Incense

How Nave’s arranged it

• Formula for compoundingExodus 30:34Exodus 30:35
• Uses ofExodus 30:36–38Leviticus 16:12Numbers 16:17Numbers 16:40Numbers 16:46Deuteronomy 33:10
• Compounded by BezaleelExodus 37:29
• By priests1 Chronicles 9:30
• Offered morning and eveningExodus 30:7Exodus 30:82 Chronicles 13:11
• On the golden altarExodus 30:1–7Exodus 40:5Exodus 40:272 Chronicles 2:42 Chronicles 32:12
• In making atonementLeviticus 16:12Leviticus 16:13Numbers 16:46Numbers 16:47Luke 1:10
• Offered by Nadab and Abihu in an unauthorized mannerLeviticus 10:1Leviticus 10:2
• Korah, Dathan, and AbiramNumbers 16:16–35
• By Uzziah2 Chronicles 26:16–21
• Offered in idolatrous worship1 Kings 12:23Jeremiah 41:5Ezekiel 8:11
• Presented by the wise men to JesusMatthew 2:11

The passages, in Bible order (35)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 16 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Exodus 30:1–7

   “You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for the burning of incense.

   ›Commentary on Exodus 30:1–72 voices

   “And David applies this type specially to prayer, when he says: "Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense." (Psalm 131:2.) Therefore, as the other altar of which we have been hearing, was devoted to the victims for the purpose of propitiating God, so also this altar perfumed the sacrifices with the odor of its incense, that they might be acceptable to God.

   “And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon,....

   Everything gathered on Exodus 30:1–7→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Exodus 30:7

   And Aaron is to burn fragrant incense on it every morning when he tends the lamps.

   ›Commentary on Exodus 30:72 voices

   “Aaron was to burn sweet incense upon this altar every morning and every evening, which was intended not only to take away the ill smell of the flesh that was burnt daily on the brazen altar, but for the honour of God, and to shew the, acceptableness of his people's services to him.

   “And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning,....

   Everything gathered on Exodus 30:7→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Exodus 30:8

   When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he must burn the incense perpetually before the LORD for the generations to come.

   ›Commentary on Exodus 30:82 voices

   “And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it,....

   “But "Aaron" is frequently used for the whole priestly order, and in later times, any of the priests might have officiated at this altar in rotation (Lu 1:9).

   Everything gathered on Exodus 30:8→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Exodus 30:34

   The LORD also said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense—in equal measures,

   ›Commentary on Exodus 30:342 voices

   “This incense was placed within the sanctuary, to be at hand when the priest required to burn on the altar. The art of compounding unguents and perfumes was well known in Egypt, where sweet-scented spices were extensively used not only in common life, but in the ritual of the temples.

   "You shall not offer upon it incense of another composition." Later in this book the spices from which this incense was to be composed are specified by name: stacte, and onycha, galbanum of pleasing fragrance, and the purest frankincense. It is obvious that all of …

   Everything gathered on Exodus 30:34→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Exodus 30:35

   and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy.

   ›Commentary on Exodus 30:352 voices

   “This incense was placed within the sanctuary, to be at hand when the priest required to burn on the altar. The art of compounding unguents and perfumes was well known in Egypt, where sweet-scented spices were extensively used not only in common life, but in the ritual of the temples.

   “And thou shalt make it a perfume,....

   Everything gathered on Exodus 30:35→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Exodus 30:36–38

   Grind some of it into fine powder and place it in front of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you.

   ›Commentary on Exodus 30:36–382 voices

   “This incense was placed within the sanctuary, to be at hand when the priest required to burn on the altar. The art of compounding unguents and perfumes was well known in Egypt, where sweet-scented spices were extensively used not only in common life, but in the ritual of the temples.

   “And thou shall beat some of it very small,....

   Everything gathered on Exodus 30:36–38→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. Exodus 37:29

   He also made the sacred anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense, the work of a perfumer.

   ›Commentary on Exodus 37:292 voices

   “He made the holy anointing oil - See this and the perfume, and the materials out of which they were made, described at large in the notes on Exo 30:23-25 and Exo 30:34-38. As this chapter also is a repetition of what has been mentioned in preceding chapters, the reader is desired to refer to them.

   “Consider these three together, and they represent the glory of a holy god, the sincerity of a holy heart, and the communion that is between them, in and by a Mediator. It is the glory of a holy god that he dwells between the cherubim; that is, is continually attended and adored by the blessed angels, whose swiftness was signified by their faces being one towards another.

   Everything gathered on Exodus 37:29→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. Exodus 40:5

   Place the gold altar of incense in front of the ark of the Testimony, and hang the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle.

   ›Commentary on Exodus 40:51 voice

   “And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony,....

   Everything gathered on Exodus 40:5→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. Exodus 40:27

   and he burned fragrant incense on it, just as the LORD had commanded him.

   ›Commentary on Exodus 40:271 voice

   “And he burnt sweet incense thereon,.... Which is another branch of the priestly office exercised by Moses, and which he would never have done had he not had a command from God for it, as follows: as the Lord commanded Moses; he commanded Moses indeed to order and direct Aaron to do this, but he being not yet consecrated, Moses, being the Lord's priest, did it.

   Everything gathered on Exodus 40:27→

   Verse page →Original language →

10. Leviticus 10:1

    Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command.

    ›Commentary on Leviticus 10:12 voices

    “Nadab and Abihu - The two elder sons of Aaron Exo 6:23; Num 3:2, who were among those invited to accompany Moses when he was going up Mount Sinai, but who were “to worship afar off,” and not “come near the Lord.” Exo 24:1-2. Censer - See Exo 25:38 note. Strange fire - The point of their offence is evidently expressed in this term. This may very probably mean that the incense was lighted at an unauthorized time.

    “Now as this was forbidden implicitly; chap. vi, 12, especially when God himself made a comment upon that text, and by sending fire from heaven declared of what fire he there spake; so it is more than probable it was forbidden expressly, though that be not here mentioned, nor was it necessary it should be.

    Everything gathered on Leviticus 10:1→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. Leviticus 10:2

    So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD.

    ›Commentary on Leviticus 10:22 voices

    “From the Lord - From heaven, or rather from the sanctuary. Devoured them - Destroyed their lives; for their bodies and garments were not consumed. Thus the sword is said to devour, 2 Sam. ii, 26.

    “The expression, "from the Lord," indicates that this fire issued from the most holy place. In the destruction of these two young priests by the infliction of an awful judgment, the wisdom of God observed the same course, in repressing the first instance of contempt for sacred things, as he did at the commencement of the Christian dispensation (Ac 5:1-11).

    Everything gathered on Leviticus 10:2→

    Verse page →Original language →

12. Leviticus 16:12

    Then he must take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense, and take them inside the veil.

    ›Commentary on Leviticus 16:122 voices

    “The object of this solemn ceremonial was to impress the minds of the Israelites with the conviction that the whole tabernacle was stained by the sins of a guilty people, that by their sins they had forfeited the privileges of the divine presence and worship, and that an atonement had to be made as the condition of God's remaining with them.

    “And he shall take a censer,....

    Everything gathered on Leviticus 16:12→

    Verse page →Original language →

13. Leviticus 16:13

    He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the cloud of incense will cover the mercy seat above the Testimony, so that he will not die.

    ›Commentary on Leviticus 16:132 voices

    “And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the Lord,....

    “The object of this solemn ceremonial was to impress the minds of the Israelites with the conviction that the whole tabernacle was stained by the sins of a guilty people, that by their sins they had forfeited the privileges of the divine presence and worship, and that an atonement had to be made as the condition of God's remaining with them.

    Everything gathered on Leviticus 16:13→

    Verse page →Original language →

14. Numbers 16:16–35

    And Moses said to Korah, “You and all your followers are to appear before the LORD tomorrow—you and they and Aaron.

    ›Commentary on Numbers 16:16–352 voices

    “And Moses said unto Korah,....

    “Since he could not convince them by his calm and affectionate reasoning, he is ready to enter into bonds to stand God's award, not doubting but that God would appear, to decide the controversy.

    Everything gathered on Numbers 16:16–35→

    Verse page →Original language →

15. Numbers 16:17

    Each man is to take his censer, place incense in it, and present it before the LORD—250 censers. You and Aaron are to present your censers as well.”

    ›Commentary on Numbers 16:172 voices

    “And take every man his censer, and put incense therein,....

    “Since he could not convince them by his calm and affectionate reasoning, he is ready to enter into bonds to stand God's award, not doubting but that God would appear, to decide the controversy.

    Everything gathered on Numbers 16:17→

    Verse page →Original language →

16. Numbers 16:40

    just as the LORD commanded him through Moses. This was to be a reminder to the Israelites that no outsider who is not a descendant of Aaron should approach to offer incense before the LORD, lest he become like Korah and his followers.

    ›Commentary on Numbers 16:402 voices

    “To be a memorial unto the children of Israel,....

    “These censers were preserved in terrorem, that others might hear and fear, and do no more presumptuously. Thus God has provided that his wonderful works, both in mercy and judgment, should be had in everlasting remembrance, that the end of them may be answered, and they may serve for instruction and admonition to those on whom the ends of the world are come.

    Everything gathered on Numbers 16:40→

    Verse page →Original language →