The thirtieth chapter of the Book of Exodus is a profound and detailed segment of Mosaic law, focusing on the sanctification of worship and the consecration of the priesthood. It moves beyond the construction of the Tabernacle’s physical structure (detailed in previous chapters) to prescribe the holy rituals performed within it. This chapter introduces three critical elements: the Altar of Incense, the formula for the sacred Anointing Oil, and the command for Atonement Money. Understanding Exodus 30 is key to comprehending the nature of holiness, intercession, and redemption in the Old Testament.
The Altar of Acacia Wood for Burning Sacred Incense
Before delving into the Lord’s instructions to Moses, it is crucial to visualize the Altar of Incense’s placement and purpose. This altar was situated inside the Tabernacle, within the Holy Place, directly in front of the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (the Holy of Holies). It was not used for blood sacrifices but for a perpetual offering of sweet-smelling incense.
Divine Instructions for Construction
God commanded Moses to make an altar for burning incense. It was to be constructed from acacia wood, forming a square one cubit long and one cubit wide, and two cubits high. Its horns were to be of one piece with the altar. The entire altar was to be overlaid with pure gold, including its top, sides, and horns. A gold molding, or crown, was to be fashioned around it.
Rings of gold were to be placed under the molding on two opposite sides to hold the poles used to carry it. These poles, also made of acacia wood, were to be overlaid with gold. The altar was to be placed “before the veil that is before the ark of the Testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony,” a place of immense sacred significance.
The Perpetual Ritual of Incense
Aaron was instructed to burn fragrant incense on this altar every morning when he tended the lamps, and again in the evening when he lit them. This was to be a perpetual incense offering before the Lord throughout their generations. The use of this altar was strictly reserved for this holy incense; it was forbidden to offer any unauthorized incense, burnt offering, grain offering, or drink offering on it.
Once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), Aaron was to perform a ritual of purification for the altar. He was to take the blood of the sin offering and apply it to the horns of the Altar of Incense, making atonement for it and consecrating it from the impurities of the Israelites.
The Sacred Anointing Oil: A Holy Perfume
Following the instructions for the altar, God provided Moses with the exact recipe for a sacred anointing oil. This was not a common oil but a specially formulated, holy perfume, unique and set apart for consecrating the Tabernacle, its furnishings, and the priests.
The Precise Formula
The recipe was as follows:
- 500 shekels of pure myrrh: A fragrant resin known for its bitterness and its use in purification and burial rituals.
- 250 shekels of fragrant cinnamon: A sweet and aromatic spice.
- 250 shekels of fragrant cane (likely calamus): A sweet-smelling plant from the reed family.
- 500 shekels of cassia: A spice similar to cinnamon but with a stronger, more pungent scent.
- A hin of olive oil: This served as the base carrier oil for the solid spices.
Moses was to have a skilled perfumer blend these ingredients into a pure and sacred anointing oil.
The Solemn Use and Prohibition
This holy anointing oil was to be used for one purpose only: to consecrate. It was used to anoint:
- The Tabernacle of Meeting and the Ark of the Testimony.
- The Table for the Showbread and all its utensils.
- The Lampstand and its utensils.
- The Altar of Incense and the Altar of Burnt Offering with all its utensils.
- The Laver and its base.
Most importantly, it was used to anoint Aaron and his sons, consecrating them to serve God as priests. The holiness of this oil was so extreme that God forbade anyone from replicating it for personal use. It was not to be poured on the body of an ordinary person. The punishment for doing so was severe: being cut off from the people of Israel. This underscored the absolute separation between the holy and the common.
The Census and the Atonement Money for the Sanctuary
The final major instruction in Exodus 30 concerns a census and a unique form of taxation that served as a ransom for the lives of the Israelites.
The Command to Take a Census
The Lord told Moses that when he took a census of the Israelite community, each person counted had to provide a ransom for his life to the Lord. This was to prevent a plague from striking them during the counting process. This concept reveals a profound theological truth: that numbering the people could lead to pride or a reliance on military strength rather than on God, and that life ultimately belongs to God, requiring atonement.
The Ransom Payment
Every person registered in the census, twenty years old and above, was required to give an offering to the Lord. The amount was the same for everyone, whether rich or poor: half a shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel (which was heavier than a common shekel). This half-shekel was a weight of silver.
This money was designated as an offering to the Lord and was to be used for the service of the Tabernacle of Meeting. It functioned as a memorial before the Lord, to make atonement for the lives of the Israelites. This “atonement money” was a constant physical reminder that their lives were redeemed by a price and that they belonged to God.
The Laver of Bronze: For Washing and Purification
Although sometimes associated with instructions from earlier chapters, the Laver is a crucial part of the Tabernacle’s sanctity system. Exodus 30:17-21 provides the instructions for its construction and use.
God commanded Moses to make a bronze laver, with a bronze stand, and place it between the Tabernacle of Meeting and the Altar of Burnt Offering. It was to be filled with water. Aaron and his sons were to wash their hands and feet with water from this laver before entering the Tabernacle or approaching the altar to minister.
This ritual washing was non-negotiable. It was a matter of life and death; failure to purify themselves in this way would result in death. This practice symbolized the need for spiritual cleansing and purification before approaching a holy God. It served as a tangible picture of removing the defilement of the world before engaging in sacred service.
The Composition of the Holy Anointing Oil and Incense
To ensure clarity and prevent any profane replication, God reiterates the formulas for the holy anointing oil and the incense.
He expressly commands Moses to take the finest spices and make a holy incense, blended as by a perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy. A portion of it was to be beaten very fine and placed before the Testimony in the Tabernacle, where God would meet with Moses. This incense was to be considered most holy, solely for the Lord’s use. Anyone who made similar incense for personal enjoyment would be cut off from his people, a reiteration of the strict boundary between the sacred and the profane.
Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Exodus 30
Exodus 30 is far more than a historical record of ancient rituals. It is a rich theological chapter that communicates God’s nature and requirements for relationship with Him. It establishes principles that resonate throughout the entire Bible: the need for a mediator, the power of intercessory prayer (symbolized by the incense), the necessity of consecration (through anointing), and the fundamental truth that redemption requires a ransom (the atonement money).
These Old Covenant practices ultimately point forward to their fulfillment in the New Covenant through Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate High Priest who intercedes for us, the sacrificial Lamb whose blood provides full atonement, and the one who anoints believers with the Holy Spirit. The physical rituals of Exodus 30 find their spiritual completion in the work of Christ, who provides direct access to a holy God for all who believe.