Incense at the Golden Altar

The high priest burned incense on the golden altar twice daily (see Ex. 30:7–9), and once a year he was commanded to “make an atonement upon the horns . . . with the blood of the sin offering” (v. 10). Located directly in front of the temple’s veil, the altar of incense was the quintessential place of prayer (represented by incense): “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice” (Ps. 141:2); also, “the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God” (Rev. 8:4). Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, was burning incense in the temple when the angel Gabriel appeared to him; Gabriel stood at the right side of the altar of incense (see Luke 1:7–19). According to verse 10, “the whole multitude of the people [those worshipping in the temple] were praying without at the time of incense.”

Anciently, offering incense (and prayer) was an essential course of action before the high priest could approach God through the veil and enter into the Holy of Holies (see Ex. 30:1–10; Lev. 16:12–13).

High priest (model) offers incense at the altar of incense.