The Altar of Incense

(Exodus 37:25-29)

1Thou shalt make also an altar to burn incense, of setim wood. 2It 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. 3And 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, 4And two golden rings under the crown on either side, that the bars may be put into them, and the altar be carried. 5And thou shalt make the bars also of setim wood, and shalt overlay them with gold. 6And 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. 7And Aaron shall burn sweet smelling incense upon it in the morning. When he shall dress the lamps, he shall burn it: 8And when he shall place them in the evening, he shall burn an everlasting incense before the Lord throughout your generations. 9You shall not offer upon it incense of another composition, nor oblation, and victim, neither shall you offer libations. 10And 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.

The Atonement Money

11And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 12When 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. 13And this shall every one give that passeth at the naming, half a sicle according to the standard of the temple. A sicle hath twenty obols. Half a sicle shall be offered to the Lord. 14He that is counted in the number from twenty years and upwards, shall give the price. 15The rich man shall not add to half a sicle, and the poor man shall diminish nothing. 16And 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.

The Bronze Basin

17And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 18Thou 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: 19Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and feet in it: 20When 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, 21Lest perhaps they die. It shall be an everlasting law to him, and to his seed by successions.

The Anointing Oil

22And the Lord spoke to Moses, 23Saying: 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, 24And of cassia five hundred sicles by the weight of the sanctuary, of oil of olives the measure hin: 25And thou shalt make the holy oil of unction, an ointment compounded after the art of the perfumer, 26And therewith thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the testimony, and the ark of the testament, 27And the table with the vessels thereof, the candlestick and furniture thereof, the altars of incense, 28And of holocaust, and all the furniture that belongeth to the service of them. 29And thou shalt sanctify all, and they shall be most holy: he that shall touch them shall be sanctified. 30Thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and shalt sanctify them, that they may do the office of priesthood unto me. 31And thou shalt say to the children of Israel: This oil of unction shall be holy unto me throughout your generations. 32The 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. 33What man soever shall compound such, and shall give thereof to a stranger, he shall be cut off from his people.

The Incense

34And 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. 35And thou shalt make incense compounded by the work of the perfumer, well tempered together, and pure, and most worthy of sanctification. 36And 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. 37You shall not make such a composition for your own uses, because it is holy to the Lord. 38What man soever shall make the like, to enjoy the smell thereof, he shall perish out of his people.