Exodus 30:1-10

1“You are to make an altar for the burning of incense; make it of acacia wood.

2It must be square, eighteen inches long and eighteen inches wide; it must be thirty-six inches high. Its horns must be of one piece with it.

3Overlay its top, all around its sides, and its horns with pure gold; make a gold molding all around it.

4Make two gold rings for it under the molding on two of its sides; put these on opposite sides of it to be holders for the poles to carry it with.

5Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.

6“You are to place the altar in front of the curtain by the ark of the testimony — in front of the mercy seat that is over the testimony — where I will meet with you.

7Aaron must burn fragrant incense on it; he must burn it every morning when he tends the lamps.

8When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he must burn incense. There is to be an incense offering before the Lord throughout your generations.

9You must not offer unauthorized incense on it, or a burnt or grain offering; you are not to pour a drink offering on it.

10“Once a year Aaron is to perform the atonement ceremony for the altar. Throughout your generations he is to perform the atonement ceremony for it once a year, with the blood of the sin offering for atonement on the horns. The altar is especially holy to the Lord.”