Frankincense and Myrhh
a commentary on Exodus 30 (Context Part II)
Thank you, Lord, for this day. May it be used for your glory!
Good morning and welcome back to another Biblit!
Yesterday we read the first half of Exodus 30, so today we are going to wrap up the context of this chapter together!
I’m not one for burning incense, but after today’s study, I might have to take it up.
I’ve always attributed burning incense to one of two extremes: sketchy druggies or the Catholic church.
But burning incense was instructed by God in this chapter, and the combos He picked probably smelled really good.
Though I don’t know if I want to risk copying His recipe as you’ll see in a moment.
Anyways, let’s jump on in to the rest of this commentary on Exodus 30!
Context Part II
As I said yesterday, there are 5 total sections in Exodus chapter 30. We already covered 2, so that leaves 3 more. Let’s do it!
The Bronze Basin
The next thing to be made is this bronze basin with a bronze stand.
Now, remember what I said yesterday. Bronze clues us in that this is something outside the tabernacle (also called the tent of meeting).
And thus, God commanded it to be placed in between the tent of meeting and the altar in the courtyard.
They were to fill it with water so that Aaron and his sons could wash up before ministering before the Lord.
Oh, and apparently, if they don’t wash up, they will die.
It’s important to wash your hands, y’all.
The Anointing Oil
Next, we have a really interesting recipe from God. He wanted Israel to create a Holy anointing oil. Here are the ingredients:
12.5 lbs of liquid myrrh
6 lbs of fragrant cinnamon
12.5 lbs of cassia (similar to cinnamon)
1 gallon of olive oil
I don’t know about you, but I imagine that smelled amazing!
But I am a sucker for cinnamon.
Anyways, so they were to make this anointing oil and then go around and anoint pretty much everything God has commanded them to make so far.
Everything from the tent of meeting, the ark, the table, both altars, the basin, and even Aaron and his sons.
The idea is that this is a holy anointing oil and everything anointed would be especially holy and consecrated to the Lord.
God also makes it clear that this is the ONLY purpose for this oil. Anyone that makes it at home and uses it as a potpourri will be cut off from God.
The Sacred Incense
Last, but certainly not least, we have sacred incense.
From what I can tell, this is the one Aaron will burn on the altar of incense everyday.
The recipe calls for some odd spices I’ve never heard of. So I am going to list them out and give a brief description of what that spice might smell like:
Stacte: a sweet-smelling spice similar to myrrh
Onycha: a leathery-smelling spice
Galbanum: has a forest smell, woody, or what some refer to as a green spicy smell
Frankincense: has many distinct smells including woody, piney, soft, sweet, and citrusy. The consensus on this one is it smells very good
I did a little more research on frankincense and myrrh.
They are both used in these two recipes and we see them again throughout scripture.
They are both gifts for baby Jesus.
They are very special spices to God, but I realized I really don’t even know what they are.
Turns out that both frankincense and myrrh are actually resins found inside very specific kinds of trees. When those resins are exposed to the air, they crystalize.
So I guess they are like pine sap, but instead of making turpentine, they make these amazing smelling, power healing, holy spices.
Scientists have been studying why on earth they smell so good. Apparently, it is a crazy phenomenon. Of all the spices, these seem to always smell good to people.
I found one theory on frankincense specifically that I thought was pretty interesting.
Apparently, it has this chemical component in there called incensole acetate. Studies show that this compound when burned can cause a state of major euphoria. And thus smell really really good.
Anyways, all that to say, God picked the perfect aroma.
But…again, He warns Israel not to make it for themselves. It is His incense alone and anyone who makes it will be cut off.
He’s probably just protecting them so they don’t stay home all day smelling incense.
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