Exodus 30:38

cut off from his father's kin] See on v.33.

The use of incense in religious ceremonies is very widespread, and many different substances have been used for the purpose woods, barks, dried flowers, grasses, seeds, resins, gums (Enc. Brit.Exodus 9, xii. 718). On Egyptian monuments the references to incense are numerous (Wilk.-B. iii. 398 f., with illustr. of censers, bronze cups supported by long handles); large quantities of it were consumed in the temples (Erman, 300 f., with fabulous figures); and expeditions were constantly sent to the land of -Punt" (Somali) to procure fragrant gums (ibid.505 514). Plutarch (de Isid. et Osir.p. 383) describes the Eg. perfume called kyphi, which was used both for the toilet and as incense, consisting of sixteen ingredients (Erm. 232; Wilk.-B. iii. 398). There are also many references to incense (ḳuṭrinnu; cf. Heb. ḳeṭôreth) in Ass. and Bab. inscriptions. The use is also often alluded to by the classical writers. See further Incense in EB.; or, most fully, Atchley, Hist. of the use of Incense in Divine worship(1909), pp. 1 77 (on the pre- and non-Christian use of it).

The origin of this use of incense is uncertain. The Oriental has a partiality for aromatic odours: he enjoys them himself; he perfumes his person, his garments, and his house with them; and he offers them to guests and rulers whom he desires to honour (DB.ii. 468 a; Lane, Mod. Eg.i. 175, 256: cf. Proverbs 7:17; Song of Solomon 3:6; Psalms 45:9). Men naturally believe that what is grateful to themselves is also pleasing to the deity. If, however, the use of incense originated in a primitive, or semi-primitive people, another motive may have contributed to its adoption: it may have been regarded as a means of driving away evil spirits (cf. Tob 6:7; Tob 8:2 f.) from the precincts of a sanctuary. Cf. Atchley, pp. 61 77. In Numbers 16:46 P (cf. Wis 18:21) an atoning efficacy is attributed to the burning of incense. And in later times incense, rising heavenwards in a cloud, came to be regarded as a spiritual symbol of prayer (Psalms 141:2; Revelation 8:3 f., Exodus 5:8).