Heidi Norton
The altar of incense was a significant part of worship in the tabernacle and temple. It is first mentioned in Exodus 30 as one of the items inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The altar was made of acia wood and overlaid with gold, with four horns at each corner. It was constructed with rings of gold built into it so that it could be carried with acacia wood poles. The incense burned on the altar was made from a specific recipe given by God, and the smoke from the incense symbolized the prayers of God's people rising to Him. The altar of incense was also associated with rituals such as the Day of Atonement, when the high priest would sprinkle blood on its horns and carry a portable incense burner into the Holy of Holies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Materials | Gold and acacia wood |
| Shape | Square top, one cubit per side, two cubits high |
| Transportable | Yes, by poles slipped through its rings |
| Location | Holy Place of the tabernacle, outside the Most Holy Place |
| Usage | Burning incense, symbolizing the prayers of God's people |
| Incense ingredients | Gum resin, onycha, galbanum, frankincense, and salt |
| Incense offering | Only priests could offer incense |
| Incense timing | Burned day and night |
| Rituals | Blood of the offering was smeared on its horns during sin offerings |
| Rituals | High priest carried live coals and incense into the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement |
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What You'll Learn
The altar of incense was made of acia wood and gold
The altar of incense was constructed from acia wood and gold. It was first mentioned in Exodus chapter 30 as one of the items inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The top of the altar was square, with each side measuring one cubit, and the entire altar stood at two cubits tall. A cubit was approximately twenty inches long, or just under two feet. The altar was made of acacia wood and coated in gold. It featured four "horns," one at each corner, akin to the altar of sacrifice in the courtyard.
The altar of incense was designed to be portable, with rings of gold affixed to it. This allowed for acia wood poles to be inserted through the rings for easy transport. The altar was positioned in front of the veil that divided the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. On the opposite side of the veil was the Ark of the Testimony, which housed the presence of God. Aaron was tasked with burning incense on the altar each morning and at twilight as a daily offering to the Lord.
The incense burned on the altar was intended to create a pleasant aroma, filling the air with a sweet fragrance. The smoke rising from the incense symbolized the prayers of God's people, ascending to God in the sanctuary. This belief is reflected in Scripture, where incense is often associated with prayer. For instance, David prayed, "May my prayer be set before you like incense" (Psalm 141:2).
The altar of incense also served a practical purpose in the tabernacle, providing a pleasing scent to the surroundings. Additionally, it played a symbolic role, representing the intercession of Christ. The altar of sacrifice in the courtyard symbolized Christ's death, while the altar of incense in the Holy Place symbolized Christ's mediation on behalf of humanity.
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It was carried with poles of acacia wood
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. It was square at the top, with each side measuring one cubit (approximately twenty inches or just under two feet), and it stood at two cubits high. The altar of incense had four "horns", one at each corner, similar to the altar of sacrifice in the courtyard.
The altar of incense was constructed from acacia wood and overlaid with gold, giving it a rich and ornate appearance befitting the furniture of a king. Rings of gold were also built into the structure, enabling it to be carried with poles made from acacia wood. These poles were slipped through the rings, allowing for easy transportation. This design ensured that the altar could be moved with relative ease, despite its substantial weight due to the gold overlay.
The use of acacia wood for both the altar's construction and the carrying poles highlights the significance of this material in biblical times. Acacia wood was known for its durability and strength, making it a suitable choice for sacred objects that required stability and longevity. The gold overlay added a layer of opulence and symbolic value, as gold was often associated with divinity and royalty.
The altar of incense played a crucial role in the rituals of the Israelites. Aaron, the high priest, was instructed to burn incense on the altar each morning and at twilight as a regular offering to the Lord. The incense was prepared according to a specific recipe given by God, and it was burned with fire taken from the altar of burnt offering outside the sanctuary. The smoke from the incense symbolised the prayers of God's people, constantly ascending before the Lord.
In addition to its functional purpose of scenting the air, the altar of incense held deep symbolic value. It served as a reminder that God desired not just ritualistic adherence but also sincerity of heart from His people. The altar of incense represented the intercession of Christ, mirroring the altar of sacrifice in the courtyard, which symbolised Christ's death on behalf of humanity.
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The incense symbolised the prayers of God's people
The use of incense in Christian worship has its origins in antiquity. The burning of incense may be intended as a symbolic or sacrificial offering to various deities or spirits, or to serve as an aid in prayer. In the Bible, incense is often associated with prayer. David prayed, "May my prayer be set before you like incense" (Psalm 141:2). In his vision of heaven, John saw that the elders around the throne "were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people" (Revelation 5:8; cf. 8:3). As Zechariah the priest was offering incense in the temple in Luke 1:10, "all the assembled worshippers were praying outside".
The altar of incense can be seen as a symbol of the prayers of God's people. Our prayers ascend to God as the smoke of the incense ascended in the sanctuary. As the incense was burned with fire from the altar of burnt offerings, our prayers must be kindled with heaven's grace. The fact that the incense was always burning meant that people should always pray (Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). The smoke from the incense, constantly rising from the altar, came to symbolize the prayers of God's people constantly ascending before the Lord.
In the tabernacle, incense could only be offered by the priests, who thus served as mediators between the people and God, symbolically bringing their prayers into the presence of the Most High. The altar of incense was situated before the mercy seat of the Ark—a picture of our Advocate's standing in the presence of the Father (Hebrews 7:25; 9:24). The incense was to be burning continually on the altar of incense, which shows the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation. Christ's intercession on our behalf is a sweet-smelling savour to God. It is beautiful to know that God considers the prayers of believers to be like a sweet smell of incense.
The altar of incense was also holy to the Lord and was atoned for with the blood of the sacrifice; it is the blood of Christ applied to our hearts that makes our prayers acceptable. Our prayers are holy because of Jesus' sacrifice, and therefore they are pleasing to God. The altar of incense can also be seen as a picture of the intercession of Christ. Just as the altar of sacrifice in the courtyard was a type of Christ's death on our behalf, the altar of incense in the Holy Place was a type of Christ's mediation on our behalf—Christ's work on earth and in heaven.
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The altar was purified with blood
The altar, a central feature of religious worship, has been a significant element in the rituals of various faiths. The altar of incense, in particular, is mentioned in the Bible, specifically in Exodus chapter 30 as one of the items inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle. This altar was constructed from acacia wood and overlaid with gold, standing at two cubits high with a square top that was one cubit per side. It featured four "horns," one at each corner, and gold rings at the sides, which allowed it to be carried with acacia wood poles.
The altar of incense was not to be used for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or drink offerings. Instead, it served a symbolic and sensory role, providing a pleasant fragrance and symbolising the prayers of God's people. The smoke from the incense, constantly rising, represented the constant ascent of prayers to God.
Now, to the heart of the matter: the purification of the altar with blood. This act held great significance in biblical times and was a ritual performed to cleanse and sanctify the altar. The blood used in this purification ritual was typically obtained from sacrifices, specifically sin offerings.
In the case of the Altar of Burnt Offering, Moses purified it by anointing its four horns with the blood of a bullock offered as a sin offering. This act of purification is described in Leviticus 8:14-15, where the blood was also poured at the altar's base to sanctify it and make reconciliation.
The Altar of Incense, being "most holy to the Lord," was also purified with blood. On the Day of Atonement, the high priest would place blood on the horns of this altar to cleanse it. This ritual is mentioned in Leviticus 4:3-7 and Exodus 30:10, and it involved smearing the blood of a sin offering on the altar's horns and pouring the rest at its base.
Additionally, during the Festival of Lights, after the desecration of the temple by Antiochus, Judas Maccabeus and his followers purified the altar and restored sacred implements, rekindling the lampstand and burning incense.
The application of blood to the altar was a symbolic act, representing the atoning sacrifice and serving to assure the worshippers of God's acceptance of their offerings. It is also reminiscent of the ultimate sacrifice of Christ's blood, which enables believers to approach God without fear, as mentioned in Hebrews 9:11-14.
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It was placed in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle
The Altar of Incense, also called the Golden Altar or the Inner Altar, was placed in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. This was the indoor altar and stood in front of the Holy of Holies, which was the inner sanctuary. The Holy Place contained a gold lampstand or candlestick, a table with showbread, and the Menorah. The Holy of Holies, on the other hand, contained the Ark of the Covenant, with its mercy seat.
The Altar of Incense was constructed of shittim wood (Vachellia and Faidherbia species) and covered in pure gold. It was an upright rectangular stand, measuring one cubit wide, one cubit deep, and two cubits high, with a "'horn' on each corner, a border of gold around the top, and rings on opposite sides through which poles could be passed to carry it. The poles were made of shittim wood covered with gold. Moses consecrated the altar with the anointing oil when the Tabernacle was dedicated.
Incense was burned daily on this altar at the time of the morning and evening sacrifices. The coals used on this altar had to be taken from the Altar of Burnt Offerings, which was the first of the two altars mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. The incense used had to be made according to a specific formula (Exodus 30:34–35), and no other incense was permitted. According to Jewish tradition, the incense was made by the Avtinas family, who closely guarded its secret. The offering of incense also had to be seasoned with salt.
The Altar of Incense was purified once a year on Yom Kippur. The High Priest would offer incense in the Holy of Holies after sacrificing a bull and a goat and purifying the area with their blood.
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Frequently asked questions
The altar of incense was outfitted with poles that were slipped through rings of gold built into the altar, so that it could be transported.
The altar of incense was made of gold and acacia wood.
The altar of incense was filled with a mixture of gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense, all in equal amounts, along with salt.
