The Incense Altar

1 “You are to make an altar for the burning of incense; make it of acacia wood.(A) 2 It must be square, 18 inches long and 18 inches wide;(a) it must be 36 inches high.(b) Its horns must be of one piece.(c) 3 Overlay its top, all around its sides, and its horns with pure gold; make a gold molding all around it. 4 Make two gold rings for it under the molding on two of its sides; put these on opposite sides of it to be holders for the poles to carry it with. 5 Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.
6 “You are to place the altar in front of the veil by the ark of the testimony—in front of the mercy seat that is over the testimony—where I will meet with you. 7 Aaron must burn fragrant incense on it; he must burn it every morning when he tends the lamps.(B) 8 When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he must burn incense. There is to be an incense offering before the Lord throughout your generations. 9 You must not offer unauthorized incense on it,(C) or a burnt or grain offering; you are not to pour a drink offering on it.
10 “Once a year Aaron is to perform the purification rite(d) on the horns of the altar. Throughout your generations he is to perform the purification rite(e) for(f) it once a year, with the blood of the sin offering for atonement.(D) The altar is especially holy to the Lord.”

Footnotes:

a. Exodus 30:2: Lit one cubit its length and one cubit its width
b. Exodus 30:2: Lit wide; and two cubits its height
c. Exodus 30:2: Lit piece with it
d. Exodus 30:10: Or to make atonement
e. Exodus 30:10: Or to make atonement
f. Exodus 30:10: Or on

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