CHAPTER 30
It is to be
square,
a cubit
long,
a cubit
wide,
and two cubits
high.
Its horns
must be of one piece.
Overlay
the top
and all
the sides
and horns
with pure
gold,
and make
a molding
of gold
all around it.
And make
for it
two
gold
rings
below
the molding
on
opposite sides
to
hold
the poles
used to carry it.
Place
the altar
in front
of the veil
that is before
the Ark
of the Testimony—
before
the mercy seat
that
is over
the Testimony—
where
I will meet
with you.
When Aaron
sets up
the lamps
at
twilight,
he must burn
the incense
perpetually
before
the LORD
for the generations to come.
On this altar
you must not
offer
unapproved
incense
or a burnt offering
or grain offering,
nor are you
to pour
a drink offering
on it.
Once
a year
Aaron
shall make atonement
on
the horns of the altar.
Throughout your generations
he shall make atonement
on it
annually
with the blood
of the sin offering
of atonement.
The altar is
most
holy
to the LORD.”
“When
you take a census
of the Israelites
to number them,
each man
must pay
the LORD
a ransom
for his life
when he is counted.
Then no
plague
will come
upon them
when they are numbered.
Everyone
who crosses
over
to those counted
must pay
a half
shekel,
according to the sanctuary
shekel,
which weighs
twenty
gerahs.
This half
shekel
is an offering
to the LORD.
In making
the offering
to the LORD
to atone
for
your lives,
the rich
shall not
give more
than a half
shekel,
nor shall
the poor
give less.
Take
the atonement
money
from the sons
of Israel
and use
it for
the service
of the Tent
of Meeting.
It will serve as
a memorial
for the Israelites
before
the LORD
to make an atonement
for
your lives.”
“You are to make
a bronze
basin
with a bronze
stand
for washing.
Set
it between
the Tent
of Meeting
and the altar,
and put
water
into it,
Whenever they enter
the Tent
of Meeting
or
approach
the altar
to minister
by presenting an offering
made by fire
to the LORD,
they must wash
with water
so that they will not
die.
Thus they are to wash
their hands
and feet
so that they will not
die;
this shall be
a permanent
statute
for Aaron and his descendants
for the generations to come.”
“Take
the finest
spices:
500 shekels
of liquid
myrrh,
half as much
(250 shekels)
of fragrant
cinnamon,
250 shekels
of fragrant
cane,
Prepare
from these a holy
anointing
oil,
a fragrant blend,
the work
of a perfumer;
it will be
a holy
anointing
oil.
And you are to tell
the Israelites,
‘This
will be
My
sacred
anointing
oil
for the generations to come.
It must not
be used to anoint
an ordinary man,
and you must not
make
anything like it
with the same formula.
It
is holy,
and it must be
holy
to you.
Then the LORD
said
to
Moses,
“Take
fragrant spices—
gum resin,
onycha,
galbanum,
and pure
frankincense—
in equal measures,
Grind
some of it
into fine powder
and place
it
in front
of the Testimony
in the Tent
of Meeting,
where
I will meet with you.
It shall be
most
holy
to you.
You are never to use
this formula
to make
incense
for yourselves;
you shall regard it as sacred
to
the LORD.