The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 2 — Section 285

EXPOSITION. CHAPTER XXX. of t~ Past, vol. x. pp. 18, 19); 11nd on one OCCOl!1on an Egyptmn sovereign sent " Vere.1-10.-Tm!lALTAROJ' INCENSE. This naval expedition to AmbiEL for the express ch11pter hOB the appeMance of being one in purpose of bringing frankincense a.nil frank- which accidentel omissions are snpplied. The incense trees to E~t, in conneetion with the nn.turel pie.ea for a description of the eltar of Ammon fe88ta (JSrugsch, Hi8tnry of Egypt, vol. i. pp. 30&--311 ). The Babylonians burnt incense-pm of the furnitnre of the holy a tho1llland te.lents' weight of frankincense pin.ea (ver. 6)- would seem to have been every year at the great festiv11l of Bel (Herod. eh. xxv. 10-40, where we have the descrip- i. 183). The Greeks and Rom11ns offered tions of the ILl'k, the mercy-seat, the table of frankincense, 81! a rule, with every offering; shew-breo.d, and the candlestick; the natnrel and in the early ages of Christianity it was made the test of a Christian whether he place for "the r1LDSOm of sonls," the elLl'lier would do this or no. What exactly the part of the s81lle chapter (ver. 8), where the religious notion WOil which underlay these silver is required which WOil to be collected in sets, or whether it WOil the some everywhere, this way ; the natural place for an eccount of may be questioned. In the Mosaic religion, the bronze l11ver, eh. xxvii., where the bronze however, there can be little doubt that, in eltlLr, nelLI' which it stood, is described; the the main, incense symbolised prayer. (See Ps. cxli. 2; Lnke i. 10.) Of ahittim wood. n11turel place for the composition of the holy Compare above, eh. xxvii. I. oil, eh. xxix., where its use is commanded Ver. 2.-J'our square llhal.l it be. Like the (vers. 7, 21); and the nature.I place for a u.ltar of burnt-offering. See the comment on description of the perfume the s81lle 81! eh. xxvii. 1. Two cubits shall be the height for the altlLr on which it WOil to be offered. thereot Altars of this small size are often represented on ancient Vlllles and other Whether Moses me.de the omissions in writing rem.a.ins. (See Dr. Smith's Didwnary of his record, and afterwards supplied them in Greek and Boman .A.,atiquiti.ea, pp. 117 and the present chapter, or whether Divine wisdom 1174.) The horns thereof. It seems to be saw fit to give the directions in the order in essmned that an u.ltar must have horns. Those which we now have them, cannot be deter- of the u.ltar of incense were to have the blood of certain sin-offerings smeared upon them mined. Hitherto certainly no 811fli.cient (Lev. iv. 7, 18). Shall be of the same-i.e., r~on he.s been shown for the existing order, " shall be of one piece with the top of the 1which hence appears e.ccidente.l. The elte.r of t.able "-not projections added to it. Compare j incense was to be in many respects similar to eh. xxvii. 2. i the altar of burnt-offering, but of smaller Ver. 3.-Thou sbalt make UD.to it a orown • of gold-i.e., a border, or moulding, all size and richer materiel. Both were to be roUD.d the top, to prevent anything from : •' four-square," n.nd both of shittim wood cased felling off. Comp&re what is said of the ' with metal ; but the former WBB to be taller, table of shew-bread, eh. xxv. 24. the latter shorter, than it WOil broad; and Ver. 4.-By the two oorners. Rather," on while the latter WBB to be cBBed with bronze, its two sides." The ensuing clause is redun- dant. All that is meant is, that the altar the former wos to have a covering of gold. should have two rings only-not four---0ne at The place for the eltar of incense was the each side, directly below the moulding. A.si main chlLlllber of the tabernacle, a little in it we.s so small, two rings were enough. front of the veil ; and its purpose was, 88 the For the staves. Rather, "for staves." name implied, the offering of incense to Ver. 5.-The staves were to be of acacia wood, overlaid with gold, like those used for Almighty God. This was to be done by carrying the ark ( eh. xxv 13) and the table the officiating priest, twice a Jay, morning of shew-bread (10. 28). and evening, and in practice was performed Ver. 6.-Thou shalt put it before the vail. before the morning, and after the evening It might have been doubtful from what is sacrifice. said here, which side of the veil the altar wus to be placed. '!.'he doubt is precluded by tho Ver. 1.-An altar to burn incense upon. narrative of what Moses actuallv did in eh The offering of incense was an element in the xl. 21-29, which makes it clear that tile religions worship of most ancient nations. u.lte.r was placed with the golden candlestic I;; In Egypt frankincense WBB especiu.lly used and the t11ble of shew-bread, out.side the reil. m ihe festivals of tho god Ammon ( Records in the "holy place," and not within the  THE BOOK OF EXODUR. (<m, XXX, 1-10.