301 "Moreover, you shall make an altar as a place for burning incense ; you shall make it of acacia wood . 2 "Its length shall be a cubit , and its width a cubit , it shall be square , and its height shall be two cubits ; its horns shall be of one piece with it. 3 "You shall overlay it with pure gold , its top and its sides all around , and its horns ; and you shall make a gold molding all around for it. 4 "You shall make two gold rings for it under its molding ; you shall make them on its two side walls -on opposite sides -and they shall be holders for poles with which to carry it. 5 "You shall make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold . 6 "You shall put this altar in front of the veil that is near the ark of the testimony , in front of the mercy seat that is over the ark of the testimony , where e I will meet with you. 7 "Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it; he shall burn it every morning when he trims the lamps . 8 "When Aaron trims the lamps at twilight , he shall burn incense . There shall be perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations . 9 "You shall not offer any strange incense on this altar, or burnt offering or meal offering ; and you shall not pour out a drink offering on it. 10 "Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once a year ; he shall make atonement on it with the blood of the sin offering of atonement once a year throughout your generations . It is most holy to the Lord ."
11 The Lord also spoke to Moses , saying ,
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 30:1-11
Commentary on Exodus 30:1-10
(Read Exodus 30:1-10)
The altar of incense represented the Son of God in his human nature, and the incense burned thereon typified his pleading for his people. The continual intercession of Christ was represented by the daily burning of incense thereon, morning and evening. Once every year the blood of the atonement was to be applied to it, denoting that the intercession of Christ has all its virtue from his sufferings on earth, and that we need no other sacrifice or intercessor but Christ alone.
Commentary on Exodus 30:11-16
(Read Exodus 30:11-16)
The tribute was half a shekel, about fifteen pence of our money. The rich were not to give more, nor the poor less; the souls of the rich and poor are alike precious, and God is no respecter of persons, Acts 10:34; Job 34:19. In other offerings men were to give according to their wordly ability; but this, which was the ransom of the soul, must be alike for all. The souls of all are of equal value, equally in danger, and all equally need a ransom. The money raised was to be used in the service of the tabernacle. Those who have the benefit, must not grudge the necessary charges of God's public worship. Money cannot make atonement for the soul, but it may be used for the honour of Him who has made the atonement, and for the maintenance of the gospel by which the atonement is applied.