Seamus Hammond
Zechariah, a priest, was chosen by lot to enter the Temple of the Lord and burn incense. This was considered a prestigious task, as the altar of incense was placed right in front of the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, where God resided. The incense was burned upon a small golden altar in the centre of the sanctuary, and the smoke rising from the altar symbolized the prayers of God's people rising before the Lord.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for burning incense | To mask unpleasant odours of livestock and unwashed bodies |
| Who chose Zechariah | Chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood |
| Location of the altar | In the Holy Place in the temple |
| Incense ingredients | Gum resin, onycha, galbanum, frankincense, and salt |
| Symbolism | The smoke rising from the altar symbolized the prayers of God's people rising before the Lord |
| Prestige | Participating in the burning of the incense was considered a prestigious task for a priest |
| Frequency | The incense was burned each morning and evening |
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What You'll Learn
Zechariah was chosen by lot to burn incense
Zechariah was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to burn incense in the temple of the Lord. This was considered a prestigious task, and a priest could perform this task only once in his lifetime. The altar of incense was placed right in front of the veil that separated the holy place from the holy of holies. It was as close to the presence of God as any piece of furniture in the temple could be.
The altar of incense was made of acia wood and overlaid with gold. It had a horn in each corner, two rings of gold for transportation, and a crown of gold. The altar was situated in the holy of holies, where God resided in the temple above the Ark of the Covenant. The smoke rising from the altar symbolized the prayers of God's people rising before the Lord.
The incense was burned on coals, and the priests would sprinkle three aromatic spices, including frankincense, on the coals. The incense was burned each morning and each evening, and the sweet-smelling smoke filled the air day and night.
Zechariah's task of burning incense was a sacred duty, and it is said that an angel of the Lord appeared to him while he was performing this task.
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The incense was burned in the sanctuary
The burning of incense was a sacred and prestigious task for a priest. The altar of incense was considered part of the holy of holies, where God resided in the Temple above the Ark of the Covenant. The altar was made of acia wood and gold, with a crown of gold, and placed in front of the veil that separated the holy place from the holy of holies. It was as close to the presence of God as any object could be.
The incense was burned upon a small golden altar in the centre of the sanctuary. The priest who was chosen to offer the incense was accompanied by fellow priests to the top of the steps leading from the temple courtyard to the sanctuary. He entered the sanctuary alone, and the other priests descended the steps to wait with the crowd assembled in the courtyard. The incense was burned each morning and each evening perpetually. Priests would refill this 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 altar of incense was also used to symbolise the prayers of God's people rising before the Lord. The smoke rising from the altar symbolised their prayers being accepted by God. The sweet-smelling aroma of the incense was created by a mixture of gum resin, onycha (a shellfish from the Red Sea), galbanum (a resin from plants), and frankincense, which was then mixed with salt.
Zechariah, a true priest, was chosen by lot to enter the Lord's sanctuary to burn incense. This was a unique honour, as a priest could only perform this task once in his lifetime.
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The incense symbolised the prayers of God's people
Burning incense was a common practice in the presence of God in the tabernacle of Israel. The incense was burned upon a small golden altar in the centre of the sanctuary, and the smoke rising from the altar symbolised the prayers of God's people rising before the Lord. The altar of incense was considered part of the holy of holies (where God resided in the Temple above the Ark of the Covenant).
Zechariah was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the Lord's sanctuary to burn incense. The altar of incense that Zechariah tended was prescribed by God to Moses in Exodus 30:1-10. It was a horned "altar" that held burning coals -- upon which the priests would sprinkle three aromatic spices. The only spice we are sure about is frankincense. The altar was placed outside the chamber so that regular priests could care for it daily. Priests would refill this 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 burning of incense was considered an especially prestigious task for a priest. A priest who had won this honour once could never be included in future lotteries. It was fitting that taking such a lot would be preceded by prayer and confession of their faith on the part of the priests. Zechariah, who was more than 60 years old, had never been chosen to perform the incense ritual before.
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The incense was burned on a golden altar
Zechariah burned incense on a golden altar as part of his duties as a priest. The altar of incense was situated in the sanctuary, in front of the veil or curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. This was the place in the temple closest to the presence of God.
The incense was burned on a small golden altar in the centre of the sanctuary. The altar was made of acacia wood overlaid with gold, with a horn in each of its four corners and a crown of gold. The incense was burned on this altar every morning and evening, alongside the daily burnt offerings. The smoke rising from the altar symbolised the prayers of God's people rising before the Lord.
The task of burning incense was considered prestigious for a priest. Zechariah was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the Lord's sanctuary and burn incense. It was during this ceremony that he received a vision of the angel Gabriel, who announced the birth of his son, John the Baptist.
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The incense was made from a mixture of spices
The burning of incense was a significant aspect of worship in the Temple of Solomon, with the practice being referenced in the Old Testament and the New Testament. The incense was burned on a special altar, situated in front of the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. This placement symbolised the prayers of God's people rising before the Lord.
> 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...
Stacte is derived from the myrrh resin, which exudes spontaneously from the tree. Onycha is a type of shellfish from the Red Sea, known for its strong odour when burned. Galbanum is a resin obtained from plants, and frankincense is another tree resin. These four elements were likely mixed in equal parts, and the resulting compound was then mixed with salt.
The process of preparing and burning the incense was considered a prestigious task for a priest, and it was performed twice daily, in the morning and the afternoon. The priest would carefully pour the incense onto the altar, and the sweet-smelling smoke would fill the air.
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Frequently asked questions
Burning incense was considered a holy act, symbolising the prayers of God's people rising before the Lord.
Zechariah was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the Lord's sanctuary to burn incense.
The incense was made from a mixture of gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense, mixed with salt.
An angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, and told him that he would have a son, who would be the forerunner to the promised Messiah.
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