Exodus 30:6-10

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 30:6

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 30:7

And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning ,.... This in later times was done by a common priest, who obtained this service by lots as we find in the times of Zacharias, Luke 1:9 the incense was fetched out of the house of Abtines, where it was made, and burning coals were taken off of the altar of burnt offering in a vessel, and the incense was spread upon them and burnt: the Jewish canons about this matter run thus F18 Misn. Tamid, c. 5. sect. 4, 5. ; he that was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 30:8

And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it ,.... In the evening the priest went into the holy place to light the lamps that were gone out; see Gill on Exodus 27:20 at the same time he burnt incense on the altar; and as the daily sacrifice was offered up morning and evening, so the incense was burnt every morning and evening, and much about the same time: the Jews say F20 Misn. Yoma, c. 3. sect. 4. , that the incense of the morning was offered between the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 30:9

Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon ,.... Which had not the same, but was made of other materials, or had more or fewer; whatever was not exactly the same was not to be offered; and so to make use of other mediators than Christ, whether angels or men, or to put up prayer to God for the sake of our own righteousness, pleading the merits of our works, and not the blood, righteousness, and sacrifice of Christ, is to offer strange incense, unacceptable to God, and which will be of no avail... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 30:10

And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year ,.... On the day of atonement, as the Targum of Jonathan, and so Jarchi and Aben Ezra explain it; and the atonement here referred to seems to be an atonement for the altar itself, see Leviticus 16:18 and as the altar of burnt offering was first expiated and then used, Exodus 29:36 so it seems the altar of incense had not only an atonement made on it, but for it: and this was done with the blood of the sin offering... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 30:7

When he dresseth the lamps - Prepares the wicks, and puts in fresh oil for the evening. Shall burn incense upon it - Where so many sacrifices were offered it was essentially necessary to have some pleasing perfume to counteract the disagreeable smells that must have arisen from the slaughter of so many animals, the sprinkling of so much blood, and the burning of so much flesh, etc. The perfume that was to be burnt on this altar is described Exodus 30:34 . No blood was ever sprinkled on... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 30:9

No strange incense - None made in any other way. Nor burnt-sacrifice - It should be an altar for incense, and for no other use. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 30:10

An atonement - once in a year - On the tenth day of the seventh month. See Leviticus 16:18 ; (note), etc., and the notes there. See Clarke on Leviticus 16:21 ; (note), etc. read more

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