Exodus 30:1-38

Exodus: *Israel becomes a nation

God’s instructions to Moses

Exodus Chapter s 19 to 40

Hilda Bright and Kitty Pride

Chapter 30

The *altar where the priests burnt powder that has a sweet smell – verses 1-10

1. How to make the *altar – verses 1-6

v1 The *LORD continued to speak. ‘Make an *altar. On this *altar the priests will burn powder that has a sweet smell. Make this *altar out of *acacia wood. v2 And make it 18 inches (45 centimetres) long, 18 inches (45 centimetres wide), and 3 feet (90 centimetres) high. Make *horns that stick out from each of its 4 corners. v3 Cover the top of the *altar, the sides of the *altar and the *horns with pure gold. And put a narrow piece of gold round the top. v4 Make 2 gold rings on the sides of the *altar. Put them below the narrow piece of gold and put them opposite each other. These rings will hold the poles so that people can carry the *altar. v5 Make the poles out of *acacia wood and cover them with gold. v6 Put the *altar in front of the curtain that hangs in the Holy Place. My special box will be behind that curtain. It will contain the flat stones on which I wrote my 10 *commandments. The cover over the special box is where I forgive people. That is where I will meet with you.’

Verses 1-5 The workers must make the other *altar out of *acacia wood too. On that *altar the priest burned special powder that has a sweet smell. (This powder is called incense). They must cover that *altar with gold. It was a small square shape, with *horns on the top 4 corners. It had 2 rings opposite each other. Poles fitted into the rings so that the priests could carry the *altar. This *altar stood in the Holy Place in front of the curtain. The curtain separated the Most Holy Place from the rest of the tent. It stood between the table for the special bread and the *lampstand (Exodus 40:22-24). The special box was in the Most Holy Place. It had the two flat stones in it. They were a *sign of God’s special promise to the *Israelites. They had agreed to obey all God’s laws. The cover to the special box sometimes had this name. ‘The place where God forgives his people.’ That was where God would meet with them.

2. How to use the *altar – verses 7-10

v7 ‘On this *altar Aaron must burn special powder that has a sweet smell. He must burn some for me every morning when he takes care of the lamps. v8 And he must burn some more when he lights the lamps at sunset. Then powder that has a sweet smell will burn for me every day in all the time to come. v9 Burn on this *altar only the proper powder that has a sweet smell. And do not use this *altar to burn animals or grain as gifts to me. Do not pour out on this *altar drink that you give to me. v10 On one day a year Aaron must put blood on the *altar’s *horns. He must use blood from an animal that he will burn as a gift for me. He must do this every year so that I can forgive the people’s *sin. A priest must do this for all time to come. This is because this *altar is a very holy place for me, the *LORD.’

Verses 7-9 People burnt the powder that has a sweet smell. Its smoke *represented prayers that were going up to God. The workers made the sweet powder for that *altar in a special manner. They had to mix particular powders (Exodus 30:34-38). The priest burnt that powder twice a day. He did that at the same time as he burnt the morning and the evening gifts to God. Nobody must use that particular powder that has a sweet smell for their personal pleasure. And the priests must not burn any other kind of powder on that *altar. This special powder must burn on that *altar only. And they must not use that *altar to give any other kind of gift to God.

Verse 10 There is a brief reference here to the annual ‘Day when God covers *sin’. You can read the complete account about that day in Leviticus 16:1-34. That was the only day in the year when the most important priest went into the Most Holy Place. First he gave to God gifts that he burnt. He was asking God to forgive the people’s *sins and his own *sins (Hebrews 9:7). The animal that he killed for that gift provided the blood. Aaron used that blood to paint on the *altar’s *horns. They must not burn anything on that *altar except the special powder. And the blood was the *sign. It showed that the people were sorry about their *sin. And they wanted the holy God to forgive them.

Jesus gave himself as a gift to God on our behalf. And he entered the Most Holy Place. That means that he entered heaven itself. A long time ago, the most important priest had to give those gifts to God. He gave them every year on behalf of the people. But Jesus’ gift of himself was a permanent payment for people’s *sin (Hebrews 9:24-26).

The money that the *Israelites paid to God – verses 11-16

v11 Then the *LORD spoke to Moses again. v12 ‘Record the names of all the adult male *Israelites. And count them’, said God. ‘Each man must pay a tax to me, the *LORD. Then I will keep him safely. They must pay for their lives at the same time as you count them. Then they will not suffer a terrible disease when you count them. v13 Each man must cross over to the other side after you record his name. He must join the other men, whom you have counted already. At that time he must give a half *shekel to me, your *LORD. This *shekel is the official money for my holy place. The standard half a *shekel weighs about 5^th of an ounce. v14 Everyone who is 20 years old or more must give this money to me, your *LORD. v15 The rich men should not give more than half a *shekel each. And the poor men should not give less than half a *shekel each. You are giving this money to me to pay for your lives. v16 You, Moses, must receive this tax from the *Israelites. And you must use it for my special Tent. Then I will always remember the *Israelites. I will remember that you have paid for your lives.’

Verse 11 Numbers Chapter s 1 and 26 describe how Moses and Aaron counted the people.

Verses 12-16 The first son that was born in every family belonged to God. The parents must buy back the child by means of a particular gift to God (Exodus 13:13). When the child became 20 years old, he had to become a soldier. So each male adult over 20 had to pay that tax to God for himself. The *Israelites made the half *shekel out of silver. It was a small amount of money. It was different from the ordinary *shekel coins. The amount was the same for everyone, rich people and poor people alike. The priests used that money for God’s special tent. Later that half *shekel became an annual tax for the *Temple in Jerusalem (Matthew 17:24).

The basin where the priests can wash – verses 17-21

v17 Then the *LORD spoke again to Moses. v18 ‘Make a *bronze basin where the priests can wash. And make a *bronze base on which to stand the basin. Place it outside the tent where we meet, between the tent and the big *bronze *altar. And put water in the basin. v19 Aaron and his sons must wash their hands and feet with water from this basin. v20 They must wash each time that they enter my special tent. Then they will not die. Also, when they approach the *bronze *altar, they must wash with water from this basin. They are going there to serve me. They will burn gifts of animals on my behalf. v21 Each time that they give these gifts, they must wash their hands and feet. Then they will not die. This is a rule for Aaron and his family after him. It is for all the time to come.’

Verse 18 People mix two metals called copper and tin to make *bronze. They needed a lot of *bronze for all the *Tabernacle’s equipment. The *bronze for the basin came from mirrors (Exodus 38:8). At that time, they polished metal to make mirrors. The women, who gave those mirrors, helped in the Holy Place. They probably served at the entrance. 1 Samuel 2:22 mentions women too. They served at the entrance to the tent.

Verses 19-21 There is no reference to the basin’s size. It stood in the great yard near the big *altar (Exodus 27:1-8). After a priest had washed himself, he entered the Holy Place. Then he burned powder that has a sweet smell, in front of God. And the priest performed his other duties. Aaron and his sons had to wash themselves completely before they received their clothes as priests (Exodus 29:4). But before they burnt a gift for God, they had to wash their hands and feet only. They needed to wash because they had to be pure. They emphasised that fact when they washed in that way. They were approaching God, who is pure and holy. So they must obey God’s rules in order to enter where he was present. Otherwise they would die.

In the *New Testament, Paul warned the Christians at the city called Corinth about that. They must not go to the *LORD’s Supper in a selfish, careless way (1 Corinthians 11:29-30). (Sometimes people call the *LORD’s Supper ‘Holy Communion’ or ‘the Eucharist’.) We must ask God to forgive us. When Jesus died, his blood poured out. That is why he can make us *clean and pure. But we must confess our *sins often, because those *sins spoil our relationship with God (1 John 1:8-9).

The special oil to mark things that are for God only – verses 22-33

v22 Then the *LORD spoke to Moses again. v23-24 ‘You must make a special oil. Use expensive products with a pleasant smell. Take 7 pints (4 litres) of *olive oil and mix these expensive products with it. Add 12 pounds (5.5 kilos) of a liquid called myrrh. Add 6 pounds (2.7 kilos) each of substances called cinnamon and cane. They have a pleasant smell. And add 12 pounds (5.5 kilos) of a substance called cassia. You must weigh all these against the special *shekels that you use in the Holy Place. v25 Mix these together to make a special, holy oil. You must use this oil to mark things that are for me only. This mixture will have a beautiful smell, and a skilful worker must make it. Use it to mark everything that you separate for me. v26 Pour this oil on the tent where I meet you. And pour this oil on the special box where you keep the two flat stones. I wrote my laws for all of you on those stones. v27 Pour this oil on the table with the special bread. And pour it on all the table’s equipment. And pour it on the *lampstand and all its equipment. v28 Pour the oil on the *altar and all its equipment. You burn gifts that you are giving to me on that *altar. Also, you must pour the oil on the basin and its base. v29 You must separate all those things from all other things. And they will be holy. Anything that touches these things will be holy too.’

v30 ‘Then pour this oil on Aaron and his sons. You must mark them for me with this special oil so that they can serve me as priests. v31 Speak to the *Israelites on my behalf. Tell them, “This must be my special oil for all time to come. v32 Do not use it on anyone else. And do not make any oil of your own in the same way. It is holy, pure and *clean. So you must think of it as separate. v33 Anyone who makes oil the same as this will not continue to belong to my people. Someone might pour it on a person who is not a priest. Then they will not continue to belong to my people.” ’

Verses 22-25 These expensive substances have a strong and sweet smell that is very pleasant. People get them from plants and trees. But the substances that the *Israelites used for the special oil did not come from local plants. There was trade between *Israel and the countries in the East. And those particular products came from India, Africa and Arabia. That was why they were very expensive. The *Israelites had to balance those substances against the special *shekels in order to weigh them. They only used those *shekels in the Holy Place. A skilful worker made that oil (Exodus 31:1-3; Exodus 31:6; Exodus 31:11). He mixed those substances with 7 pints (4 litres) of *olive oil (Numbers 4:16). One of Aaron’s sons, called Eleazar, was responsible. He had to look after the holy oil (Numbers 4:16). Later, other priests also learned how to mix the special oil (1 Chronicles 9:30).

Verses 26-29 Moses poured the special oil on the building and all the equipment in it. That was a *sign. He had separated those things from everything else to serve only God. God had ordered them and he approved of them. God promised to be kind to people who obeyed him. People today have special events when they give a church or some other thing to God. They separate the building from other ordinary buildings when they give it to God. And they ask God to *bless it. Only God can *bless the people who use it.

Verses 30-33 God did not allow anyone to copy the special oil. It is holy to mark things for God alone. Nobody else should make it. And nobody should use it on himself just to make him smell nice. Only the person with authority to use the oil could touch it. And he must pour it only on someone who became a priest. Then the priest was separate for God’s service. Anyone who did not obey those rules must die. Or the people must send him away because now he did not belong to God’s people, the *Israelites. Later priests used the special oil to mark a king also. It showed that God had chosen him.

The special powder that has a sweet smell – verses 34-38

v34 Then the *LORD spoke to Moses again. ‘Take equal amounts of expensive substances that have a pleasant smell. Use substances called gum resin, onycha, galbanum and pure frankincense. v35 Let a skilful worker mix them to make a mixture with a pleasant smell. Put salt in this mixture to make it pure and holy. v36 Make some mixture into powder. Place this in front of the special box where I will meet with you. You must consider that this special mixture is very holy. v37 Do not make any mixture like this of your own. It is holy. It belongs to me, your *LORD. v38 You must not use it in your homes to enjoy its sweet smell. Anyone who makes anything like it will not continue to belong to my people.’

Verses 34-36 The substances that the worker must mix together were rare and expensive. Gum resin is a sticky substance from a tree. Onycha came from a shell in the Red Sea. Galbanum and frankincense came from the country called India. Frankincense was the most valuable of these substances. And frankincense was one of the gifts that the wise men from the East brought. They gave it to the baby Jesus in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:11). The worker mixed salt with those substances with a sweet, pleasant smell. The salt helped the mixture to burn. Also, the skilful workers mixed a large amount of the mixture each time. The salt helped to preserve it. Salt was a valuable substance. And the *Israelites mixed salt with a gift so that God would accept that gift. The worker had to press the mixture until it became a powder. The priests must burn it in front of the Most Holy Place. That showed that the place was more holy than the rest of the camp.

Verses 37-38 Aaron’s son, called Eleazar, must take care of the special powder and the special oil (Numbers 4:16). God warned Moses about that oil. God also warned him about that special powder that has a pleasant smell. God told him that nobody must make that powder for himself. Anyone who tried to enjoy it for himself would die. Or the other people would send him away because he was not part of God’s people.

Israel ~ the nation of people from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the name of the country that God gave to that nation.
altar ~ a table on which people give gifts or *sacrifices to God or to a false god.
LORD ~ God gave this special name to himself. It translates the word ‘Yahweh’ in the Hebrew language. It links to the words ‘I am’; it means that God has been here always.

Lord ~ a name for God. It translates the Hebrew word ‘Adonai’, which means ‘my ruler’. The word ‘lord’ (without a capital letter) means an ordinary ruler.

Hebrew ~ the language that the Israelites spoke. A Hebrew is a Jewish person or an Israelite

Israelite ~ a person from the nation called Israel. Israelite is another name for the Jews. Anything that has a relationship with Israel.

Jewish ~ a word that describes a Jew or anything that belongs to the Jews.

Israel ~ the nation of people from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the name of the country that God gave to that nation.

Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children.
acacia ~ a kind of tree that grows in dry land.
horn ~ animals like cows and goats have horns (usually 2) that grow out of their heads. The horns stick out and end in a point. The Israelite priest used male sheep’s horns as musical instruments. They blew into them to make a loud sound. And today people call certain instruments ‘horns’. Also the altar in God’s special tent had pieces that stuck out at the altar’s 4 corners. These pieces are called horns.

Israelite ~ a person from the nation called Israel. Israelite is another name for the Jews. Anything that has a relationship with Israel.

altar ~ a table on which people give gifts or *sacrifices to God or to a false god.

Israel ~ the nation of people from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the name of the country that God gave to that nation.

Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children.
commandment ~ a rule or an order that God gave to the Jews. The 10 rules that God gave to Moses on the mountain called Mount Sinai (or Horeb); an order from someone who has authority.

Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children.

Mount ~ another name for mountain.
lampstand ~ it held 7 lamps. They contained oil that burned, so the lamp-stand gave a lot of light.
sign ~ a signal; a mark to show that something is special; a powerful act.
Israelite ~ a person from the nation called Israel. Israelite is another name for the Jews. Anything that has a relationship with Israel.

Israel ~ the nation of people from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the name of the country that God gave to that nation.

Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children.
sin ~ the wrong things that people do against God or against other people; or, not to obey God.
represent ~ when a person acts on behalf of someone else; or you put something in place of something else.
shekel ~ shekels weighed about 0.4 ounces (11 grams). It was the standard that they used to weigh things (especially gold and silver); they used it for God’s special tent and later, for the Temple.

temple ~ the special building in Jerusalem where the Jews worshipped God. King Solomon built the first temple.

Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children.

worship ~ when people show honour to God, or to a false god. People may sing or pray. Or they may kneel down or give a gift to God.
temple ~ the special building in Jerusalem where the Jews worshipped God. King Solomon built the first temple.

Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children.

worship ~ when people show honour to God, or to a false god. People may sing or pray. Or they may kneel down or give a gift to God.
bronze ~ a kind of metal that people make out of copper and tin.
Tabernacle ~ God’s special tent.'New Testament ~ the second part of the Bible. It tells about Jesus Christ and his followers.
clean ~ good in thought and in action. But, in the Old Testament, many things could make a person unclean towards God. For example, if they touched a dead body, that would make them unclean. And the Israelites must not eat animals that God called unclean.

Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible, it tells about the history and the beliefs of the Israelites. The Jews’ holy book.

Israelite ~ a person from the nation called Israel. Israelite is another name for the Jews. Anything that has a relationship with Israel.

Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children.

Israel ~ the nation of people from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the name of the country that God gave to that nation.
olive ~ a fruit tree; people press its green or black fruit to obtain olive oil. People use the oil for cooking and for fuel in their lamps. The Israelites gave it to God as one of their gifts to him.

Israelite ~ a person from the nation called Israel. Israelite is another name for the Jews. Anything that has a relationship with Israel.

Israel ~ the nation of people from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the name of the country that God gave to that nation.

Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children.
bless ~ to say or do much good to a person; to call something holy; to call for good things to happen; to guard and to keep from evil.