 1.5 feet |
| Height | 3 feet |
| Materials | Acacia wood, gold |
| Parts | Four horns, rings of gold |
| Incense ingredients | Stacte, onycha, galbanum, frankincense, myrrh, cinnamon, aromatic cane, cassia |
| Incense preparation | Mixed in equal parts |
| Incense burning | Continuous throughout the day and night |
| Fire source | Altar of burnt offering |
| Incense purpose | Symbol of the prayers of God's people |
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What You'll Learn
The recipe for the incense was provided by God
The incense was made from fine spices, specifically an equal mixture of four precious spices: stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense. God commanded that this specific formula was not to be used outside the tabernacle for perfume, and that no other incense was to be burned on the altar. The smoke from the incense symbolized the prayers of God's people, constantly ascending before the Lord. In Scripture, incense is often associated with prayer, as seen in Psalm 141:2, where David prays, "May my prayer be set before you like incense".
The altar of incense was also connected with the sacrificial rituals of Israel. 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 incense altar and poured out at its base. This act of atonement was performed once a year on the Day of Atonement, when the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies carrying a portable incense burner that provided a protective cloud of smoke. The altar of incense, therefore, served as a symbol of the intercession of Christ, representing the work of prayer that the Israelites offered unto the Lord.
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The incense was burned with fire from the altar of burnt offerings
The altar of incense was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. It had four "horns", one at each corner, similar to the altar of sacrifice in the courtyard. The altar of incense was placed before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. On the other side of the veil was the Ark of the Testimony, where the presence of God was. Aaron was instructed to burn incense on the altar each morning and at twilight, every day, as a regular offering to the Lord.
The incense was always to be burned with fire from the altar of burnt offerings, located outside the sanctuary. The altar of incense was never to be used for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or drink offerings. God gave the recipe for making the incense and stipulated that no other incense was to be burned on the altar.
The smoke from the incense symbolized the prayers of God's people constantly ascending before the Lord. In Scripture, incense is often associated with prayer. For example, David prayed, "May my prayer be set before you like incense" (Psalm 141:2). The altar of incense, therefore, can be seen as a symbol of the prayers of God's people, ascending to God as the smoke of the incense ascended in the sanctuary.
The altar of incense was also connected with the sacrificial rituals of Israel. 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 incense altar.
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The incense was made from fine spices
The spices were mixed together and burned on the altar, with the smoke ascending to symbolize that the offerings were going up to God, much like prayers rising up to Him. The altar of incense was placed in the Holy Place, before the veil that separated it from the Holy of Holies. It was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, with four horns, one at each corner.
The altar of incense was purified with the blood of sacrifice, which also served as a reminder of Christ's mediation and sacrifice for our sins. The smoke from the incense symbolized the prayers of God's people, constantly ascending before the Lord. This idea is expressed in Psalm 141:2, where David prays, "Let my prayer be set before you like incense."
The incense, with its fine spices, was a key part of the worship rituals in the tabernacle and temple. It served as a reminder of the constant need for prayer and the importance of having a pure heart before God.
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The incense was burned by priests
The burning of incense at the altar was a task performed by the priests. The altar of incense was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. It was a square with each side measuring 1.5 feet and was 3 feet high. It had four horns protruding from each corner. The incense was burned on the altar every morning and evening, alongside daily burnt offerings. The incense was to be left burning throughout the day and night.
The incense was made from an equal mix of four precious spices: stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense. These spices were mixed and left to smoulder on the altar, producing smoke that symbolised the prayers of the people rising up to God. The smoke from the incense was considered a pleasing aroma to the Lord. The Bible states that "the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God".
The altar of incense was holy and was purified with the blood of sacrifice. The high priest would smear the blood of a sin offering onto the horns of the altar, and pour it out at its base. This was done to atone for the accumulated pollution caused by the people's sins. The altar of incense was also associated with the intercession of Christ, who is our intercessor before God the Father.
The burning of incense at the altar was a symbolic act, representing the prayers of the people and their desire to worship God. The priests who burned the incense served as mediators between the people and God, bringing their prayers into His presence. Today, the role of the priest has been replaced by Jesus Christ, who is our Great High Priest and intercessor.
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The incense was burned in the morning and at twilight
The altar of incense was first mentioned in Exodus chapter 30 as one of the items inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The altar was square-shaped, with each side measuring one cubit (approximately twenty inches or just under two feet). It was made of acia wood and overlaid with gold, and had four horns, one at each corner. The altar of incense was placed before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, where the presence of God was said to be.
The smoke from the incense symbolized the prayers of God's people, constantly ascending before the Lord. In Scripture, incense is often associated with prayer, as seen in Psalm 141:2, where David prays, "May my prayer be set before you like incense." The priests served as mediators between the people and God, symbolically bringing their prayers into the presence of the Most High.
The altar of incense was also connected with the sacrificial rituals of Israel. Atonement had to be made for the altar itself once a year, and the blood of the sin offering was smeared on its horns. The fire used to burn the incense was always taken from the altar of burnt offering outside the sanctuary, and the incense was to be burned according to God's specific instructions.
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Frequently asked questions
The altar of incense was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold.
The top of the altar was square—approximately 1.5 feet per side—and the whole altar was about 3 feet high.
Fine spices were mixed together and burned on the altar day and night. The spices included myrrh, cinnamon, aromatic cane, cassia, and olive oil.
Only priests were allowed to offer incense on the altar, serving as mediators between the people and God.
The smoke from the incense symbolized the prayers of God's people constantly ascending before the Lord.
