Antonio Mcgowan
The altar of incense, also known as the Golden Altar, was constructed from acacia wood and overlaid with gold. It stood a foot and a half square and three feet high, making it the tallest piece of furniture in the Holy Place. The top was encircled by an ornamental gold rim, resembling a crown, with golden horns on each corner. The Bible describes the sweet-smelling aroma that rose from the altar as symbolic of prayer and worship.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Material | Acacia wood overlaid with gold |
| Design | A golden rim like a crown with golden "horns" on each corner |
| Size | 1.5 feet x 1.5 feet x 3 feet |
| Location | Before the veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place |
| Usage | Burning incense, morning and evening |
| Symbolism | Prayer and worship |
| Rituals | Blood applied once a year on the Day of Atonement; no "strange fire" or "alien incense" |
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What You'll Learn
The altar was made from acacia wood and overlaid with gold
The incense altar, also known as the Golden Altar of Incense, was constructed with a specific design and purpose in mind. According to Exodus 30:1, the altar was made from acia wood, also known as "shittim" wood, and overlaid with pure gold. This combination of materials symbolised the purity and authenticity of worship and prayer. The use of gold, in particular, elevated the altar's significance and added to its beauty.
Standing a foot and a half square and three feet high, the incense altar was the tallest piece of furniture in the Holy Place. Its impressive height added to the altar's importance and made it stand out among the other sacred furnishings. The altar featured an ornamental gold rim that circled the top like a crown, with golden "horns" adorning each of its four corners. This design gave the altar a regal and majestic appearance, befitting its sacred purpose.
The construction of the incense altar followed a divine pattern that God revealed to Moses. As instructed, the altar was built with two golden rings placed underneath the rim, likely on the northeast and southwest corners. These rings served a functional purpose, as they were used to insert staves for carrying the altar. The staves themselves were also made of acia wood overlaid with gold, ensuring a consistent and elegant design throughout the altar's construction.
The incense altar played a crucial role in the rituals performed by the priests. According to Exodus 30:34-38, God provided specific instructions to the priests regarding the incense. They were commanded to burn incense morning and evening, filling the Holy Place with its sweet-smelling fragrance. The aroma of the incense symbolised the prayers of the saints, rising up to God like a pleasant offering. The altar stood before the veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place, emphasising its spiritual significance.
The Golden Altar of Incense was not just a physical structure but also held deep symbolic and spiritual meaning. It represented the intercession of Jesus, who mediates between God and humanity, much like the High Priest of the Tabernacle. The burning incense symbolised the prayers of the saints, ascending to God as a sweet fragrance. The altar served as a reminder that through Christ, believers can now approach God's holy presence with full assurance, offering their prayers and worship.
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It stood a foot and a half square and three feet high
The incense altar, also known as the Golden Altar of Incense, stood at a height of three feet and measured a foot and a half square at its base. It was constructed from acia wood, also known as "shittim" wood, and overlaid with pure gold. The altar was the tallest of all the furniture in the Holy Place, where the priest burned incense morning and evening while trimming the lamps.
The design of the incense altar was specified by God and relayed to Moses. It featured an ornamental gold rim at the top, resembling a crown, with golden "horns" at each corner. Two golden rings were placed underneath this rim, possibly on the northeast and southwest corners, for the insertion of staves used to carry the altar. The altar stood before the veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place.
The incense altar was a place of prayer and worship. The Bible often associates incense with prayer, depicting it as a sweet-smelling aroma that is pleasing to God. The smoke from the incense, along with the prayers of the saints, is said to ascend to God.
The priest was responsible for burning a specific mix of spices prescribed by God on the altar. This act of burning incense was a sacred ritual, and the priest had to ensure the altar was ceremonially clean before God. The altar was also associated with the concept of authentic worship and prayer, free from any form of adulteration or contamination.
The Golden Altar of Incense holds symbolic significance, representing the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation and our ability to enter God's holy presence through faith in Him.
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The Bible mentions incense and prayer in the same breath
The practice of burning incense is deeply rooted in the Bible, with specific instructions given to Aaron, the brother of Moses, on how and when to burn incense before the Lord. Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, deviated from these instructions and offered strange fire before the Lord, resulting in their deaths. This incident underscores the importance of following divine directives when it comes to religious rituals involving incense.
The altar of incense played a significant role in the religious life of ancient Israel. It was placed alongside the lampstand and the table of showbread in the Holy Place. While the lampstand and table provided physical necessities like light and bread, the altar of incense represented the spiritual work of prayer offered by the Israelites to the Lord. The act of burning incense served as a reminder to the people of Israel to pray and assured them that their prayers were pleasing to God.
The Bible also mentions the use of a golden censer, held by an angel, to add incense to the prayers of the saints on the golden altar before God's throne. This imagery reinforces the connection between incense and prayer, with the smoke of incense symbolizing the sanctification and elevation of prayers to God. The use of incense in biblical times was not just a cultural practice but a sacred act, linking earthly prayers to the heavenly realm.
The altar of incense, with its unique design and placement, served as a visual and olfactory reminder of the presence of God. The sweet-smelling fragrance of the burning spices, combined with the visual of ascending smoke, created a multi-sensory experience that engaged both the sense of smell and sight. This sensory experience was intended to be a reflection of the spiritual act of prayer, where the faithful offer their petitions and praises to God, trusting that their prayers are heard and accepted.
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The incense was to be burned continually
The incense altar, also known as the Golden Altar of Incense, was to be kept burning continually. According to the Bible, the incense was to be burned perpetually, symbolising the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation. This act of burning incense is often associated with prayer and worship in the Bible.
The altar itself was constructed from acacia wood, also known as "shittim" wood, and overlaid with pure gold. It stood a foot and a half square and three feet high, making it the tallest piece of furniture in the Holy Place. The top of the altar was encircled by a golden rim, resembling a crown, with golden "horns" on each corner. Two golden rings were placed underneath this rim, into which staves made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold could be inserted for carrying the altar.
The priests were responsible for burning the incense on the altar, morning and evening, following God's specific instructions for the mixture of spices and the type of fire to be used. The fire for burning the incense came from the brazen altar, where sacrifices were offered to God.
The sweet-smelling aroma of the burning incense filled the entire holy place and could be detected even outside the gate of the tabernacle, approximately a quarter of a mile away from the Temple during the days of Jesus, according to Jewish tradition.
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The altar was to be ceremonially cleaned with blood once a year
The incense altar, also known as the Golden Altar of Incense, was constructed from acia wood and overlaid with gold. It stood a foot and a half square and three feet high, making it the tallest of all the furniture in the Holy Place. The altar was adorned with an ornamental gold rim and golden "horns" on each corner. Two golden rings were placed underneath the rim for staves to be inserted, allowing the altar to be carried.
The Bible describes the ceremonial cleaning of the incense altar, which was to take place once a year on the Day of Atonement. The priest was responsible for applying blood to the altar, ceremonially cleaning it before God. This ritual is mentioned in Exodus 30:10, and its significance is explained by Wiersbe, who writes, "Even in our praying we can sin!"
The altar of incense held symbolic meaning in prayer and worship. The burning of incense on the altar produced a sweet-smelling fragrance that filled the entire holy place and could be detected from a distance. This aroma is often referred to simply as smoke, but it is described as a pleasant fragrance. The incense symbolised the prayers of the saints, as depicted in Revelation 8:3-4.
The priests were commanded to follow specific instructions regarding the incense and fire used on the altar. The incense had to be "salted" with salt, a symbol of purity and covenant relationship (Ex. 30:35, Lev. 2:13). Additionally, the fire on the altar was to come from the brazen altar, where sacrifices were offered to God (Lev. 6:13). Any deviation from these instructions, such as using strange fire or "alien incense," was considered disobedience and could result in severe consequences, as seen in the case of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:1-6).
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Frequently asked questions
The Incense Altar was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold.
The Incense Altar was a foot and a half square and three feet high.
The incense on the Incense Altar gave off a sweet-smelling aroma or fragrance.
The Incense Altar was a place to adore God and pray that His will be done. The burning incense symbolised the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation and the prayers of believers.
The priests were commanded not to use strange fire or "alien incense" on the altar. They also had to apply blood to the altar once a year on the Day of Atonement to make it ceremonially clean before God.
