_A.M. 2513. B.C. 1491._ Moses in this chapter further instructed, (1,) _ Concerning the altar of incense, Exodus 30:1._ (2,) _ Concerning the ransom-money, which the Israelites were to pay when they were numbered, Exodus 30:11._ (3,) _ Concerning the laver of brass, Exodus 30:17._ (4,) _ Concer... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt make an altar to burn incense thereon_ The altar of incense was to be 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, Exodus 30:1. It doth not appear that there was any grat... [ Continue Reading ]
_Aaron was to burn sweet incense_ upon this altar every morning and every evening, which was intended not only to take away the ill smell of the flesh that was burned daily on the brazen altar, but for the honour of God, and to show the acceptableness of his people's services to him. As by the offer... [ Continue Reading ]
_Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year_ Namely, upon the day of atonement, (see Leviticus 16:18,) when the high-priest was to take it in his way as he came out from the holy of holies. This was to intimate, that the sins of the priests who ministered at this altar, and of... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord spake unto Moses_ Perhaps the repetition of those words here and afterward, (Exodus 30:17; Exodus 30:22; Exodus 30:34,) intimates, that God did not deliver these precepts to Moses in a continued discourse, but with many intermissions, giving him time either to write what was said to him, o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Every man a ransom for his soul_ Some think this refers only to the first numbering of them, when the tabernacle was set up, and that this tax was to make up what was wanting in the voluntary contributions. Others think it was to be always when the people were numbered; and that David offended in n... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt make a laver of brass_ The laver, or font, was a large vessel, that would contain a good quantity of water. The _foot of brass_, it is supposed, was so contrived as to receive the water, which was let out of the laver by spouts or cocks. They then had a laver for the priests only to wash... [ Continue Reading ]
Interpreters are not agreed concerning these ingredients: the spices, which were in all near half a hundred weight, were to be infused in the oil, which was to be about five or six quarts, and then strained out, leaving an admirable smell in the oil. With this oil God's tent and all the furniture of... [ Continue Reading ]
The incense which was burned upon the golden altar was prepared of _sweet spices_ likewise, though not so rare and rich as those which the anointing oil was compounded of. This was prepared once a year, (the Jews say,) a pound for each day of the year, and three pounds over for the day of atonement.... [ Continue Reading ]