Altar of Incense: The Priest Burned Incense on Every Morning and Evening
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Topical Encyclopedia
The Altar of Incense, also known as the Golden Altar, holds significant importance in the worship practices of ancient Israel as described in the Old Testament. It was a key component of the Tabernacle, and later the Temple, serving as a place where incense was burned by the priests every morning and evening as an offering to the LORD.

Biblical Description and Construction

The instructions for the construction of the Altar of Incense are detailed in Exodus 30:1-10. The altar was made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold, measuring a cubit in length and width, and two cubits in height. It had horns on its four corners, and a gold molding around it. Rings of gold were attached to its sides to hold poles for carrying, also made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold.

Purpose and Ritual Use

The primary function of the Altar of Incense was to burn fragrant incense before the LORD. This act was symbolic of the prayers of the people ascending to God. Exodus 30:7-8 states, "And Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it every morning when he tends the lamps. When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he must burn the incense perpetually before the LORD for the generations to come."

The incense used was a specific blend, as commanded by God, and was considered holy. The burning of incense was a daily ritual, performed by the high priest, signifying a continual offering of prayer and worship. The incense was to be burned both in the morning and at twilight, aligning with the tending of the lamps on the Lampstand, thus maintaining a perpetual presence before the LORD.

Symbolism and Significance

The Altar of Incense is rich in symbolism. It represents the prayers and intercessions of the people, as seen in Psalm 141:2 , "May my prayer be set before You like incense, my uplifted hands like the evening offering." The rising smoke of the incense was a visual representation of prayers ascending to heaven, emphasizing the importance of prayer in the life of the believer.

The location of the altar, placed before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, underscores its role as a mediator between God and His people. The incense offering was a reminder of the need for purity and holiness in approaching God, as well as the necessity of intercession.

New Testament Fulfillment

In the New Testament, the Altar of Incense finds its fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. As the ultimate High Priest, Christ intercedes on behalf of believers, offering prayers that are pleasing to God. Revelation 8:3-4 reflects this imagery, "Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, rose up before God from the hand of the angel."

The Altar of Incense, therefore, serves as a powerful symbol of the continuous and intercessory nature of prayer, both in the Old Testament worship and in the life of the Church through Christ.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Exodus 30:7,8
And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresses the lamps, he shall burn incense on it.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Altar of Incense
... The altar of incense shows us ... Twice a day, morning and evening, came the officiating
priest with his pan of coals and incense, and laid it there; and during ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the altar of incense.htm

The Incense of Prayer
... still the glow was there; and twice a day there came the priest with his pan ... So the
incense is perpetually to be heaped on the Altar of Incense, but also it ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/the incense of prayer.htm

Scriptural Types.
... He was a type of Christ not simply as a priest, but also in ... of Revelation an angel
is represented as offering upon this golden altar much incense with the ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxvii scriptural types.htm

The Day of Atonement
... full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the ... thine stood with thee;
no Eliezer, no Phineas, burned incense; there was no priest, no Levite ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/the day of atonement.htm

Ancestors of the Blessed virgin
... I saw as it were a beam of light falling upon the officiating priest in the Holy ...
and led him through the side rooms up to the golden altar of incense in the ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/i ancestors of the blessed.htm

Reform
... at another hour gathered round the priest; again, at ... priests of this god; they burnt
incense every morning and every ... come and worship at the altar of Jerusalem ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/reform.htm

In the House of his Heavenly, and in the Home of his Earthly ...
... From that lofty pinnacle the priest each morning watched and announced the ... the Table
of Shewbread (north), and the Golden Altar of Incense between them. ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter x in the house.htm

Questions About the Lord's Supper
... 4. Burning incense? ... the famous Church historian, says:"" The sacrament of the altar
was the main ... body of Christ after the consecration of the priest, is not ...
/.../chapter xx questions about the.htm

A Solemn Deprival
... Without Christ you have no priest to atone or to intercede on your behalf ... your lintel
to turn aside the destroying angel; no smoking altar of incense for you ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 61 1915/a solemn deprival.htm

"Lo, I Come": Exposition
... sweet cane bought with money, and precious incense"which were ... no table of shewbread,
no brazen altar, and no ... they are priests, since no apostle was a priest. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/lo i come exposition.htm

Resources
Why was the altar in Joshua 22:10 34 such a big deal? | GotQuestions.org

What was the significance of the altar King Ahaz built? | GotQuestions.org

Why is Gideon referred to as Jerubbaal? | GotQuestions.org

Altar: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Altar

Altar in Solomon's Temple in Second Temple

Altar in Solomon's Temple: Cleansed by Hezekiah

Altar in Solomon's Temple: Description of

Altar in Solomon's Temple: Ezekiel's Vision of

Altar in Solomon's Temple: Furniture of, Taken to Babylon

Altar in Solomon's Temple: Removed by Ahaz, and One of Idolatrous Fashion Substituted

Altar in Solomon's Temple: Renewed by Asa

Altar in Solomon's Temple: Repaired by Manasseh

Altar in the Tabernacle: A Place of Refuge

Altar in the Tabernacle: Constructed by Bezaleel

Altar in the Tabernacle: Furniture of

Altar in the Tabernacle: Horns of

Altar in the Tabernacle: How Sanctified

Altar in the Tabernacle: Location of

Altar in the Tabernacle: Pattern of

Altar in the Tabernacle: Sanctified Everything That Touched It

Altar in the Tabernacle: See

Altar in the Tabernacle: Uses of the Horns

Altar of Burnt offerings: Called Altar of God

Altar of Burnt offerings: Called Altar of the Lord

Altar of Burnt offerings: Called Brazen Altar

Altar of Incense in Solomon's Temple

Altar of Incense: A Cover Made For, of the Censers of Korah

Altar of Incense: A Type of Christ

Altar of Incense: Altar Before the Lord

Altar of Incense: Altar of Sweet Incense

Altar of Incense: Anointed With Holy Oil

Altar of Incense: Atonement Made For, by the High Priest Once Every Year

Altar of Incense: Called the Golden Altar

Altar of Incense: Carried by Kohathites

Altar of Incense: Constructed

Altar of Incense: Covered by the Priest Before Removal from the Sanctuary

Altar of Incense: Covered With Gold

Altar of Incense: Dimensions of

Altar of Incense: had Four Rings of Gold Under the Crown for the Staves

Altar of Incense: How Prepared for Carrying

Altar of Incense: Location of

Altar of Incense: No Strange Incense Nor Any Sacrifice to be offered On

Altar of Incense: Pattern of

Altar of Incense: Placed Before the Vail in the Outer Sanctuary

Altar of Incense: Punishment For: Offering Strange Fire On

Altar of Incense: Punishment For: Unauthorised offering On

Altar of Incense: Said to be Before the Lord

Altar of Incense: Seen in John's Vision

Altar of Incense: Staves of, Covered With Gold

Altar of Incense: The Blood of all Sin offerings Put on the Horns of

Altar of Incense: The Priest Burned Incense on Every Morning and Evening

Altar of Incense: Top of, Surrounded With a Crown of Gold

Altar of Incense: Uses of

Altar used in Idolatrous Worship

Altar: Built by Abraham

Altar: Built by Balaam

Altar: Built by David

Altar: Built by Elijah

Altar: Built by Gideon

Altar: Built by Isaac

Altar: Built by Jacob

Altar: Built by Joshua

Altar: Built by Moses

Altar: Built by Noah

Altar: Built by Samuel

Altar: Built by Saul

Altar: Built by the Reubenites and Gadites

Altar: Mosaic Commandments Prescribing the Construction of

Altar: See

The Altar of Burnt-Offering was Most Holy

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: A Net-Working Grate of Brass Placed In

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: A Type of Christ

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Ahaz Removed and Profaned

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: All Gifts to be Presented At

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: All Its Vessels of Brass

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: All Sacrifices to be offered On

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Anointed and Sanctified With Holy Oil

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Called: The Altar of God

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Called: The Altar of the Lord

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Called: The Brazen Altar

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Cleansed and Purified With Blood

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Covered With Brass

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Dimensions of

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Furnished With Rings and Staves

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Horns on the Corners of

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Made After a Divine Pattern

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Nothing Polluted or Defective to be offered On

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Offering at the Dedication of

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Placed in the Court Before the Door of the Tabernacle

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Sacrifices Bound to the Horns of

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Sanctified by God

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Sanctified Whatever Touched It

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: The Blood of Sacrifices Put on the Horns and Poured at The

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: The Fire Upon was Continually Burning

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: The Fire Upon: Came from Before the Lord

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: The Fire Upon: Consumed the Sacrifices

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: The Jews Condemned for Swearing Lightly By

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: The Priests: Alone to Serve

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: The Priests: Derived Support From

Related Terms

Incense-altar (2 Occurrences)

Perfume-altar (1 Occurrence)

Altar-hearths (2 Occurrences)

Soothing (40 Occurrences)

Censer (10 Occurrences)

Ba'al (55 Occurrences)

Sprinkleth (11 Occurrences)

Sanctifieth (21 Occurrences)

Pleasant (119 Occurrences)

Ashe'rah (18 Occurrences)

Aroma (50 Occurrences)

Bottom (33 Occurrences)

Horn (108 Occurrences)

Burnt-sacrifice (13 Occurrences)

Arranged (32 Occurrences)

Slaughtereth (13 Occurrences)

Savour (52 Occurrences)

Staffs (47 Occurrences)

Sanctify (91 Occurrences)

Sprinkled (55 Occurrences)

Aaron's (53 Occurrences)

Acacia-wood (27 Occurrences)

Staves (50 Occurrences)

Pour (137 Occurrences)

Shrine (34 Occurrences)

Pole (21 Occurrences)

Buildeth (73 Occurrences)

Slew (206 Occurrences)

Sides (170 Occurrences)

Builded (65 Occurrences)

Burnt-offering (205 Occurrences)

Acacia (28 Occurrences)

Meat-offerings (10 Occurrences)

Memorial-part (7 Occurrences)

Baal's (6 Occurrences)

Copy (18 Occurrences)

Slaughtered (72 Occurrences)

Screen (26 Occurrences)

Strange (234 Occurrences)

Araunah (14 Occurrences)

Savor (51 Occurrences)

Smell (77 Occurrences)

Ashes (44 Occurrences)

Brazen (42 Occurrences)

Shewbread (16 Occurrences)

Sprinkle (37 Occurrences)

Smoke (98 Occurrences)

Sweet (147 Occurrences)

Attend (71 Occurrences)

Basins (33 Occurrences)

Plates (19 Occurrences)

Pertaineth (18 Occurrences)

Bull's (8 Occurrences)

Chalkstone

Contain (19 Occurrences)

Arrange (19 Occurrences)

Shelf (5 Occurrences)

Spice-perfume (5 Occurrences)

Swears (16 Occurrences)

Copper (55 Occurrences)

Poles (58 Occurrences)

Shittim (34 Occurrences)

Beth-el (65 Occurrences)

Anointed (132 Occurrences)

Putteth (182 Occurrences)

Perfumes (69 Occurrences)

Manoah (14 Occurrences)

Peace-offering (46 Occurrences)

Purify (39 Occurrences)

Bullocks (50 Occurrences)

Pulled (84 Occurrences)

Asylum

Courtyard (59 Occurrences)

Anointing (39 Occurrences)

Vessels (210 Occurrences)

Ablution

Memorial (54 Occurrences)

Built (299 Occurrences)

Perfume (202 Occurrences)

Altar of Incense: The Blood of all Sin offerings Put on the Horns of
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