Exodus 30:1-16

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 30:11-16

Some observe that the repetition of those words, The Lord spoke unto Moses, here and afterwards (Exod. 30:17, 22, 34), intimates that God did not deliver these precepts to Moses in the mount, in a continued discourse, but with many intermissions, giving him time either to write what was said to him or at least to charge his memory with it. Christ gave instructions to his disciples as they were able to hear them. Moses is here ordered to levy money upon the people by way of poll, so much a... 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

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

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