Lance Carson
The altar of incense is first mentioned in Exodus chapter 30 as one of the items inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The top of the altar was square, with each side measuring one cubit (approximately twenty inches or just under two feet), and the whole altar was two cubits high. The altar of incense was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, with four horns at each corner. The detailed description of the altar of incense in Exodus reflects the importance of incense in both spiritual and cultural contexts. Incense was burned in the presence of royalty and gods to mask unpleasant odours and as a tribute. The altar of incense in Exodus was to be made with materials fit for a king, including gold and acacia wood, and specific instructions were given for the blend of spices and its preparation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Placement | Before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies |
| Materials | Acacia wood, gold |
| Dimensions | 2 cubits high, 1 cubit per side on top |
| Other features | Four "horns", one at each corner; rings of gold built into the altar so it could be carried with poles |
| Incense | Made from a blend of "sweet spices" (Exodus 30:7, 34-35) including myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, cassia, and olive oil |
| Ritual | Aaron was instructed to burn incense on the altar each morning and at twilight as a regular offering to the Lord (Exodus 30:7-8) |
| Purpose | To mask the odors of livestock and pay tribute to God's position; to symbolize the offering of prayers to God (Exodus 30:1-10) |
| Restrictions | Only authorized incense could be offered on the altar (Exodus 30:9); it was never to be used for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or drink offerings |
| Consecration | The altar was anointed with holy oil to make it absolutely holy (Exodus 30:26-29) |
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What You'll Learn
The altar's placement in the Holy Place
The altar is a holy place where bread and wine are consecrated and shared among worshippers, symbolising the sacrificial aspect of the Christian faith. In the early Christian period, altars were often simple and located in private homes or underground catacombs. As Christianity became more prominent, churches were built to accommodate larger congregations and elaborate altars. The placement of altars within churches became more standardised, typically positioned at the centre or east end of the church to symbolise the direction of the rising sun and the resurrection of Christ.
The altar of incense, first mentioned in Exodus chapter 30, was placed in the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The top of the altar was square, with each side measuring one cubit, and the whole altar was two cubits high. It was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, with four "horns", one at each corner. The altar of incense was placed before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, where the presence of God was.
Aaron, the high priest, was instructed to burn incense on the altar each morning and at twilight as a regular offering to the Lord. The incense was made from a blend of fine spices, including myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, and cassia, mixed with olive oil to create a holy anointing oil. This anointing oil was also used to consecrate the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, and other sacred objects.
The altar of incense served several purposes. Firstly, it masked the unpleasant odours of animal life in close proximity to humans. Secondly, it symbolised the purification of the people's sins, as the high priest would smear the horns of the altar with blood once a year on the Day of Atonement. Finally, the altar of incense reminded Israel to pray, and the ascending smoke symbolised that their prayers were offered to God.
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The materials used to build it
The materials used to build the altar of incense are detailed in Exodus 30 and 37. The altar was made of acia wood, also referred to as "shittim" wood, which was sourced from the Israelites' freewill offerings. The wood was chosen for its strength and resistance to decay, disease, and rotting. The top of the altar was square, with each side measuring one cubit (approximately twenty inches or just under two feet), and the whole altar was two cubits high. The altar had four "horns", one at each corner, which were also made of acacia wood. The top, sides, and horns of the altar were overlaid with pure gold, and a gold molding ran around the entire altar. Two gold rings were attached to opposite sides of the altar below the molding, allowing for acia wood poles to be slipped through for carrying.
The incense burned on the altar was made from a blend of fine spices, including resin droplets, mollusk shell, galbanum, and pure frankincense, weighed out in equal amounts. The recipe for the incense was provided by God, who stipulated that no other incense should ever be burned on the altar. The incense was burned on hot coals, producing a sweet-smelling fragrance that filled the holy place and could be detected from a distance.
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The incense's ingredients and their preparation
The incense mentioned in Exodus 30 was a unique blend of spices. The Hebrew word for "spices" (besamim) is derived from basam, which means "to be fragrant". The Torah does not provide the exact recipe for the incense, but biblical sources list the following ingredients:
- Myrrh
- Cinnamon
- Calamus
- Cassia
- Olive oil
- Resin droplets
- Mollusk shell
- Galbanum
- Frankincense
- Stacte
- Onycha
- Spikanard
- Saffron
- Costus
- Cinnamon bark
The oral tradition, on the other hand, mentions a blend of eleven ingredients: 70 portions of the four fragrances mentioned in the verse, 16 portions of myrrh, cassia, spikanard, and saffron, 12 portions of costus, 9 portions of cinnamon, and 3 portions of cinnamon bark. Each portion (maneh) weighed five pounds, for a total weight of 368 portions, or 1,840 pounds (835 kg).
The biblical texts also mention the importance of meticulous measurement and blending of the spices to produce a fragrant offering. Salt was used to bind the ingredients together. God gave the recipe for making the incense and ordered that no other incense be burned on the altar. The fire used to burn the incense was always taken from the altar of burnt offerings outside the sanctuary.
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The significance of the incense burning
The altar of incense is first mentioned in Exodus chapter 30 as one of the items inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The burning of incense on the altar was a significant part of Jewish rituals. The altar was made of acia 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 was burned on the altar each morning and at twilight by Aaron, as a regular offering to the Lord.
The incense was made from a blend of fine spices, including myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, cassia, frankincense, resin droplets, mollusk shell, and galbanum. The recipe for the incense was given by God, who stipulated that no other incense should ever be burned on the altar. The fire used to burn the incense was always taken from the altar of the burnt offering outside the sanctuary. The altar of incense was called "most holy to the Lord".
The burning of incense served several purposes. Firstly, it masked the unpleasant odours of daily life, especially in close proximity to animals. Incense was commonly burned in the presence of a king to pay tribute to his position, so it was also burned before God in the tabernacle, which was His earthly throne room. The sweet-smelling smoke symbolized that the offerings on the altar ascended to God, much like prayers rise to Him. The altar of incense reminded Israel to pray and assured them that their prayers were pleasing to the Lord.
The altar of incense was also anointed with holy oil, which was made from a blend of myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, cassia, and olive oil. This oil was used to anoint the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, the table and its utensils, the lampstand and its accessories, and the altar of burnt offering. The anointing with this sacred oil further consecrated the altar of incense, setting it apart as a holy place.
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The altar's role in the rituals
The altar of incense, mentioned in Exodus chapter 30, was one of the items inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The altar was square at the top, two cubits high, and made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. It featured four "horns", one at each corner, and gold rings that allowed it to be carried with acacia wood poles.
The altar of incense played a significant role in the rituals of the Israelites. Aaron, the high priest, and his sons were instructed to burn incense on the altar each morning and at twilight as a daily offering to the Lord. The incense was made from a blend of fine spices, including myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, and cassia, and frankincense, which were mixed with olive oil to create a holy anointing oil. This anointing oil was used to consecrate various objects and the priests themselves, setting them apart for God's service.
The altar of incense served as an intermediary point of communication with God. The incense symbolized the prayers of the people rising to God, as mentioned in Psalm 141:2 and Revelation 5:8. The smoke from the burning incense penetrating the curtain into the Holy of Holies represented the ascension of their prayers to heaven, even though they could not see past the curtain. This ritual reminded Israel to pray and assured them that their prayers were pleasing to the Lord.
The altar of incense was also associated with purification and atonement. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would smear the horns of the altar with blood to cleanse it and make atonement for the sins of the people. This annual event underscored the holiness of the altar and the need for ongoing mediation and purification before God.
The altar of incense was distinct from other altars, such as the altar of burnt offering, and had specific restrictions. It was not to be used for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or drink offerings, and only authorized incense provided by God was to be burned on it. This exclusivity emphasized God's desire for holiness and His zealous determination of how He was to be worshiped.
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Frequently asked questions
The altar of incense was described in such detail in Exodus because it was a significant part of the Jewish rituals of the Mishkan and Tem.
The altar of incense was made of acia wood and overlaid with gold.
The top of the altar was square, with each side measuring one cubit, and the entire altar was two cubits high. A cubit was approximately twenty inches, or just under two feet.
The altar of incense was placed in the Holy Place of the tabernacle, outside the Most Holy Place. It was positioned in front of the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Testimony was kept.
Only authorized incense could be offered on the altar, as stipulated by God. The recipe for the incense included fine spices such as myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, cassia, and olive oil, blended together by a skilled incense maker.
