Knox Bible

1

For burning incense, thou shalt make an altar of acacia wood,

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a cubit square in surface, and two cubits high; it must have horns going out of it.

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The whole must be covered with pure gold, the grate and the walls around it and the horns too. It is to have a rim of gold about it,

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and close under the rim two gold rings on either side, with poles in them, so that the altar can be carried;

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these poles, too, must be of acacia wood, gilded over.

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Its position is to be facing the veil that hides the ark and its records, facing, too, the throne that overshadows them, my trysting-place with thee.

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Aaron, when he trims the lamps each morning, shall burn fragrant incense on it,

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and again when he lights them at evening he shall burn incense in the Lord’s presence; a custom you are to preserve age after age.

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You are to offer no incense there but what is of my own prescription; there is to be no sacrifice, no victim, no pouring of libations.

10

Once a year Aaron shall make intercession at the horns of it, with the blood that is offered in atonement for sin, winning pardon for you there, age after age; it shall be all holiness in the Lord’s honour.

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This, too, was the Lord’s word to Moses:

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When thou dost pass the Israelites in review and count their number, each shall pay the Lord a forfeit for his life, to avert all plague at the time of their numbering.✻

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As each man is added to the count, he must pay half a sicle by sanctuary reckoning (note that the sicle, half of which must be paid to the Lord, is worth thirty pence).

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The forfeit must be paid by all those, above the age of twenty, who are registered,

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the rich giving no more than half a silver piece, and the poor no less.

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The money taken up in this contribution from the Israelites is to be devoted to the needs of the tabernacle which bears record of me, to put the Lord in mind of them, and win ransom for their lives.

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This, too, was the Lord’s word to Moses:

18

Make a washing-basin of bronze, with a stand, and set it between the tabernacle that bears record of me and the brazen altar. Water shall be poured into it

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for Aaron and his sons to wash their hands and feet

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before they enter the tabernacle that bears record of me, or approach the altar to kindle their sacrifice before the Lord.

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This they must do on pain of death; it is an observance that must be kept alive by him and by all his sons that succeed him.

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This, too, was the Lord’s word to Moses:

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Provide thyself with spices, a stone of the best and choicest✻ myrrh, and half a stone of cinnamon, and half a stone of scented cane,

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a stone, too, of cassia, all reckoned by sanctuary weights; and with these, three quarts of olive oil.

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And so make the holy oil to be used for anointing, an ointment mixed with all the perfumer’s art.

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This thou must use to anoint the tabernacle that bears record of me, and the ark where that record lies;

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the table with its appurtenances, the lamp-stand with its appurtenances, the altar used for incense,

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and that used for burnt-sacrifice, and all the instruments belonging to them.✻

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All these thou shalt sanctify, and they shall be all holiness; whoever touches them shall become holy thereby.

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Aaron himself and his sons thou shalt anoint and hallow, before they can minister as my priests.

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This, too, tell the Israelites: The oil used for anointing is a thing you must keep set apart for me, age after age.

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It is not to be used for anointing the flesh of man; nor are you to compound oil for yourselves as this is compounded; it is a thing set apart, and you must keep it holy.

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Whoever compounds such, though it be to give it to a stranger for his use, is lost to his people.✻

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This, too, was the Lord’s word to Moses: Provide thyself with spices, storax, and burnt shell, and sweet-smelling galbanum, and pure frankincense, all in equal weight,

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and make incense compounded with all the perfumer’s art, well tempered together, unadulterate, fit for hallowing.

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All this thou shalt beat into fine powder, and keep a store of it before the tabernacle that bears record of me, my trysting-place with thee. For you, this incense shall be all holiness;

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you must not compound it so for your own use, it is set apart for the Lord.

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Whoever compounds the like, to make perfume for his own enjoyment, is lost to his people.