30:22-38

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Anointing oil; incense

(Ex 30:22-38)

Oil had special significance when used to anoint people or things. Anointing, in its highest sense, meant that holy oil was poured over, or otherwise applied to, people or things to signify that they were set apart for the service of God.

The art of preparing oils, perfumes and incenses was well known in Egypt and Arabia, and the Israelites apparently learnt such skills from these people. But the formula given to Moses for the anointing oil was to be used only for the oil of the tabernacle rituals (Ex 30:22-33).

Likewise the incense for the tabernacle was to be made according to an exclusive formula. This incense was to burn ‘before the testimony’, that is, on the golden altar that stood in front of the ark of the testimony (the covenant box) but separated from it by a curtain (Ex 30:34-38).