Instructions for the incense altar

30 “Tell the skilled workers to make an altar from acacia wood, for burning incense. 2 It is to be square, ◄18 in./45 cm.► on each side. It is to be ◄3 feet/90 cm.► high. Tell them to make a projection that looks like a horn on each of the top corners. The projections must be carved from the same block of wood that the altar is made from. 3 They must cover the top and the four sides, including the projections, with pure gold. Put a gold border around the altar, near the top. 4 They must make two gold rings for carrying the altar. They must attach them to the altar below the border, one on each side of the altar. These rings are for the poles for carrying the altar. 5 Tell them to make these two poles from acacia wood and cover them with gold. 6 They must put this altar outside the curtain that hangs in front of the sacred chest and its lid. That is the place where I will talk with you. 7 Aaron must burn sweet-smelling incense on this altar. He must burn some every morning when he takes care of the lamps, 8 and he must burn some in the evening when he lights the lamps. The incense must be burned continually, throughout all future generations. 9 The priests must not burn on the altar any incense that I have not told you to burn, or burn any animal on it, or any grain offering for me, or pour any wine on it as an offering. 10 One time every year Aaron must perform the ritual for making this altar pure. He must do it by putting on its four projections some of the blood from the animal that was sacrificed ◄to remove the guilt of the people’s sins/so that the people would no longer be guilty for sins►. This ritual is to be done by Aaron and his descendants throughout all future generations. This altar must be completely dedicated to me, Yahweh.”