Exodus, 30
The altar of incense: money to be gathered for the use of the tabernacle: the brazen laver: the holy oil of unction, and the composition of the perfume.
[1] Thou shalt make also an altar to burn incense 1, of setim wood. •
An altar to burn incense: This burning of incense was an emblem of prayer, ascending to God from an inflamed heart. See Ps. 140, 2; Ap. 5, 8; Ap. 8, 4.
[2] It shall be a cubit in length, and another in breadth, that is, four square, and two in height. Horns shall go out of the same. •
[3] And thou shalt overlay it with the purest gold, as well the grate thereof, as the walls round about, and the horns. And thou shalt make to it a crown of gold round about, •
[4] And two golden rings under the crown on either side, that the bars may be put into them, and the altar be carried.
[5] And thou shalt make the bars also of setim wood, and shalt overlay them with gold.
[6] And thou shalt set the altar over against the veil, that hangeth before the ark of the testimony before the propitiatory wherewith the testimony is covered, where I will speak to thee. •
[7] And Aaron shall burn sweet smelling incense upon it in the morning. When he shall dress the lamps, he shall burn it: •
[8] And when he shall place them in the evening, he shall burn an everlasting incense before the Lord throughout your generations.
[9] You shall not offer upon it incense of another composition, nor oblation, and victim, neither shall you offer libations. •
[10] And Aaron shall pray upon the horns thereof once a year, with the blood of that which was offered for sin; and shall make atonement upon it in your generations. It shall be most holy to the Lord. •
[11] And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
[12] When thou shalt take the sum of the children of Israel, according to their number, every one of them shall give a price for their souls to the Lord, and there shall be no scourge among them, when they shall be reckoned. •
[13] And this shall every one give that passeth at the naming, half a sicle 1 according to the standard of the temple. A sicle hath twenty obols. Half a sicle shall be offered to the Lord. •
Half a sicle: A sicle or shekel of silver, (which was also called a stater,) according to the standard or weight of the sanctuary, which was the most just and exact, was half an ounce of silver, that is, about half a crown of English money. The obol, or gerah, was about three halfpence.
[14] He that is counted in the number from twenty years and upwards, shall give the price.
[15] The rich man shall not add to half a sicle, and the poor man shall diminish nothing. •
[16] And the money received, which was contributed by the children of Israel, thou shalt deliver unto the uses of the tabernacle of the testimony, that it may be a memorial of them before the Lord, and he may be merciful to their souls.
[17] And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
[18] Thou shalt make also a brazen laver with its foot to wash in: and thou shalt set it between the tabernacle of the testimony and the altar. And water being put into it: •
[19] Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and feet in it: •
[20] When they are going into the tabernacle of the testimony, and when they are to come to the altar, to offer on it incense to the Lord,
[21] Lest perhaps they die. It shall be an everlasting law to him, and to his seed by successions.
[22] And the Lord spoke to Moses,
[23] Saying: Take spices, of principal and chosen myrrh five hundred sicles, and of cinnamon half so much; that is, two hundred and fifty sicles, of calamus in like manner two hundred and fifty, •
[24] And of cassia five hundred sicles by the weight of the sanctuary, of oil of olives the measure hin: •
[25] And thou shalt make the holy oil of unction, an ointment compounded after the art of the perfumer,
[26] And therewith thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the testimony, and the ark of the testament,
[27] And the table with the vessels thereof, the candlestick and furniture thereof, the altars of incense,
[28] And of holocaust, and all the furniture that belongeth to the service of them.
[29] And thou shalt sanctify all, and they shall be most holy: he that shall touch them shall be sanctified. •
[30] Thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and shalt sanctify them, that they may do the office of priesthood unto me.
[31] And thou shalt say to the children of Israel: This oil of unction shall be holy unto me throughout your generations. •
[32] The flesh of man shall not be anointed therewith, and you shall make none other of the same composition, because it is sanctified, and shall be holy unto you. •
[33] What man soever shall compound such, and shall give thereof to a stranger, he shall be cut off from his people. •
[34] And the Lord said to Moses: Take unto thee spices, stacte, and onycha, galbanum of sweet savour, and the clearest frankincense, all shall be of equal weight. •
[35] And thou shalt make incense compounded by the work of the perfumer, well tempered together, and pure, and most worthy of sanctification. •
[36] And when thou hast beaten all into very small powder, thou shalt set of it before the tabernacle of the testimony, in the place where I will appear to thee. Most holy shall this incense be unto you. •
[37] You shall not make such a composition for your own uses, because it is holy to the Lord.
[38] What man soever shall make the like, to enjoy the smell thereof, he shall perish out of his people. •