Katrina Rosales
The altar of incense was considered a holy site in the temple where God resided above the Ark of the Covenant. Priests would offer incense on the golden altar in the morning and evening, so a sweet-smelling smoke issued forth day and night. The incense was burned with fire from the altar of burnt offerings, and the smoke from the incense was believed to carry the prayers of the people to God. The altar of incense was made with gold and acacia wood, and it was situated before the mercy seat of the Ark. The incense offering in Judaism was an important component of priestly liturgy in the Temple in Jerusalem.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Holy Place/Holy of Holies in the Temple |
| Materials | Gold and acacia wood |
| Components | 4 according to the Book of Exodus, 11 according to the Talmud |
| Spices | Stacte, onycha, galbanum, frankincense, myrrh, cassia, spikenard, saffron, costus, aromatic bark, cinnamon |
| Purpose | Symbol of the prayers of God's people |
| Ritual | Performed by priests, once in their lifetime |
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What You'll Learn
The incense offering was made in the Holy Place
The offering of incense was a sacred and important component of priestly liturgy in the Temple in Jerusalem. The incense offering was made in the Holy Place, where the most solemn of the day's ceremonies took place. The altar of incense was situated in the Holy Place, before the mercy seat of the Ark, which represented Christ's mediation on behalf of humanity.
The incense offering was made by priests, and only by priests. Priests would refill the special mixture of incense on the golden altar in the morning and evening, so a sweet-smelling smoke issued from it day and night. The incense was burned with fire taken from the altar of burnt offerings outside the sanctuary. The incense offering was a symbol of the prayers of God's people, as incense is often associated with prayer in Scripture.
The altar of incense was made with materials fit for a king—gold and acacia wood. It was also outfitted with poles by which it could be transported. The incense was to be burned continuously on the altar of incense, which shows the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation. The sweet-smelling smoke from the incense rising above the veil and filling the inner Holy of Holies symbolised the prayers of the faithful rising to God.
The recipe for the sacred incense was prescribed by God to Moses and included costly materials contributed by the congregation. The Book of Exodus describes the recipe as including sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense, with each spice weighing the same amount. The rabbis of the Talmud expanded the description of the recipe from four ingredients to eleven ingredients.
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The incense was burned on a golden altar
The altar of incense was situated in the Holy Place of the temple, before the mercy seat of the Ark. It was made of gold and acacia wood, with carrying poles that allowed it to be transported. The incense was burned on this golden altar, and the smoke that rose from it symbolised the prayers of the people rising to God.
The altar of incense was a sacred site, and only priests could approach it. The incense was burned on the altar morning and evening, and the fragrant odour rose above the veil and filled the inner Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant sat. The priests would sprinkle aromatic spices on the burning coals of the altar. The only spice we are certain was used is frankincense, which was also brought to Jesus by the Magi.
The recipe for the incense was prescribed by God to Moses and included costly materials contributed by the congregation. The Book of Exodus describes the recipe as containing "sweet spices, stacte, onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight". The rabbis of the Talmud expanded this description to include 11 ingredients, with Rabbi Nathan of Babylon adding a minute amount of Jordan amber. The incense was compounded by Eleazar, and later by Aaron and his sons.
The burning of incense was a holy ritual, and the altar was considered "most holy to the Lord". Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would put blood on the horns of the altar to cleanse it. This was a once-in-a-lifetime honour for a priest, and the chosen priest would be called "rich" thereafter.
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The incense was made from costly, sweet-smelling materials
The altar of incense was situated in the Holy Place of the temple, before the mercy seat of the Ark. The incense was burned on a golden altar, which was made with materials fit for a king—gold and acacia wood. The altar of incense was considered part of the Holy of Holies, where God resided in the Temple above the Ark of the Covenant.
> 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 you.
Eleven kinds of spices were used in the incense, including stacte, onycha, galbanum, frankincense, myrrh, cassia, spikenard, and saffron. Rabbi Nathan of Babylon adds that a minute amount of Jordan amber was also used. The incense was made by grinding the spices into a fine powder and then mixing them with various sweet-smelling essential oils.
The incense was burned morning and evening, so a sweet-smelling smoke issued from it day and night. The fragrant odour rose above the veil and filled the inner Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant sat. The smoke reminded the people that their prayers were constantly being carried to God.
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The incense offering was a once-in-a-lifetime honour for priests
The offering of incense was a sacred ritual in Judaism, performed in the Temple in Jerusalem during the Tabernacle and the First and Second Temple periods. The incense altar was situated in the Holy Place, the end of the Holy compartment of the Tabernacle, next to the curtain dividing it from the Most Holy. The incense offering was considered a holy act of mediation between God and man, with the smoke from the altar symbolising the rising of the people's prayers to God.
The Book of Exodus and the Talmud provide differing lists of ingredients for the incense, with the Talmud listing seven additional components from the oral Torah. The preparation of the incense was a meticulous process, with Rabbi Shimon ben Gamaliel providing specific instructions for grinding and mixing the spices. The offering of incense was a solemn ceremony, with priests and people prostrating before the Lord in prayer and thanksgiving.
The altar of incense was constructed with gold and acacia wood, and it was considered part of the Holy of Holies, where God resided in the Temple above the Ark of the Covenant. The altar was also referred to as the "most holy to the Lord" and was adorned with horns upon which the priests would sprinkle aromatic spices. The altar of incense was distinct from the brazen altar, which was used for animal sacrifices, and it held a higher level of sanctity.
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The incense offering was a symbol of prayer
The offering of incense was a sacred duty performed by the priests in the Temple. The altar of incense was located in the Holy Place, the innermost sanctuary of the Temple, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. This was the most sacred place in the Temple, where God's presence resided.
The priests taught that the incense offering symbolised the prayers of the people being accepted by God. The sweet-smelling smoke from the altar of incense reminded the people that their prayers were constantly being carried up to God. The incense offering was considered a holy act, performed only by the priests, and it was seen as a privilege and a great honour to be chosen for this task.
The altar of incense was constructed with materials fit for a king, such as gold and acacia wood. It was also adorned with horns, symbolising the strength and prevailing nature of God as our Intercessor and Offerer. The incense itself was made from a special mixture of costly and fragrant spices, including frankincense, myrrh, and cinnamon. The recipe for this sacred incense was prescribed by God and was carefully prepared by the priests.
The incense offering was a significant part of the daily rituals in the Temple. Priests would refill the altar with incense in the morning and evening, ensuring that the sweet-smelling smoke rose continuously. This symbolised the perpetual nature of prayer and the constant mediation of Christ on behalf of humanity.
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Frequently asked questions
Priests offered incense at the altar of incense, situated in the Holy Place.
The altar of incense was made of gold and acacia wood.
The altar of incense was a type of Christ’s mediation on behalf of the people. The smoke from the incense symbolised the prayers of the people rising to God.
