“And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.”
Upon the which the sweet perfume was burnt, verse 34.
“And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.”
That is, in the Sanctuary, and not in the holiest of all.
“And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. sweet incense: Heb. incense of spices”
Meaning, when he trimmeth them, and refresheth the oil.
“Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.”
Otherwise made them this, which is described. But it must only serve to burn perfume.
“When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. their number: Heb. them that are to be numbered”
Cross references: : Num. 1:2 , 5 Whereby he testified that he redeemed his life which he had forfeit, as is declared by David, 2 Sam. 24:1 .
“This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD.”
This shekel valued two common shekels: and the gerah valued about 12 pence after five shillings sterling the ounce of silver. Lev. 27:25 ; Num. 3:47 ; Ezek. 45:12
“The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls. give more: Heb. multiply give less: Heb. diminish”
That God should be merciful unto you.
“For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:”
Signifying, that he that cometh to God, must be washed from all sin and corruption.
“So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.”
So long as the Priesthood shall last.
“Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels,”
Weighing so much. It is a kind of reed of a very sweet savor within, and it is used in powders and odors.
“And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony,”
All things which appertain to the Tabernacle.
“Upon man's flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you.”
Neither at their burials nor otherwise.
“Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people.”
Either a stranger or an Israelite, save only the Priests.
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight:”
In Hebrew, Sheheleth : which is a sweet kind of gum and shineth as the nail.
“And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the LORD.”
Only dedicated to the use of the Tabernacle.