[youtube url=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/LZ15wWYgPQU”]<\/p>\n
This week\u2019s Torah Portion, Parashat Ki Tisa, speaks of the making of the sanctuary incense and its use in the service to God.\u00a0 We are told in the Scriptures that it is forbidden to the use the sanctuary incense by the general public.\u00a0 The descriptions given to us in the Torah are analogous to drawing near to \u201cThe Place\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u05d4\u05de\u05e7\u05d5\u05dd), to the Lord God of Israel, to seek His ways, where the sanctuary incense when used by the general public is to put on the fragrance of God in the sense of doing things our own ways and not God\u2019s ways.\u00a0 This is illustrated by Rabbi Simon Jacobson, who said the following, \u201cThis animalistic drive of man\u2014which is the basic drive, common to every living creature, for self-preservation and self-enhancement, possesses many positive traits which can be directed toward gainful and holy ends; but it is also the source of many negative and destructive traits. When a person brings his animal self to the Temple of God and offers what is best and finest in it upon the altar, there is still the foul odor, the selfishness, the brutality and the materiality of the animal in man that accompanies the process. Hence the burning of the ketoret, which possessed the unique capability to sublimate the evil odor of the animal soul within its heavenly fragrance.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Note how Rabbi Jacobson spiritualizes the sanctuary incense as it is related to the sacrifices which were brought to the Tabernacle.\u00a0 Rabbi Jacobson speaks of the manner in which we are to come before the Lord, that when one brings his base self before the Lord, it does not matter whether it is the best or the finest, our attempts at righteousness still hold a foul odor which he describes as \u201cthe selfishness, the brutality and the materiality of the animal in man.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 He says the sanctuary incense had the capability to sublimate the evil odor of the animal soul within its fragrance.\u00a0 The idea is that due to the sanctuary ritual of sacrifice and blood atonement, there was a foul odor that resulted due to the burning of the flesh, the fat, and the blood of the animal upon the altar.\u00a0 Note that the altar (\u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b4\u05d6\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b5\u05d7) comes from the root word \u05d6\u05d1\u05d7 meaning \u201cslaughter\u201d<\/span><\/em> where there was death all around, and the concept of the animal taking upon the sin of the one who brought the offering, the imagery that we receive from the Torah in the daily sacrifices give us the feeling of a horrible stench that would have surrounded the sanctuary ritual.\u00a0 This horrible smell was the direct result of the sins of the people, and in parallel fashion, this is how Rabbi Jacobson comes to the conclusion that the one who brings himself to the sanctuary, no matter how \u201cbest of the best\u201d he may be, the inward man still reeks of a foul odor before a holy God.\u00a0 Because of these things, there are two sides to the sacrificial sanctuary ritual, (i) the physical (this side, this world) and (ii) the spiritual (the other side, heaven).\u00a0 The burning of the incense had the advantage of eliminating the awful stench of the sacrificial ritual.\u00a0 Therefore, when a person would bring himself to the sanctuary, he would smell the incense and it is said that this \u201chad the power to break and subjugate the power of the Other Side. This place was called a \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b4\u05d6\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b5\u05d7 because it was a place where the Other Side was slaughtered.\u201d<\/span><\/em> (Meam Loez) Note how even though the physical is slaughtered on \u201cthis side\u201d<\/span><\/em> the spiritual is also being slaughtered on \u201cthe other side\u201d<\/span><\/em> because the two are intimately connected.\u00a0 This was the point of the laying on of the hands and the transference of sin to the animal by faith.\u00a0 As a result, the incense has the capability to enlighten and purify people from sin.\u00a0 This concept is derived from the idea that whoever smelled the fragrance of the incense when it was being burned upon the altar would have had thoughts of repentance.\u00a0 The reason being, this incense was only burned at the Tabernacle and when one would present himself before God he would have done so in repentance.\u00a0 The incense effected the heart, and the heart would be purified of all the evil thoughts and from the defilement of the evil urge which is described as the \u201cbase animalistic drive of man.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Because of the incense, the heart would come to a state of Teshuvah before God, and as a result, the incense is said to be able to \u201cbreak the power of the other side\u201d so as to cause the one bringing the offering to make his heart right before God.\u00a0 This is significant when we consider the prohibition on the use of the incense by the general public.\u00a0 If the incense was taken for general use, the effective outcome would be that it would have no power over the heart of man for Teshuvah.\u00a0 This week\u2019s Torah portion regarding the sanctuary incense speaks of the necessity of sanctifying our hearts for the service of God.\u00a0 The Lord calls us to draw near to \u201cThe Place\u201d (\u05d4\u05de\u05e7\u05d5\u05dd), that sacred place, to seek His ways, where the sanctuary incense leads us to understand that our hearts and our lives are not for general use, but are sacred, and holy, and righteous.\u00a0 We are not to seek our own form of righteousness, but to seek the ways of God and His righteousness, recognizing that it is only by the mercy of God in His Messiah Yeshua, that we are able to come before Him, where doing so is always to be done in a state of Teshuvah (Repentance).\u00a0 Let\u2019s discuss these things further in this weeks Torah portion.<\/p>\n This week we are looking at Shemot \/ Exodus 30:22-38<\/span><\/em>.<\/p>\n Shemot \/ Exodus 30:22-38<\/span><\/em><\/strong> \u05db\u05d1\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b0\u05d3\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b5\u05e8 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05de\u05b9\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05d4 \u05dc\u05bc\u05b5\u05d0\u05de\u05b9\u05e8: \u05db\u05d2\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b7\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e7\u05b7\u05d7-\u05dc\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd 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\u05d6\u05b7\u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05d3 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b7\u05d3 \u05d9\u05b4\u05d4\u05b0\u05d9\u05b6\u05d4: \u05dc\u05d4\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e2\u05b8\u05e9\u05b4\u05b9\u05d9\u05ea\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u05d4\u05bc \u05e7\u05b0\u05d8\u05b9\u05e8\u05b6\u05ea \u05e8\u05b9\u05e7\u05b7\u05d7 \u05de\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e9\u05b5\u05b9\u05d4 \u05e8\u05d5\u05b9\u05e7\u05b5\u05d7\u05b7 \u05de\u05b0\u05de\u05bb\u05dc\u05bc\u05b8\u05d7 \u05d8\u05b8\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8 \u05e7\u05b9\u05d3\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1: \u05dc\u05d5\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05d7\u05b7\u05e7\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8 \u05de\u05b4\u05de\u05bc\u05b6\u05e0\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b8\u05d3\u05b5\u05e7 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e0\u05b8\u05ea\u05b7\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05de\u05b4\u05de\u05bc\u05b6\u05e0\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b4\u05e4\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05b5\u05d3\u05bb\u05ea \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b9\u05d4\u05b6\u05dc \u05de\u05d5\u05b9\u05e2\u05b5\u05d3 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b4\u05d5\u05bc\u05b8\u05e2\u05b5\u05d3 \u05dc\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05de\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e7\u05b9\u05d3\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 \u05e7\u05b8\u05d3\u05b8\u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d4\u05b0\u05d9\u05b6\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b8\u05db\u05b6\u05dd: \u05dc\u05d6\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b7\u05e7\u05bc\u05b0\u05d8\u05b9\u05e8\u05b6\u05ea \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05ea\u05bc\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05b9\u05d4 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05de\u05b7\u05ea\u05b0\u05db\u05bc\u05bb\u05e0\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4\u05bc \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05ea\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e9\u05b9\u05d5\u05bc \u05dc\u05b8\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05e7\u05b9\u05d3\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 \u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d4\u05b0\u05d9\u05b6\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05dc\u05b7\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05b8\u05d4: \u05dc\u05d7\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d0\u05b4\u05d9\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8-\u05d9\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05b9\u05d4 \u05db\u05b8\u05de\u05d5\u05b9\u05d4\u05b8 \u05dc\u05b0\u05d4\u05b8\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05d7\u05b7 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4\u05bc \u05d5\u05b0\u05e0\u05b4\u05db\u05b0\u05e8\u05b7\u05ea \u05de\u05b5\u05e2\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5:<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n We are told according to the Torah regarding the incense, \u05dc\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d0\u05b7\u05d4\u05b2\u05e8\u05b9\u05df \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e0\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05de\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05d7 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e7\u05b4\u05d3\u05bc\u05b7\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u05dd \u05dc\u05b0\u05db\u05b7\u05d4\u05b5\u05df \u05dc\u05b4\u05d9: \u05dc\u05d0\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc \u05ea\u05bc\u05b0\u05d3\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b5\u05e8 \u05dc\u05b5\u05d0\u05de\u05b9\u05e8 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05de\u05b6\u05df \u05de\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05d7\u05b7\u05ea-\u05e7\u05b9\u05d3\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d9\u05b4\u05d4\u05b0\u05d9\u05b6\u05d4 \u05d6\u05b6\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05dc\u05b0\u05d3\u05b9\u05e8\u05b9\u05ea\u05b5\u05d9\u05db\u05b6\u05dd: 30:30 \u2018You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister as priests to Me. 30:31 \u2018You shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying, \u2018This shall be a holy anointing oil to Me throughout your generations. (NASB)\u00a0<\/span><\/em> The oil containing the incense was only for the use in the Temple service, and we are told the following: \u05dc\u05d1\u00a0\u00a0 \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc-\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05b7\u05b9\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b8\u05d3\u05b8\u05dd \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b4\u05d9\u05e1\u05b8\u05da\u05b0 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b0\u05de\u05b7\u05ea\u05b0\u05db\u05bc\u05bb\u05e0\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05ea\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e9\u05b9\u05d5\u05bc \u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05de\u05b9\u05d4\u05d5\u05bc \u05e7\u05b9\u05d3\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d4\u05d5\u05bc\u05d0 \u05e7\u05b9\u05d3\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d9\u05b4\u05d4\u05b0\u05d9\u05b6\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b8\u05db\u05b6\u05dd: \u05dc\u05d2\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d0\u05b4\u05d9\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e8\u05b0\u05e7\u05b7\u05d7 \u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05de\u05b9\u05d4\u05d5\u05bc \u05d5\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d9\u05b4\u05ea\u05bc\u05b5\u05df \u05de\u05b4\u05de\u05bc\u05b6\u05e0\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc-\u05d6\u05b8\u05e8 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e0\u05b4\u05db\u05b0\u05e8\u05b7\u05ea \u05de\u05b5\u05e2\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5: 30:32 \u2018It shall not be poured on anyone\u2019s body, nor shall you make any like it in the same proportions; it is holy, and it shall be holy to you. 30:33 \u2018Whoever shall mix any like it or whoever puts any of it on a layman shall be cut off from his people.\u2019\u2018 (NASB)<\/span><\/em> These Scriptures illustrate the significance on the use of the incense and the setting apart for the Tabernacle use only.\u00a0 If the rabbinic assessment is correct, where the incense has the ability to \u201cbreak the power of the other side\u201d so as to cause the one bringing the offering to make his heart right before God.\u00a0 These verses are meant to guard the incense from use by the general public.\u00a0 If the incense was taken for general use, the effective outcome would be that it would have no power over the heart of man for Teshuvah.\u00a0 The Lord calls us to draw near to \u201cThe Place\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u05d4\u05de\u05e7\u05d5\u05dd), that sacred place, to seek His ways, where the sanctuary incense leads us to understand that our hearts and our lives are not for general use, but are sacred, and holy, and righteous.\u00a0 This may be why the Torah commands to cut off the person who takes the incense for his own personal use.\u00a0 We are to seek the ways of God and His righteousness, recognizing that it is only by the mercy of God in His Messiah Yeshua, that we are able to come before Him, where doing so is always to be done in a state of Teshuvah (Repentance).<\/p>\n The following references draws into context the role and the power to sanctify that is found in the burning of the incense.<\/p>\n Shemot \/ Exodus 25:1-8<\/span><\/em><\/strong> Shemot \/ Exodus 30:7-10<\/span><\/em><\/strong> Shemot \/ Exodus 30:34-38<\/span><\/em><\/strong> The incense was created from the Terumah (contribution) of the people.\u00a0 We are told that Aaron and his sons are to burn the fragrant incense each day, every morning, and that there is to be a perpetual burning of the incense before the Lord.\u00a0 No drink offering is to be poured out upon the altar of incense, and only once a year blood atonement is to be made on the altar by Aaron applying the blood during Yom Kippur.\u00a0 The Lord speaks of the sacredness and holiness of the fragrant incense.\u00a0 The basic idea behind the use of the incense on a practical (physical) aspect was due to the sanctuary ritual of sacrifice and blood atonement, there was a foul odor that resulted due to the burning of the flesh, the fat, and the blood of the animal upon the altar.\u00a0 There was however also a spiritual aspect to the fragrant incense which is related to the manner in which we come before the Lord, to consider who we are on the inside and to making the heart right before the Lord.<\/p>\n Rambam states the following according to His \u201cGuide for the Perplexed.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Guide for the Perplexed, Part 3 45<\/span><\/em><\/strong> The idea is that both the place and the clothing were to be made fragrant by the incense.\u00a0 Rambam brings out the idea that standing in the presence of God should not be accompanied with the odor of death.\u00a0 The effect of the incense was to bring a pleasant smell, which not only elevated our hearts, but also would cause us to consider the place we are approaching, and to make our hearts right before the Lord.\u00a0 The place (Tabernacle) and the clothing (Priests) had the smell of a foul odor due to death if it were not for the fragrant incense.\u00a0 Note the parallels which may be drawn to our lives.\u00a0 The inward self (Tabernacle) and clothing (the way we live) have the smell of a foul odor due to sin.\u00a0 This seems to be illustrated in the following way based upon Bamidbar \/ Numbers 16:46-48.<\/p>\n Bamidbar \/ Numbers 16:46-48<\/span><\/em><\/strong> When we consider the significance of the fragrant incense and its role in having the power over the heart of man for Teshuvah; we are given the concept that the sin that was burning in the hearts of the people in the congregation of Israel.\u00a0 The sin on the inside resulted in a plague and death.\u00a0 Aaron run out into the midst of the congregation with the burning incense to purify and to make atonement.\u00a0 Aaron stood in the midst of the people burning the incense standing between the living and the dead.\u00a0 The incense caused the people to realize the Lord God of Israel is dwelling in their midst which led to their repenting of their evil thoughts.\u00a0 Note how this is what is going on in our lives, Teshuvah stands between the living works and the dead works of our lives.\u00a0 Remember also that this event followed the death of Korach, Datan, and Aviram according to Parashat Korach.\u00a0 We are told that the people were angry that these people had died.<\/p>\n Bamidbar \/ Numbers 16:41-45<\/span><\/em><\/strong> These people kept sin in their hearts, and the idea was that they needed to be reminded that they are to live their lives in repentance before God because he was dwelling in their midst.\u00a0 This may be why it is that Aaron needed to go into the midst of the congregation with the burning incense, so the people would smell this fragrance and realize what they have done and would repent, making their hearts right before the Lord and thus stopping the plague.\u00a0 This seems to be the context the Torah is providing for us to understand what is meant by Aaron going and making atonement on behalf of the people by simply burning the incense.\u00a0 Remember how in the burning of the incense, the smell of the incense would permeate the cloths and when one goes before the Lord and then returns home, the smell of the Tabernacle would following him, but it would eventually fade.\u00a0 This draws us to the understanding that the people were called to continually return to the place of the Lord.\u00a0 This seems to be what is being drawn out according to the rabbinic interpretations on the fragrant incense.\u00a0 Note what is written in the Zohar regarding these things.<\/p>\n Wisdom of the Zohar, Tishby, III 933<\/span><\/em><\/strong> The idea here on making the words an ornament for our heads is analogous to putting God\u2019s Word in our hearts so that we will live by His Word.\u00a0 According to the Zohar, the incense offering is the most precious part of the Temple service in the eyes of the Lord which is indicated by the strict restrictions that were placed upon its use.\u00a0 Rashi interprets the incense in the following way.<\/p>\n Rashi on Shemot \/ Exodus 30:37<\/span><\/em><\/strong> Part 2<\/span><\/em> Rashi states that the fragrant incense was meant for use only in honor of the Name of God.\u00a0 Paul wrote according to Romans 1:21, \u201cFor although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.\u201d\u00a0 Paul also wrote in Colossians 3:16-17 saying, that we are to be joyful telling us to sing \u201cwith thankfulness in our hearts to God,\u201d and that in all things we are to give \u201cthanks to God the Father through him\u201d the Messiah Yeshua.\u00a0 Scripture has much to say about this duty to be thankful to the Lord, and this week\u2019s Torah Portion (Parashat Ki Tisa) speaks to this attitude as part of what it means to honor Him in everything.\u00a0 It is not too difficult to see how the lack of honor for the Creator leads to sin based upon this weeks Torah Portion.\u00a0 The manner in which we are to come before the Lord, when one brings his base self before the Lord, it does not matter whether it is the best or the finest, our attempts at righteousness still hold a foul odor which is described as \u201cthe selfishness, the brutality and the materiality of the animal in man.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0\u00a0 We were made to worship the Lord, and therefore our life\u2019s goal is to bring honor to the Lord God our Father in heaven.\u00a0 If our honor is not directed to the Lord who made all that exists, then it is going to be directed towards something else.\u00a0 The redirection of honor due to sin makes all of us guilty of idolatry.\u00a0 Our lives are to be all about honoring God directly in our worship of the Lord, from a Torah context directs us to realize that honoring God comes by faith through the way we live and seek Him each day.\u00a0 For example, the command to respect the name of God and honor our parents are very practical examples as reminders to overcome our natural tendency to dishonor the Creator.\u00a0 This is significant when we consider the prohibition on the use of the incense by the general public in this week\u2019s Torah Portion.\u00a0 The sanctuary incense speaks of the necessity of sanctifying our hearts for the service of God.\u00a0 The Lord calls us to draw near to \u201cThe Place\u201d (\u05d4\u05de\u05e7\u05d5\u05dd), that sacred place, to seek His ways, where the sanctuary incense leads us to understand that our hearts and our lives are not for general use, but are sacred, and holy, and righteous.<\/p>\n
\n 30:22 Moreover, the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 30:23 \u2018Take also for yourself the finest of spices: of flowing myrrh five hundred shekels, and of fragrant cinnamon half as much, two hundred and fifty, and of fragrant cane two hundred and fifty, 30:24 and of cassia five hundred, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and of olive oil a hin. 30:25 \u2018You shall make of these a holy anointing oil, a perfume mixture, the work of a perfumer; it shall be a holy anointing oil. 30:26 \u2018With it you shall anoint the tent of meeting and the ark of the testimony, 30:27 and the table and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense, 30:28 and the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the laver and its stand. 30:29 \u2018You shall also consecrate them, that they may be most holy; whatever touches them shall be holy. 30:30 \u2018You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister as priests to Me. 30:31 \u2018You shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying, \u2018This shall be a holy anointing oil to Me throughout your generations. 30:32 \u2018It shall not be poured on anyone\u2019s body, nor shall you make any like it in the same proportions; it is holy, and it shall be holy to you. 30:33 \u2018Whoever shall mix any like it or whoever puts any of it on a layman shall be cut off from his people.\u2019\u2018 30:34 Then the Lord said to Moses, \u2018Take for yourself spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum, spices with pure frankincense; there shall be an equal part of each. 30:35 \u2018With it you shall make incense, a perfume, the work of a perfumer, salted, pure, and holy. 30:36 \u2018You shall beat some of it very fine, and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting where I will meet with you; it shall be most holy to you. 30:37 \u2018The incense which you shall make, you shall not make in the same proportions for yourselves; it shall be holy to you for the Lord. 30:38 \u2018Whoever shall make any like it, to use as perfume, shall be cut off from his people.\u2019<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n
\n 25:1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 25:2 \u2018Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution. 25:3 \u2018This is the contribution which you are to raise from them: gold, silver and bronze, 25:4 blue, purple and scarlet material, fine linen, goat hair,\u00a0 5:5 rams\u2019 skins dyed red, porpoise skins, acacia wood, 25:6 oil for lighting, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, 25:7 onyx stones and setting stones for the ephod and for the breastpiece. 25:8 \u2018Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n
\n 30:7 \u2018Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it; he shall burn it every morning when he trims the lamps. 30:8 \u2018When Aaron trims the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense. There shall be perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations. 30:9 \u2018You shall not offer any strange incense on this altar, or burnt offering or meal offering; and you shall not pour out a drink offering on it. 30:10 \u2018Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once a year; he shall make atonement on it with the blood of the sin offering of atonement once a year throughout your generations. It is most holy to the Lord.\u2019 (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n
\n 30:34 Then the Lord said to Moses, \u2018Take for yourself spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum, spices with pure frankincense; there shall be an equal part of each.<\/span><\/em>
\n 30:35 \u2018With it you shall make incense, a perfume, the work of a perfumer, salted, pure, and holy. 30:36 \u2018You shall beat some of it very fine, and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting where I will meet with you; it shall be most holy to you. 30:37 \u2018The incense which you shall make, you shall not make in the same proportions for yourselves; it shall be holy to you for the Lord. 30:38 \u2018Whoever shall make any like it, to use as perfume, shall be cut off from his people.\u2019 (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n (11) Since many beasts were daily slaughtered in the holy place, the flesh cut in pieces and the entrails and the legs burnt and washed, the smell of the place would undoubtedly have been like the smell of slaughter-houses, if nothing had been done to counteract it. They were therefore commanded to burn incense there twice every day, in the morning and in the evening (Exod. 30:7, 8), in order to give the place and the garments of those who officiated there a pleasant odor. There is a well-known saying of our Sages, \u201cIn Jericho they could smell the incense\u201d [burnt in the Temple]. This provision likewise tended to support the dignity of the Temple. If there had not been a good smell, let alone if there had been a stench, it would have produced in the minds of the people the reverse of respect; for our heart generally feels elevated in the presence of good odor, and is attracted by it, but it abhors and avoids bad smell.<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n 16:46 Moses said to Aaron, \u2018Take your censer and put in it fire from the altar, and lay incense on it; then bring it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone forth from the Lord, the plague has begun!\u2019 16:47 Then Aaron took it as Moses had spoken, and ran into the midst of the assembly, for behold, the plague had begun among the people. So he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. 16:48 He took his stand between the dead and the living, so that the plague was checked. (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n 16:41 But on the next day all the congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying, \u2018You are the ones who have caused the death of the Lord\u2019s people.\u2019 16:42 It came about, however, when the congregation had assembled against Moses and Aaron, that they turned toward the tent of meeting, and behold, the cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord appeared. 16:43 Then Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting, 16:44 and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 16:45 \u2018Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly.\u2019 Then they fell on their faces. (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n Rabbi Shimon said: If men only knew how exalted the section dealing with] the incense-offering was in the eyes of the Holy One, blessed be He, they would take each single word and make it an ornament for their heads, like a crown of gold. And whoever, wishes to study it should examine it in every detail. And if he concentrates upon it every day, he will have a share both in this world and the world to come. Pestilence will disappear from him and from the world, and he will be delivered from all the [evil] judgments of this world, from evil powers, from the judgment of Gehinnom and from Judgment of the foreign kingdom.<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n Part 1<\/span><\/em>
\n \u05d1\u05de\u05ea\u05db\u05e0\u05ea\u05d4 means, according to the quantity of spices used by Moses.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n
\n \u2018\u05e7\u05d3\u05e9 \u05ea\u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05dc\u05da \u05dc\u05d4 IT SHALL BE UNTO THEE HOLINESS FOR THE LORD \u2014 This means that you must not make it except in honor of My Name.<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n