(21) A statute for ever.—Comp. Exodus 27:21; Exodus 28:43; Exodus 29:9. The external act was to continue so long as the dispensation lasted; the internal purity, which it symbolised, would be required of those who entered the Divine Presence for ever. (See Hebrews 12:14.)THE COMPOSITION OF THE HOLY OIL. read more
The Census and Its Religious Aspect Exodus 30:12 I. This first census of which we have any recorded history took place more than three thousand years ago. It was taken in the wilderness, and in a very different way from that in which our census is taken. From the grouped tribes every man of twenty years of age and upwards was called out, and afterwards passed over to the crowd of the 'numbered'. No women or children were numbered. Women and children owe even more than men to the influence of... read more
THE LAVER.Exodus 30:17-21.For the cleansing of various sacrifices, but especially for the ceremonial washing of the priests, a laver of brass was to be made, and placed upon a separate base, the more easily to be emptied and replenished.We have seen already that although its actual use preceded that of the altar, yet the other stood in front of it, as if to assert, to the very eyes of all men, that sacrifice precedes purification. But the use of the laver was not by the man as man, but by the... read more
CHAPTER 30 The Altar of Incense and the Worshippers 1. The altar (Exodus 30:1-10 ) 2. The atonement money (Exodus 30:11-16 ) 3. The brazen laver and the unction of the Spirit (Exodus 30:22-33 ) 4. The incense (Exodus 30:34-38 ) This is a beautiful chapter, filled with blessed lessons. We have before us instructions concerning true, priestly worship. The brazen altar was of shittim wood, but this altar is of shittim wood covered with pure gold. The altar of brass tells of the work of... read more
30:19 For Aaron and his sons shall {k} wash their hands and their feet thereat:(k) Signifying that he that comes to God must be washed from all sin and corruption. read more
30:21 So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute {l} for ever to them, [even] to him and to his seed throughout their generations.(l) So long as the priesthood shall last. read more
THE GOLDEN ALTAR OF INCENSE (vs.1-10) Before this chapter the Lord has given instructions concerning the tabernacle, its court and all the furniture both outside and inside, except the altar of incense and the laver. Two full chapters intervene before these are considered. The reason for this may be that, as regards the altar of incense, true worship (of which it speaks) comes after the sacrifices being made and the priests consecrated (that is, believers put in their place as priests). As... read more
OF BLUEPRINTS AND BEZALEL THE ALTAR OF INCENSE (Exodus 30:1-10 ) Of what material and for what purpose was it made (Exodus 30:1 )? Its size and shape (Exodus 30:2 )? Its furnishings (Exodus 30:3 )? The means for its removal (Exodus 30:4-5 )? Its location (Exodus 30:6 )? How often and at what time was the incense to be offered (Exodus 30:7-8 )? What prohibition was placed on its use (Exodus 30:9 )? How does Exodus 30:10 bear on “the iniquity of the holy things”? Although no sacrifice was... read more
The Priest and His Consecration Exodus 29-30 We now study the consecration of the priest himself. Strange if God has constructed a tabernacle, given a specification for an ark, detailed the shape and colour of the priestly robes, and omitted to say anything about the priest himself. Let us see how the case stands both historically and spiritually. We have already seen that the priest did not officially appoint himself; in no sense did he rush into the priest's office; nay, more, at the very... read more
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Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Exodus 30:20
(20) That they die not.—Comp. Exodus 28:35; Exodus 28:43. It is not altogether easy to see why the death-penalty was threatened against neglect of certain ceremonial observances, and not of others. Ablution, however, was so easy, and probably so long-established a practice, that to omit it would imply intentional disrespect towards God. read more