Antonio Mcgowan
The altar of incense is a religious artifact that has been referenced in several holy books, including the Bible. The location of this altar has been a topic of debate, with some sources claiming it was situated in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle, before the veil that separated it from the Holy of Holies. However, other sources, such as the Book of Hebrews, suggest that the altar was located in the Most Holy Place or Holy of Holies itself. This contradiction has led to various interpretations and attempts to reconcile the differences, with some emphasizing the theological significance rather than the physical location of the altar.
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What You'll Learn
The altar of incense in the Old Testament
The altar of incense is first mentioned in the Bible 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 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 altar of incense was placed before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Testimony was located. Aaron was instructed to burn incense on the altar each morning and at twilight as a regular offering to the Lord. The recipe for the incense was given by God, and no other incense was to be burned on the altar.
The altar of incense was also called the Golden Altar and the Inner Altar. It stood in front of the Holy of Holies and was constructed of shittim wood, covered in pure gold. The altar was an upright rectangular stand, measuring one cubit wide, one cubit deep, and two cubits high. The poles used to carry the altar were also made of shittim wood covered with gold. The Kohathites were the Levites responsible for moving and setting up the altar.
The burning of incense on the altar was symbolic of the prayers of the people rising up to God. Incense was made of costly materials that the congregation contributed, and it was burned daily at the time of the morning and evening sacrifices. The coals used to burn the incense had to be taken from the Altar of Burnt Offerings, and the incense itself had to be made according to a specific formula. According to Jewish tradition, the incense was made by the Avtinas family, who closely guarded its secret.
Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would put blood on the horns of the altar of incense to cleanse it. This was done after sacrificing a bull and a goat and purifying the Holy of Holies with their blood. The altar of incense was considered “most holy to the Lord”. In the New Testament, incense is mentioned in John's vision of the throne, where golden bowls full of incense symbolize the prayers of the saints.
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The altar of incense in the book of Hebrews
The book of Hebrews in the Bible has been a subject of debate among critics, who accuse the writer of contradicting the Old Testament with reference to the location of the "altar of incense". The critics point out that while the Bible, in Exodus 40:26, states that the "golden altar" was in the holy place of the tabernacle, in front of the veil, the book of Hebrews (9:3-4) suggests that the altar of incense was in the most holy place, behind the second veil.
However, supporters of the writer of Hebrews argue that the author was not stressing the location of the altar of incense but rather its theological connection with the most holy place of the tabernacle. They claim that the altar was described in a spatial sense in the Exodus passage but in a theological sense in the context of Hebrews. This interpretation is supported by the fact that the altar of incense was used much more frequently than once a year, as indicated in other Scriptures (Lev 4:7; Exod 30:7-8), and that the incense offered daily would float into the Holy of Holies, symbolizing the prayers of the people rising up to God.
Furthermore, the Greek text of Hebrews 9:4 speaks of a golden "thumiaterion" for the burning of incense, which can denote either a place or a vessel used for burning incense. Thus, some argue that the writer of Hebrews referred to a "censer" kept within the holy of holies rather than the "altar" itself. This interpretation aligns with the instructions in Leviticus 16:12-13, which describe the annual use of a censer to convey coals from the altar into the most holy place.
The close relationship between the altar of incense and the Holy of Holies is further confirmed by 1 Kings 6:22, which states that the altar of incense belongs to the Holy of Holies. Additionally, the altar of incense can be seen as a symbol of Christ's mediation on our behalf, just as the altar of sacrifice in the courtyard represented Christ's death. This theological interpretation of the altar of incense in Hebrews aligns with the author's tendency to argue from a theological perspective and harmonizes the apparent contradiction in the location descriptions.
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The theological significance of the altar of incense
The altar of incense is a highly significant element of the tabernacle, with a rich theological meaning. Its significance is not merely functional or decorative, but it holds a deeper spiritual importance.
The altar of incense is first mentioned in Exodus 30, where it is described as one of the items inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle, located before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. The altar itself was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, with four "horns" at each corner. The altar of incense was to be purified by sprinkling blood on it, and only authorized incense, made from a specific recipe, could be burned on it.
Theologically, the altar of incense is often associated with prayer. The smoke rising from the incense is seen as a symbol of the prayers of God's people ascending to God. This symbolism is expressed in Psalm 141:2, where David prays, "Let my prayer be set before you as incense." Similarly, in Revelation 5:8, John describes the elders in heaven holding "golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people." The constant burning of incense on the altar reminds God's people to pray and assures them that their prayers are pleasing to God.
The altar of incense also serves as a picture of the intercession of Christ. Just as the altar of incense was purified by the blood of sacrifice, so our prayers are made acceptable to God through the sacrifice of Jesus. The altar of incense, therefore, represents the mediation of Christ on our behalf—His work on earth and in heaven.
Furthermore, the altar of incense is closely connected to the Holy of Holies, the most holy place in the tabernacle. While there are differing interpretations of whether the altar was located inside or outside the Holy of Holies, some scholars suggest that the reference to the altar in Hebrews 9:4 should be understood theologically rather than as a statement about its physical location. The altar of incense symbolizes the prayers of God's people drifting into the presence of God in the Holy of Holies.
In conclusion, the altar of incense holds significant theological importance in the Bible. It serves as a symbol of prayer, a reminder to pray, and a representation of the intercession of Christ and the mediation between God and His people. The altar of incense's connection to the Holy of Holies further emphasizes its role as a bridge between the earthly and the divine.
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The altar of incense and the Holy of Holies
The altar of incense is a highly significant structure in the Bible. It is first mentioned in Exodus chapter 30 as one of the items inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The Bible describes the altar as being made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. It stood at two cubits high and one cubit wide on each side, forming a square at the top. The altar also had four "horns", one on each corner, and rings of gold were built into it so that it could be carried with poles of acacia wood.
The placement of the altar of incense has been a subject of debate among critics and scholars. Some interpret the book of Hebrews (9:3-4) as suggesting that the altar of incense was located in the Holy of Holies, the most holy place. However, this contradicts other passages in the Bible, such as Exodus 40:26 and others, which indicate that the altar was in the holy place of the tabernacle, in front of the veil separating it from the Holy of Holies.
The altar of incense is closely associated with the Holy of Holies. In God's instructions for the altar, Israel was told to place it outside the Holy of Holies, separated by a curtain (Exodus 30:6, 40:5). The incense offered on the altar would float into the Holy of Holies, symbolising the prayers of the people rising up to God. This interpretation aligns with the theological significance of the altar of incense rather than a strict locational mandate.
The altar of incense played a crucial role in the rituals of the Israelites. Aaron, and later the priests, were instructed to burn incense on the altar each morning and at twilight as a regular offering to the Lord (Exodus 30:7-8). The incense used was made according to a specific recipe given by God (Exodus 30:34-38), and the fire for burning the incense was taken from the altar of burnt offering outside the sanctuary (Leviticus 16:12). Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would cleanse the altar by putting blood on its horns (Exodus 30:10, Leviticus 16).
The altar of incense holds symbolic and spiritual significance in the Bible. It is referred to as "most holy to the Lord" (Exodus 30:10), and its use extended beyond mere ritual. The burning of incense symbolised the prayers of God's people rising up like fragrant smoke before God (Psalm 141:2, Revelation 5:8). The altar also represented the intercession of Christ, just as the altar of sacrifice depicted His death on our behalf (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
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The altar of incense and the tabernacle
The altar of incense is a golden altar first mentioned in Exodus chapter 30 as one of the items inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The altar was square at the top, with each side measuring one cubit (approximately twenty inches or two feet), and a height of two cubits. It was constructed of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. The altar featured four "horns", one at each corner, and rings of gold were built into its sides, through which poles of acacia wood could be slipped for transportation. According to Exodus 30:7-8, Aaron was instructed to burn incense on the altar each morning and at twilight as a daily offering to the Lord.
The altar of incense is closely associated with the Holy of Holies, also known as the Most Holy Place. This association is supported by verses such as Exodus 30:6 and 40:5, which describe the altar's relationship to the Holy of Holies. The smoke from the incense symbolized the prayers of God's people rising up before God, as mentioned in Psalm 141:2 and Revelation 5:8. However, there is some debate regarding the exact location of the altar of incense. While Exodus 40:26 places the golden altar in the holy place of the tabernacle, in front of the veil separating it from the Holy of Holies, Hebrews 9:3-4 suggests that the altar was located in the Most Holy Place itself.
Some critics have pointed out this apparent contradiction, accusing the writer of Hebrews of inaccuracy. However, others argue that the writer of Hebrews was emphasizing the theological connection between the altar and the Most Holy Place rather than providing a literal description of its location. This interpretation is supported by the fact that the altar of incense was used more frequently than just once a year, as mentioned in Leviticus 4:7 and Exodus 30:7-8. Additionally, the high priest was the only person allowed to enter the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement, and even then, he would carry a portable incense burner to create a protective cloud of smoke, as described in Leviticus 16:12-13.
The altar of incense holds significant symbolic value in the Bible. It represents the prayers of God's people rising up to God, as seen in the visions of heaven described in Revelation 5:8 and Luke 1:10. The smoke from the incense, constantly ascending from the altar, symbolizes the constant offering of prayers to God. Furthermore, the altar also serves as a reminder of God's desire for his people to have pure hearts and lives, not just perform rituals, as mentioned in Isaiah 1:13.
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Frequently asked questions
The altar of incense is located in the Holy Place of the tabernacle, in front of the veil that separates the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies.
The book of Hebrews describes the altar of incense as being located in the Holy of Holies.
Some critics have accused the writer of Hebrews of contradicting Exodus. However, others argue that the writer of Hebrews was emphasizing the theological connection between the altar of incense and the Holy of Holies rather than its physical location.
