Exodus 30

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1. 1"Build an altar for burning incense, and make it out of acacia wood.
2. 2"Its length shall be 1 cubit and its width 1 cubit; it shall be square, and its height shall be 2 cubits. Its horns shall be of the same."
3. 3Cover the entire altar with pure gold — the top, all four sides, and the horns — and put a gold molding around the edge.
4. 4Make two gold rings beneath the molding, near the two corners on opposite sides. These will hold the carrying poles.
5. 5Make the poles from acacia wood and cover them with gold.
6. 6Place this altar in front of the curtain that hangs near the ark of the testimony, directly before the mercy seat that covers the testimony. That is where I will meet with you.
7. 7Every morning when Aaron tends the lamps, he must burn fragrant incense on this altar.
8. 8He must also burn incense on it when he lights the lamps at evening. This will be a perpetual offering of incense before the LORD, continuing through every generation.
9. 9You shall not offer any strange incense on this altar, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall you pour drink offering on it.
10. 10Once a year, Aaron must perform atonement on the altar's horns using the blood from the sin offering of atonement. This annual atonement must be observed through every generation. This altar is most holy to the LORD."
11. 11The LORD spoke to Moses:
12. 12"Whenever you take a census of the Israelites, each person counted must pay a ransom for his soul to the LORD. This will prevent any plague from striking them during the count.
13. 13Everyone who is counted must give half a shekel, measured by the sanctuary standard (a shekel equals 20 gerahs). This half shekel is an offering to the LORD.
14. 14Every person counted who is 20 years old or older must give this offering to the LORD.
15. 15The rich must not give more and the poor must not give less than half a shekel when presenting this offering to the LORD as atonement for your souls.
16. 16Collect the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the Tabernacle of the congregation. It will be a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD, to make atonement for your souls.
17. 17The LORD spoke to Moses:
18. 18"Make a bronze basin with a bronze stand for washing. Place it between the Tabernacle and the altar, and fill it with water.
19. 19Aaron and his sons must wash their hands and feet from it.
20. 20They must wash with water before entering the Tabernacle, or they will die. The same applies whenever they approach the altar to serve — to burn an offering made by fire to the LORD.
21. 21They must wash their hands and feet so they don't die. This is a permanent rule for Aaron and his descendants through every generation."
22. 22The LORD also spoke to Moses:
23. 23"Gather the finest spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, 250 shekels of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant calamus,
24. 24and 500 shekels of cassia — all measured by the sanctuary standard — along with a hin of olive oil.
25. 25Blend these together using the skill of a perfumer to create a holy anointing oil. This will be the sacred anointing oil.
26. 26Use it to anoint the Tabernacle and the ark of the testimony,
27. 27the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its accessories, and the incense altar,
28. 28the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand.
29. 29Consecrate them so they become most holy. Anything that touches them will become holy.
30. 30Then anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them so they can serve me as priests.
31. 31Tell the Israelites: 'This will be my holy anointing oil through every generation.
32. 32It must never be poured on an ordinary person's body, and you must never make anything with the same formula. It is holy, and you must treat it as holy.
33. 33Anyone who makes a blend like it or puts any of it on a stranger will be cut off from his people.
34. 34The LORD said to Moses, "Take sweet spices: stacte, onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense. Use equal amounts of each."
35. 35And you shall make it into a perfume, a mixture crafted by a perfumer, blended together, pure and holy.
36. 36Grind some of it into a fine powder and place it before the testimony in the Tabernacle, where I will meet with you. You must treat it as most holy.
37. 37Never make this incense with the same formula for your own use. It is holy — set apart for the LORD.
38. 38Anyone who makes incense like it just to enjoy its fragrance will be cut off from his people."