Exodus 30:1-16 The Altar of Incense

 Exodus 30:1-16 The Altar of Incense

Read Exodus 30:1-16 here

God told Moses to build an acacia wood altar for burning incense.  It was to be 1 cubit long by 1 cubit wide by 2 cubits high.  There are to be horns that are overlaid with gold.  Again there is a specific way to care this item:

Exodus 30:4-5

Make two gold rings for the altar below the molding–two on opposite sides–to hold the poles used to carry it. Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.

It was to be placed in front of the curtain that is in front of the ark.  Aaron was to burn incense in the morning and again at night.  This altar was not to be used for anything except for burning of incense.  Once a year there was to be an atonement on the horns.  This is to be done by blood.  

When there was a census of the Isrealites each person should pay a ransom for his life.  This would keep the plague from coming to them.  Each person was to give a half shekel.  This was to be done by all that are 20 years or older. 

Exodus 30:15-16

The rich are not to give more than a half shekel and the poor are not to give less when you make the offering to the LORD to atone for your lives. Receive the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting. It will be a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD, making atonement for your lives.”