Exodus 30:35

30:22-38 Directions are here given for making the holy anointing oil, and the incense to be used in the service of the tabernacle. To show the excellency of holiness, there was this spiced oil in the tabernacle, which was grateful to the sight and to the smell. Christ's name is as ointment poured forth, So 1:3, and the good name of Christians is like precious ointment, Ec 7:1. The incense burned upon the golden altar was prepared of sweet spices. When it was used, it was to be beaten very small; thus it pleased the Lord to bruise the Redeemer, when he offered himself for a sacrifice of a sweet-smelling savour. The like should not be made for any common use. Thus God would keep in the people's minds reverence for his own services, and teach us not to profane or abuse any thing whereby God makes himself known. It is a great affront to God to jest with sacred things, and to make sport with his word and ordinances. It is most dangerous and fatal to use professions of the gospel of Christ to forward wordly interests.

And thou shalt make it a perfume,.... By mixing the above spices together: a confection after the art of the apothecary; in the manner they beat, compound, and mix several ingredients together: tempered together; or "salted" (l), with salt of Sodom, as Aben Ezra interprets it; and Maimonides (m) says, there was a fourth part of a kab of salt of Sodom put into it: and whether this incense or perfume respects the intercession of Christ or the prayers of his people, they are both savoury and acceptable to God, the latter on account of the former; in all sacrifices salt was used, and every spiritual sacrifice of ours should be seasoned with grace: pure and holy; such should be the prayers of the saints, and such most certainly is the mediation of Christ, which is his much incense. (l) "salitum", Montanus, Drusius. Junius & Tremellius, & Piscator. (m) Cele Hamikdash, c. 2. sect. 3.

(35) A confection after the art of the apothecary. —See Note on Exodus 30:25 . Bezaleel’s art was called in, both for the composition of the holy oil and of the holy incense ( Exodus 37:29 ). Tempered together.—So the LXX., the Vulg., and the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan. But most moderns render “salted,” or “mixed with salt.” (See Buxtorf, Gesenius, Lee, Rosenmüller, De Wette, Kalisch, Keil, &c.). The word used is capable of either meaning.

Tempered together , Heb. salted ; either, 1. Properly, for salt was to be offered with all offerings, Leviticus 2:13 . And the Hebrew doctors tell us that six egg-shells full of salt were used. Or, 2. Metaphorically, well mixed together, as salt was with things either offered to God, or eaten by man. Pure , of the best of each kind of drugs, the most perfect and uncorrupted.

Verse 35. - A confection after the art of the apothecary . Like the holy oil, the incense was to be artistically compounded by one accustomed to deal with such ingredients. It was actually, in the first instance, the work of Bezaleel (Exodus 27:29). Tempered together . This translation is supported by the authority of the Septuagint and the Vulgate, and is defended by Canon Cook. But the mass of modern critics is in favour of the translation "salted," or "with salt." (So Buxtorf, Gesenius, De Wette, Kalisch, Keil, etc.) If, nobel suggests "comminuted," identifying malakh with marakh . The point is not one of much importance. Exodus 30:35

35 . a perfume , the work of the perfumer ] as v. 25. seasoned with salt ] salted (cf. Sir 49:1 Heb.). In spite of the Versions (‘mixed’; and so RVm. = AV. tempered together [without ‘with salt’]), this is the only rend. which philology permits (so Ges. Di. Bä. &c.). ‘ Seasoned with salt’ is, however, a doubtful paraphrase; for the incense was not a food. Salt, from its purifying and antiseptic properties, may have been added to the other ingredients, as symbolical of what was wholesome and sound; it has also been supposed (J. D. Michaelis, as cited by Di. and Bä.) that it may have been used, as causing the incense to kindle more rapidly, for the purpose of diffusing a wider cloud of smoke. The incense used in the Herodian temple is stated by Jos. ( B.J. v. 5. 5) and the Talm, to have consisted of thirteen ingredients: see EB. ii. 2167. pure ] a different word from the ‘pure’ of v. 34, and meaning free from adulteration, or other impurities.

34-38. the Lord said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices—These were: stacte—the finest myrrh; onycha—supposed to be an odoriferous shell; galbanum—a gum resin from an umbelliferous plant. frankincense—a dry, resinous, aromatic gum, of a yellow color, which comes from a tree in Arabia, and is obtained by incision of the bark. 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. Most of the ingredients here mentioned have been found on minute examination of mummies and other Egyptian relics; and the Israelites, therefore, would have the best opportunities of acquiring in that country the skill in pounding and mixing them which they were called to exercise in the service of the tabernacle. But the recipe for the incense as well as for the oil in the tabernacle, though it receives illustration from the customs of Egypt, was peculiar, and being prescribed by divine authority, was to be applied to no common or inferior purpose.

CHAPTER 35 Ex 35:1-35. Contributions to the Tabernacle. 1. Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel, &c.—On the occasion referred to in the opening of this chapter, the Israelites were specially reminded of the design to erect a magnificent tabernacle for the regular worship of God, as well as of the leading articles that were required to furnish that sacred edifice [Ex 35:11-19]. (See on [29]Ex 25:1-40; [30]Ex 27:1-21; [31]Ex 30:1-31:18).The command to observe the sabbath, Exodus 35:1-3; and to bring a free-will offering to the Lord, Exodus 35:4,5. The furniture of the tabernacle, Exodus 35:6-19. Men and women bring their jewels for the same, Exodus 35:20-24. Understanding women spin, Exodus 35:25,26. The chief of the people bring in precious stones and spices, Exodus 35:27-29. God endues Bezaleel and Aholiab with a spirit of wisdom for this work, Exodus 35:30-35. No text from Poole on this verse.

Of this Moses was to make incense, spicework, etc. (as in Exodus 30:25 ), salted, seasoned with salt (ממלּח, a denom. from מלח salt), like the meat-offering in Leviticus 2:13 . The word does not mean μεμιγμένον, mixtum (lxx, Vulg.), or rubbed to powder, for the rubbing or pulverizing is expressed by שׁחקתּ־הרק in the following verse.

[Reformed Biblical] d to his service. Exodus 35:22 ## Earrings . ## Object . Aaron had got these from them for the making of the calf, Exo 32 . ## Answ . Though the generality of the people did then part with their earrings, yet there was a considerable number who did not, as being unsatisfied with that idolatrous design; and it may seem that the women would not part with theirs, being more fond of their ornaments than of their idols. See Poole " Exo_32:3 " . Exodus 35:23 Exodus 35:24 Exodus 35:25 Exodus 35:26 ## In wisdom : this word seems better to agree with the following than with the foregoing word, they spun with wisdom, i.e. with skill and art. Exodus 35:27 Exodus 35:28 Exodus 35:29 Exodus 35:30 Exodus 35:31 Exodus 35:32 Exodus 35:33 Exodus 35:34 ## That he may teach , to wit, others to work under him; for the work required many hands; and it is a peculiar gift of God to be apt to teach, which every skilful man hath not. Exodus 35:35 ## Exodus 36:1 EXODUS CHAPTER 36 Moses comitteth the work to Bezaleel and Aholiab Exo 36 1-4. The liberality of the people is forbid Exo_36:5,6. The curtains of cherubims, Exo_36:8-13. The curtains of goats’ hair, &c. all belonging to the tabernacle, Exo_36:14-38 ## Of the sanctuary, or, of the holy place , to wit, of the tabernacle, so called by a prolepsis and synecdoche. BC 1491 Exodus 36:2 God had qualified them before, but that is not sufficient without a call.