20 in their going in unto the tent of meeting they wash 'with' water, and die not; or in their drawing nigh unto the altar to minister, to perfume a fire-offering to Jehovah, 21 then they have washed their hands and their feet, and they die not, and it hath been to them a statute age-during, to him and to his seed to their generations.'
22 And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying, 23 'And thou, take to thyself principal spices, wild honey five hundred 'shekels'; and spice-cinnamon, the half of that, two hundred and fifty; and spice-cane two hundred and fifty; 24 and cassia five hundred, by the shekel of the sanctuary, and olive oil a hin; 25 and thou hast made it a holy anointing oil, a compound mixture, work of a compounder; it is a holy anointing oil. 26 'And thou hast anointed with it the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, 27 and the table and all its vessels, and the candlestick and its vessels, and the altar of perfume, 28 and the altar of burnt-offering and all its vessels, and the laver and its base; 29 and thou hast sanctified them, and they have been most holy; all that is coming against them is holy; 30 and Aaron and his sons thou dost anoint, and hast sanctified them for being priests to Me. 31 'And unto the sons of Israel thou dost speak, saying, A holy anointing oil is this to Me, to your generations; 32 on flesh of man it is not poured, and with its proper proportion ye make none like it; it 'is' holy; it is holy to you; 33 a man who compoundeth 'any' like it, or who putteth of it on a stranger—hath even been cut off from his people.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 30:20-33
Commentary on Exodus 30:17-21
(Read Exodus 30:17-21)
A large vessel of brass, holding water, was to be set near the door of the tabernacle. Aaron and his sons must wash their hands and feet at this laver, every time they went in to minister. This was to teach them purity in all their services, and to dread the pollution of sin. They must not only wash and be made clean, when first made priests, but must wash and be kept clean, whenever they went to minister. It teaches us daily to attend upon God, daily to renew our repentance for sin, and our looking to the blood of Christ for remission; for in many things we daily offend.
Commentary on Exodus 30:22-38
(Read Exodus 30:22-38)
Directions are here given for making the holy anointing oil, and the incense to be used in the service of the tabernacle. To show the excellency of holiness, there was this spiced oil in the tabernacle, which was grateful to the sight and to the smell. Christ's name is as ointment poured forth, Ecclesiastes 7:1. The incense burned upon the golden altar was prepared of sweet spices. When it was used, it was to be beaten very small; thus it pleased the Lord to bruise the Redeemer, when he offered himself for a sacrifice of a sweet-smelling savour. The like should not be made for any common use. Thus God would keep in the people's minds reverence for his own services, and teach us not to profane or abuse any thing whereby God makes himself known. It is a great affront to God to jest with sacred things, and to make sport with his word and ordinances. It is most dangerous and fatal to use professions of the gospel of Christ to forward wordly interests.