Exodus 30:1,Exodus 30:2

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 30:1-6

Exodus 30:1-6. Thou shalt make an altar to burn incense thereon The altar of incense was to be about a yard high, and half a yard square, with horns at the corners, a golden cornice round it, with rings and staves of gold for the convenience of carrying it, Exodus 30:1-5. It doth not appear that there was any grate to this altar for the ashes to fall into, that they might be taken away; but when they burned incense, a golden censer was brought, with coals in it, and placed upon the altar,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 30:1-11

Craftsmen for the work (31:1-11)In building the tabernacle, the craftsmen were to follow strictly the God-given plan, but they still had plenty of opportunity to use their creative abilities. The power of God’s Spirit worked through human intelligence and ability. At the same time people had to remember that natural ability was not enough for the service of God. His Spirit was necessary in guiding the craftsmen so that everything might be in accordance with his purposes (31:1-6)This combination... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 30:1-16

Altar of incense; tabernacle tax (30:1-16)The altar of incense was made of wood overlaid with gold. It was much smaller than the altar of burnt offering, was located in a different place and was designed for a different purpose. It was not used for sacrifices, but only for the burning of incense, offered each morning and evening. Incense was a substance produced by grinding and blending certain spices (see v. 34-38 below), and when burnt gave off thick white smoke and a strong smell. Its... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Exodus 30:1-10

GOLDEN ALTAR OF INCENSE"And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of acacia wood shalt thou make it. A cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof; foursquare shall it be; and two cubits shall be the height thereof: the horns thereof shall be of one piece with it. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about. And two golden rings... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Exodus 30:1

Exodus 30:1. Thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon— After the account we have given of the former altars, there is nothing difficult in the description of this; which was a little more than half a yard square, and as high again as it was broad. From being covered all over with pure gold, it was commonly called the golden altar, Numbers 4:11. It appears from other passages of Scripture, that the priest took fire from the brazen altar, and put it into a golden censer; and then placed this... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Exodus 30:1

1. thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon, &c.—Its material was to be like that of the ark of the testimony, but its dimensions very small [ :-]. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Exodus 30:1-10

The altar of incense and the incense offering 30:1-10The place of this altar in the tabernacle has been a problem for some readers of the Book of Hebrews. Hebrews 9:4 can be understood as describing its location as being inside the holy of holies with the ark. The writer of Hebrews probably meant that the veil, not the holy of holies, had the altar of incense and the ark of the covenant connected with it (Hebrews 9:3-4). These pieces of furniture were on either side of the veil. Describing it... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 30:1-38

The Altar of Incense. The Ransom Money. The Laver. The Anointing Oil. The Incense1-10. The Altar of Incense. The use of incense in worship was probably due to the worshipper’s desire to honour God by offering to Him what he enjoys himself. ’Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart’ (Proverbs 27:9). It served also to counteract the strong smell of burning flesh, and was therefore usually presented as an accompaniment of sacrifice, and offered either in censers (Leviticus 10:1; Leviticus 16:12;... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Exodus 30:1

XXX.THE ALTAR OF INCENSE.(1) Thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon.—Why the directions concerning the altar of incense were delayed until this place, instead of being given when the rest of the furniture of the holy place was described (Exodus 25:0), it is impossible to say. But there is certainly no reason to suspect a dislocation of the text. The mode in which Aaron is spoken of in Exodus 30:7-10 implies a previous mention of his consecration to the high priesthood.That incense would... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Exodus 30:1-38

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