• The altar of incense (Exodus 30:1-10 ), called also "the golden altar" (39:38; Numbers 4:11 ), stood in the holy place "before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony." On this altar sweet spices were continually burned with fire taken from the brazen altar. The morning and the evening services were commenced by the high priest offering incense on this altar. The burning of the incense was a type of prayer (Psalm 141:2; Revelation 5:8; 8:3,4 ).

    This altar was a small movable table, made of acacia wood overlaid with gold (Exodus 37:25,26 ). It was 1 cubit in length and breadth, and 2 cubits in height.

    In Solomon's temple the altar was similar in size, but was made of cedar-wood (1 Kings 6:20; 7:48 ) overlaid with gold. In Ezekiel 41:22 it is called "the altar of wood." (Compare Exodus 30:1-6 .)

    In the temple built after the Exile the altar was restored. Antiochus Epiphanes took it away, but it was afterwards restored by Judas Maccabaeus (1 Maccabees 1:23; 4:49 ). Among the trophies carried away by Titus on the destruction of Jerusalem the altar of incense is not found, nor is any mention made of it in Hebrews 9 . It was at this altar Zacharias ministered when an angel appeared to him (Luke 1:11 ). It is the only altar which appears in the heavenly temple (Isaiah 6:6; Revelation 8:3,4 ).

    Copyright StatementThese dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

    Bibliography InformationEaston, Matthew George. Entry for 'Altar'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/a/altar.html. 1897.