Ex. 30: Pour This On My Head

So chapter 30 is about the annual atonement that must be made for Israel, and there are 5 different elements to it. The elaborate ceremonies and convoluted processes continue. This is something completely separate from the offerings discussed in the previous chapter. This lays the groundwork for the once yearly day of atonement, also known as Yom Kippur. Another one of those Jewish holidays on the calendar I never knew much about. But know I know. And very soon you will. Hopefully you'll take a few minutes to read it yourself, but I'm basically going to break it down, even though the Bible makes it pretty clear.

The Altar of Incense
This was for Aaron to burn incense on every morning when he tends the lamps, and again at twilight when he lights them. This altar was not to be used for any other kind of offering, burnt, grain or drink. On the day of atonement, blood from the sin offering must be dabbed on the horns.

• Square: One cubit by one cubit (18" x 18") and 2 cubits (3 feet) high.
• Overlaid with pure gold, and gold molding
• The gold rings to put the gold-overlaid acacia carrying poles through
• Put in front of the curtain before the ark of the testimony

Atonement Money
Evidently there was a yearly census, and at this time, each Israelite had to pay a ransom to the LORD for his life when he is counted. This payment will protect them from a plague. This ransom of a half shekel is also called an offering. It was to be given by those twenty years of age or older. And ransom sounds like a pretty horrific word, which may make God sound like an extortionist, but then we consider what ransom actually means: deliverance at a price. And it wasn't income proportional. It was a flat ransom. The rich gave no more, and the poor gave no less than their half shekel. This money was to be used much like offerings today: to run the service of the tent of meeting.

Basin for Washing (or Bronze Laver)
This basin and its stand were made from bronze. It was to be placed between the tent and the altar. Aaron and his sons were to wash their hands and feet in it with water so that they would not die. Anyone entering the tent of meeting with dirty feet and hands was committing a lethal sin. They were unclean in God's presence. I see this washing as a sort of focusing the heart for the task at hand, for meeting with God.

Anointing Oil
This oil was to be separate, and had a very singular use, when it came to being who it was used on, and what it was used for. Any abuse of this oil led to the offending party being cut off from his people. It was used to anoint the tent of meeting, the ark of the testimony, the table and its articles, the lampstand and its articles, the altars and their utensils, and the basin and stand. The reason for this is to signify them as holy, and that whatever touches them will be holy.

It was also used to anoint Aaron and his sons so that they will be priests.

Here's the secret formula. Don't go making your own, or you'll be cut off from your people.

• 500 shekels of liquid myrrh
• 250 shekels of cinnamon
• 250 shekels of cane
• 500 shekels of cassia
• 1 hin of olive oil

The Incense
Similar to the anointing oil, this incense had a singular purpose as well, and its abuse was a serious offense. It was to be most holy.

There was a formula for this as well

• gum resin
• onycha (the flap of a snail shell? weird)
  
• galbanum
• pure frankincense

The sense of smell is the one apparently most triggering of memories, and we all know what we think of when we smell a certain perfume, or a kind of food or something. For me, I'll always recognize my mom's perfume, Heavenly Ham's glaze on smoked ham, and various other things. And I'm sure that if I smelled the above incense or oil, I would only be able to think of its use before God. What a way to focus in!