Exodus 30:1-6

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 30:1-10

I. The orders given concerning the altar of incense are, 1. That it was to be made of wood, and covered with gold, pure gold, 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, Exod. 30:1-5. It does 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 burnt incense, a golden censer was brought with coals in it,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 30:1

And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon ,.... The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan call it incense of spices, properly enough, for it was made of various spices; of which see Exodus 30:34 and this was necessary on a natural and civil account, to remove those ill smells from the sanctuary, occasioned by the number of beasts continually slain in it; but chiefly on a religions account, to denote the acceptableness of the service of the sanctuary to God: of shittim wood shall thou... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 30:2

A cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, four square shall it be ,.... It was one Jewish square cubit, which is in surface, according to Bishop Cumberland, three English square feet, and about forty seven square inches; which may denote the solidity, perfection, and extensiveness of Christ's priesthood, it being unchangeable, firm, and lasting; and which passes not from one to another, and the which makes something perfect, which the law and priesthood of Aaron... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 30:3

And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold ,.... Hence this altar is sometimes called the golden altar, Numbers 4:11 this may figure the deity of Christ, whose head is as the most fine gold, and is in the divine nature, in the form of God, and is the brightness of his glory, and possessed of the same perfections; or rather the glorification of his human nature in heaven, where he is highly exalted, and the preciousness of his intercession, which is always powerful and prevalent, and the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 30:4

And two golden rings shalt thou make to it under the crown of it ,.... The crown was on the top of the altar, at the edge of it all around; and just underneath it were two rings of gold, two on each side: by the two corners thereof, upon the two sides of it shall thou make them ; at each corner a ring, and at each side; the use of them follows: and they shall be for places for the staves to bear it withal ; these rings were for the staves to be put into when the altar was to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 30:5

And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood ,.... Of the same wood the altar itself was made: and overlay them with gold ; as that was; these rings and staves may be an emblem of the precious ordinances of Christ, in which he grants his presence; and where he is held forth in different ages and places as the interceding high priest of his people, their advocate with the Father, pleading continually his propitiatory sacrifice in their favour. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 30:6

Thou shalt put it before the vail ,.... That divides between the holy and the most holy place; not within the vail in the holy of holies, but before it at the holy place, for there the altar of incense stood: Josephus F15 Antiqu. l. 3. c. 6. sect. 8. says, between the candlestick and the table, i.e. of shewbread, stood the altar of incense; now the candlestick and shewbread were in the holy place; and with this account the Talmudists F16 T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 33. 2. agree, who say,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 30:1

Altar to burn incense - The Samaritan omits the ten first verses of this chapter, because it inserts them after Exodus 26:32 ; (note). Shittim wood - The same of which the preceding articles were made, because it was abundant in those parts, and because it was very durable; hence everywhere the Septuagint translation, which was made in Egypt, renders the original by ξυλον ασηπτον , incorruptible wood. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 30:2

Four-square - That is, on the upper or under surface, as it showed four equal sides; but it was twice as high as it was broad, being twenty-one inches broad, and three feet six inches high. It was called, not only the altar of incense, but also the golden altar, Numbers 4:11 . For the crown, horns, staves, etc., see on the altar of burnt-offering, Exodus 27:1 ; (note), etc. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 30:6

Before the mercy-seat that is over the testimony - These words in the original are supposed to be a repetition, by mistake, of the preceding clause; the word הפרכת happarocheth , the veil, being corrupted by interchanging two letters into הכפרת haccapporeth , the mercy-seat; and this, as Dr. Kennicott observes, places the altar of incense before the mercy-seat, and consequently In the holy of holies! Now this could not be, as the altar of incense was attended every day, and the holy... read more

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