Exodus 30 - Introduction
_THE ALTAR OF BURNT-INCENSE IS DESCRIBED: THE RANSOM OF THE HALF SHEKEL IS ENJOINED: THE BRASS LAVER, THE HOLY ANOINTING OIL, AND THE PERFUME, ARE DIRECTED TO BE MADE._ _Before Christ 1491._... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE ALTAR OF BURNT-INCENSE IS DESCRIBED: THE RANSOM OF THE HALF SHEKEL IS ENJOINED: THE BRASS LAVER, THE HOLY ANOINTING OIL, AND THE PERFUME, ARE DIRECTED TO BE MADE._ _Before Christ 1491._... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT MAKE AN ALTAR TO BURN INCENSE UPON— After the account we have given of the former altars, there is nothing difficult in the description of this; which was a little more than half a yard square, and as high again as it was broad. From being covered all over with _pure gold,_ it was commonl... [ Continue Reading ]
AARON SHALL MAKE AN ATONEMENT UPON THE HORNS OF IT— This ceremony was to be performed on the great day of expiation; see Leviticus 16:18 when the high-priest alone entered into _the holy of holies,_ and made an atonement by blood, which he _offered for himself and for the errors of the people,_ Hebr... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THOU TAKEST THE SUM OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, &C.—. This is, in the Hebrew, _when thou shalt lift up the head of the children of Israel, to review,_ (_muster_ or _number_) _them;_ and the phrase, doubtless, alludes to the manner in which the _poll_ or _muster_ was taken. The same expression is... [ Continue Reading ]
HALF A SHEKEL— i.e. according to some commentators, nearly _fourteen-pence._ This tax, every man was bound to pay, from twenty years and upwards, Exodus 30:14. And neither more nor less was to be paid by rich or poor, Exodus 30:15 evidently to signify, that _every soul_ is equally valuable in the si... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT ALSO MAKE A LAVER OF BRASS— See 2 Chronicles 4:2. A large _font_ or _bason,_ made of _brass,_ for _the priests to wash their hands and feet in,_ was to be placed at the entrance of the tabernacle; in the water of which, let out through cocks, they were constantly to wash on pain of _death... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE THOU ALSO UNTO THEE PRINCIPAL SPICES, &C.— We have here an account of the ingredients, and of the quantity of that _oil,_ which is called _holy,_ not only on account of its composition being enjoined of God, but because the holy things and persons were anointed with it. It was to be compounded... [ Continue Reading ]
UPON MAN'S FLESH SHALL IT NOT BE POURED— The holy anointing oil of this composition was never to be used for any common or ordinary purposes. Whoever presumed to compound any like it, or to apply it to any ordinary person, was to be _cut off_ from Israel. This strict charge tended to inspire men wit... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE UNTO THEE SWEET SPICES— The composition of the _perfume_ for the golden altar of incense is next prescribed; concerning which the same prohibition is made, Exodus 30:37 as concerning the holy ointment. It was to be compounded of _stacte_ or the best _myrrh;_ of _onycha,_ the original word for w... [ Continue Reading ]