Seamus Hammond
The altar of incense is a gold-plated acacia wood structure mentioned in Exodus 30 as one of the items inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The altar of incense was filled with a special mixture of incense, which was burned in the morning and evening to create a sweet-smelling smoke. This practice symbolised the people's prayers rising to God and served as a reminder to the Israelites of the importance of prayer. The incense also had a practical purpose, as it masked any unpleasant odours.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First mentioned in | Exodus chapter 30 |
| Size | 18 inches (1 cubit) square by 36 inches (2 cubits) high |
| Materials | Acacia wood and gold |
| Features | Four "horns" at each corner, gold rings and poles |
| Location | Tabernacle, Holy Place, outside the Most Holy Place |
| Purpose | To scent the air, to symbolise prayer |
| Incense | A special mixture, made from God's recipe |
| Incense offering | Morning and evening |
| Symbolism | The prayers of God's people rising to God |
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What You'll Learn
- The altar of incense was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold
- It was placed outside the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies
- The incense symbolised the prayers of God's people
- It was a continuous act, reminding the Israelites to pray
- Only authorised incense could be offered on the altar
The altar of incense was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold
The altar of incense was a significant component of the Holy Place, mentioned in Exodus chapter 30. It stood alongside the lampstand and the table of showbread, and was constructed from acacia wood and overlaid with gold. The altar was relatively small, measuring about 18 inches square and 36 inches high. It featured a square top, with each side measuring one cubit, and a total height of two cubits. In the Bible, a cubit is described as approximately twenty inches, or just under two feet.
The altar of incense was built with four "horns", one at each corner, similar to the altar of sacrifice in the courtyard. The horns played a crucial role in the sacrificial rituals of Israel. On the Day of Atonement, the high priest would smear the horns with the blood of a sin offering, symbolising the need for atonement and cleansing before God. This ritual is described in Leviticus 4:3-7 and Leviticus 16:12.
The altar of incense was also designed with rings of gold built into its structure. These rings served a functional purpose, allowing the altar to be carried using acacia wood poles that were slipped through the rings. This mobility enabled the altar to be transported when the entire tabernacle moved.
The construction of the altar of incense from acacia wood and gold is significant. The use of gold, a material fit for a king, underscores the holiness and importance of the altar. The sweet-smelling incense that filled the Holy Place symbolised the prayers of God's people rising up to heaven, as mentioned in Psalm 141:2, Revelation 5:8, and other biblical passages. The altar of incense, with its unique design and symbolism, served as a constant reminder to the Israelites of the central role that prayer should play in their lives.
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It was placed outside the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies
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, with four "horns", one at each corner. It was placed before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies.
The placement of the altar of incense outside the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies holds symbolic significance. This arrangement allowed the incense offered on the altar to float into the Holy of Holies, symbolizing the prayers of the people rising up to God. The smoke from the incense constantly rising from the altar represented the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation and the prayers of God's people constantly ascending before the Lord.
In addition to its symbolic role, the altar of incense also served a practical purpose. It pleasantly scented the air, providing a sensory experience for those in the tabernacle. The sweet-smelling incense offered on the altar is likened to the pleasing nature of the prayers of believers before God.
The altar of incense was associated with the sacrificial rituals of Israel. On the Day of Atonement, the high priest would smear the blood of the sin offering on the horns of the altar of incense for cleansing. This act symbolized the atoning sacrifice of Christ, through whose blood believers can approach God with their prayers.
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The incense symbolised the prayers of God's people
The altar of incense is 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 square-topped, two cubits high, and made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. It had four "horns", one at each corner, and rings of gold built into it so that it could be carried with poles of acacia wood.
The Bible states that the high priest was to burn incense on the altar each morning and at twilight as a regular offering to the Lord. The incense was burned with fire from the altar of burnt offerings, and the smoke from the incense symbolised the prayers of God's people, constantly ascending before the Lord. In Scripture, incense is often associated with prayer. For example, in Psalm 141:2, David prays: "May my prayer be set before you like incense".
The altar of incense served a practical purpose of pleasantly scenting the air, but it also had a symbolic role. The smoke from the incense, constantly rising from the altar, symbolised the prayers of God's people ascending to God. The priests who offered the incense served as mediators between the people and God, bringing their prayers into God's presence. The incense also had a protective function, creating a cloud of smoke that shielded the high priest from the direct presence of God, ensuring their survival.
The Bible gives specific instructions for the blend of incense to be burned, which included plant and shellfish extracts, sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense, with the addition of salt to prevent decay and symbolise the purity of the ingredients. God stipulated that no other incense was to be burned on the altar and that the altar was not to be used for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or drink offerings. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would put the blood of a sacrificed goat on the horns of the altar to ceremonially purify it from sin.
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It was a continuous act, reminding the Israelites to pray
The altar of incense was a significant part of the Holy Place of the Tabernacle, mentioned in Exodus 30. It was a small structure, about 18 inches square and 36 inches high, constructed from acacia wood and overlaid with gold. The altar was adorned with four "horns" at each corner, similar to the altar of sacrifice, and gold rings on either side, through which acacia poles could be slipped for transportation.
The incense burnt on the altar was made from a special mixture of fine spices, including myrrh, cinnamon, aromatic cane, and cassia, blended with olive oil. Priests would refill the incense in the morning and evening, so a sweet-smelling smoke issued from it day and night. This continuous act symbolised the prayers of God's people, constantly ascending before the Lord.
The smoke from the altar of incense filled the Tabernacle with a fragrant odour, which would rise above the veil and fill the inner Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant sat. The scent would sometimes waft outside into the Tabernacle court, where the people offered sacrifices. This reminded the Israelites that prayer must play a central role in their lives, and assured them that their prayers were sweet-smelling to the Lord.
The altar of incense was also connected with the sacrificial rituals of Israel. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would smear the horns of the altar with blood to cleanse it. This symbolised the need for atonement through Christ's sacrifice, which makes our prayers acceptable to God.
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Only authorised incense could be offered on the altar
The altar of incense was a significant part of the Holy Place of the Tabernacle, mentioned in Exodus 30. It was constructed out of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, with four "horns" at each corner, similar to the altar of sacrifice. It was relatively small, about 18 inches square and 36 inches high. The incense altar served a practical purpose by pleasantly scenting the air, but it also held deep symbolic value.
The incense burned on the altar symbolised the prayers of God's people rising to heaven. In Scripture, incense is often associated with prayer. For example, in Psalm 141:2, David prays, "May my prayer be set before you like incense". The sweet-smelling smoke from the incense represented the people's prayers ascending to God, and the fact that the incense was always burning served as a reminder to pray without ceasing.
God gave specific instructions for the construction and use of the altar of incense, emphasising the importance of exclusivity in worship. Only authorised incense, made from a special mixture of fine spices, could be offered on the altar. God stipulated that no other incense should ever be burned on the altar, and those who disobeyed were punished. This exclusivity highlights God's zeal for determining how He is worshipped and underscores the importance of approaching Him through Christ Jesus.
The altar of incense was also connected with sacrificial rituals. On the Day of Atonement, the high priest would smear the blood of the sin offering on the horns of the altar to cleanse it. This ritual symbolised Christ's mediation and the need for atonement through His sacrifice.
In summary, the altar of incense played a significant role in the Tabernacle, serving both practical and symbolic purposes. The burning of authorised incense symbolised the prayers of God's people and emphasised the importance of prayer. The exclusivity of the incense used on the altar underscores God's desire for worship according to His commands and points to the necessity of approaching Him through Christ.
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Frequently asked questions
The altar of incense is a gold-covered acacia wood structure mentioned in Exodus 30. It was placed in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle, outside the Most Holy Place.
The altar of incense served a practical purpose of scenting the air. It also symbolised the Israelites' prayers rising to God in heaven.
Only a specific mixture of incense authorised by God could be offered on the altar. The recipe for this incense was given by God and included cinnamon, myrrh, aromatic cane, cassia and olive oil.
Only priests could offer incense on the altar, serving as mediators between the people and God.
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