Lance Carson
The burning of incense has been a prominent part of religious and spiritual ceremonies across many cultures and religions. Censers, or incense burners, have been made from a variety of materials, including gold, silver, bronze, brass, ceramics, and porcelain. In the Christian tradition, the smoke from incense symbolizes the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven. In the Old Testament, the altar of incense in the Tabernacle was made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. The incense offered on this altar was composed of costly spices and perfumes, including stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense. The priest burned incense on this altar twice daily, at morning and twilight, as a regular offering to the Lord.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Materials | Gold, acacia wood, sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, frankincense |
| Shape | Square top, four "horns" at each corner |
| Dimensions | 1 cubit per side, 2 cubits high (a cubit is about 20 inches or just under 2 feet) |
| Location | Holy Place of the Tabernacle, before the veil separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies |
| Usage | Burning incense as an offering to the Lord, symbolizing prayer |
| Rituals | Incense burned morning and evening by Aaron or the priest, with coals from the altar of burnt offering |
| Religious Significance | Represents the intercession of Christ, the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation, and the prayers of the saints |
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What You'll Learn
The tabernacle incense censors were made of gold
The burning of incense has been a prominent part of religious and spiritual ceremonies, and the censer has come to signify the sacredness of these proceedings. Censers are named and described in multiple places in the Bible.
The Tabernacle had three holy vessels: a table of showbread, a menorah, and the golden altar of incense. The burning of incense in the Tabernacle was connected to the menorah, the source of illumination inside the Holy Place. The light of the menorah illuminated the Tabernacle, just as the spirit of the Lord illuminates our souls with wisdom, discernment, and direction.
The incense burned on the golden altar was made of costly materials that the congregation contributed. The Book of Exodus describes the recipe as including sweet spices, stacte, onycha, and galbanum, with pure frankincense. The incense was burned morning and evening, and the smoke symbolized the prayers of God's people constantly ascending before the Lord.
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The censors were carried by priests
The altar of incense was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, with four "horns" at each corner. It was placed before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Testimony resided. Aaron was instructed to burn incense on the altar each morning and at twilight as an offering to the Lord.
The censors themselves were often made of materials such as adobe, plumbate, and earthenware, and they were decorated with religious symbols. In some traditions, the censer with bells is used only by a bishop, and it is brought to the priest or bishop for a blessing before use. During a full censing of the temple, the priest or deacon will often say Psalm 51 quietly to themselves.
The act of burning incense is associated with prayer, as seen in David's prayer, "May my prayer be set before you like incense" (Psalm 141:2). The smoke of incense in the tabernacle is often interpreted as symbolizing the prayers of God's people ascending to Heaven.
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The censors were placed in the Holy Place
The incense altar was situated at the end of the Holy Place, next to the curtain dividing it from the Most Holy. The altar of incense was made of acacia wood and 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 acacia wood poles.
The incense offering was an important component of priestly liturgy in the Temple in Jerusalem. The sacred incense was made from costly materials contributed by the congregation, including sweet spices, stacte, onycha, and galbanum. Incense is often associated with prayer in Scripture, and it is believed that the smoke of incense in the tabernacle signifies offered prayer.
The altar of incense was holy to the Lord, and it was atoned for with the blood of sacrifice. The fire used to burn the incense was always taken from the altar of burnt offering outside the sanctuary, and it was never to be used for a burnt offering, grain offering, or drink offering. Aaron was instructed to burn incense on the altar each morning and at twilight as a regular offering to the Lord.
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The censors were used in the morning and evening
The censors were used twice daily, with Goliath coming out to taunt the army of Saul during the scheduled times of prayer. The incense was burned on a golden altar, and the sweet-smelling aroma filled the holy place. The censors were used in the morning when Aaron "set in order" or dressed the individual lamps of the Menorah, and again in the evening when he lit the lamps. The coals for burning the incense came from the Altar of Burnt Sacrifice.
The incense was made from costly materials contributed by the congregation. The recipe for the sacred incense is described in the Book of Exodus: "Take unto yourself sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be an equal weight". The incense was beaten very small, and the smoke ascended before God.
The altar of incense was situated in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle, before the veil that separated it from the Holy of Holies. The altar was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. It was square, with each side measuring one cubit (approximately twenty inches or just under two feet), and it was two cubits high. The altar had four "horns", one at each corner, and rings of gold were built into it so that it could be carried with poles of acacia wood.
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The censors were used to collect coals from the altar
Censers, or fire holders, were used to collect coals from the altar of burnt offerings, which was located outside the sanctuary. The censer was then filled with incense, which was burned inside the tabernacle. Censers were made of bronze or brass for daily use, and gold for use on the Day of Atonement.
The altar of incense was located inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle, and was constructed from acacia wood overlaid with gold. It was two cubits high, with a square top that was one cubit on each side. The altar had four "horns" at each corner, and gold rings at the sides through which poles of acacia wood could be slipped for carrying.
The incense burned on the altar was made from costly materials contributed by the congregation. The recipe for the sacred incense is described in the Book of Exodus:
> Take unto yourself sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: And you shall make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together [salted], pure and holy: And you shall beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with...
The burning of incense on the altar is often associated with prayer. In Scripture, incense is used as a symbol of the prayers of God's people, ascending to God as the smoke of the incense ascends in the sanctuary. The perpetual burning of incense on the altar symbolises the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation.
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Frequently asked questions
Censers were made from a variety of metals, including gold, silver, and copper alloys like bronze and brass. The specific metal used often depended on economic conditions, military might, and trade activities.
During the Song dynasty in China (960–1279), incense burners were often made of ceramics or porcelain, with a focus on minimal styling and simple forms.
In medieval Christian art, censers were commonly made of metal and hung from chains, allowing them to be swung during liturgical rites.
In modern times, censers can be made from a variety of materials, including metals such as gold, silver, and brass, as well as ceramics and porcelain. The choice of material often reflects cultural and religious symbolism associated with incense burning.
