Leviticus 16:12
And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and he shall bring it inside the veil
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The burning coals are taken from the altar before the LORD, emphasizing that God Himself provides the fuel for atonement through His presence and acceptance of sacrifice, not just a human action. This isn't just about the priest carrying fire; it's about God's own provision being brought into the sacred space.
This passage describes a critical step in the Day of Atonement ritual. The High Priest, after preparing himself and sacrificing a bullock for his own sins, must now enter the Most Holy Place, the inner sanctuary, to perform the most sacred part of the atonement. He carries coals from the altar and incense, preparing to make a fragrant smoke that will cover the Ark of the Covenant and avert God's deadly presence.
Why would the High Priest carry burning coals into the most sacred space? It wasn't just for show; these coals represented something profound about God's justice and love.
The censer filled with burning coals from the altar was a powerful symbol for the Day of Atonement.
The Fire of Judgment
These coals weren't ordinary embers. They came from the altar of burnt offering, a place where sacrifices were made. This fire represented the intense, consuming wrath of God against sin. The fact that the High Priest had to carry these burning coals into the Holy of Holies showed that the path to God’s presence was through judgment – a judgment that sin deserved.
The Love that Endures
Yet, these coals were also from an altar where sacrifices were accepted. They spoke of the love of God that provided a way through the judgment. For Christ, our High Priest, these coals symbolized His own sufferings and the divine wrath He willingly bore on our behalf. His love for us was as intense as the fire he carried into God’s presence.
A Necessary Step
This ritual highlighted that atonement wasn't a casual affair. It required confronting the reality of sin's penalty, represented by the fire. But it also pointed to a love so profound that it would face that fire to bring us near.
Imagine the intense aroma filling the most sacred space. This wasn't just about pleasant smells; it was about ensuring God's favor and protecting the High Priest's life.
The "sweet incense beaten small" carried by the High Priest had a vital, dual purpose in the Holy of Holies.
A Cloud of Favor
When the incense was placed on the burning coals, it produced a fragrant smoke. This cloud was intended to cover the mercy seat, the very place where God’s presence was most manifest. The sweet aroma was a symbol of God’s acceptance and favor. It transformed the terrifying presence of God into one where approach was possible, ensuring the High Priest wouldn't die from encountering God’s holiness directly.
Understand the original words
machtah · Hebrew Noun
A vessel used for holding burning coals and incense, often used in priestly service to offer prayers or symbolic intercession before God.
mizbeach · Hebrew Noun
The place of burnt offering in the Tabernacle/Temple where sacrifices were made; it represents the holiness of God that consumes sin and the provision of a way to approach Him.
paroketh · Hebrew Noun
The heavy curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, symbolizing the barrier caused by sin between a holy God and sinful humanity.
This passage describes the Tabernacle's furnishings, including the golden censer used by the High Priest, directly linking to the implement mentioned in Leviticus 16:12.
Exodus 30:34-38This text details the specific ingredients and preparation of the sweet incense, providing the background for the 'sweet incense beaten small' that the High Priest carried into the Holy of Holies.
Hebrews 9:7This verse highlights the unique, once-a-year entry of the High Priest into the Holy of Holies, paralleling the solitary and solemn act described in Leviticus 16:12.
Revelation 8:3-5This New Testament passage uses imagery of an angel with a golden censer and incense, offering the prayers of the saints. It connects the Old Testament ritual of incense to the ongoing intercessory work of Christ.
Leviticus 16:13This verse immediately follows the description of bringing the incense inside the veil, explaining its purpose: to create a cloud that would cover the mercy seat and protect the High Priest from dying in God's presence.
gillLeviticus 16:12: "And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail:"
And he shall take a censer,.... A fire pan, a sort of chafing dish or perfuming pot; this was a golden one, as appears from Hebrews 9:4 ; hence Christ, the Angel of God's presence, our interceding High Priest, is said to have such an one, Revelation 8:3 ; and so Josephus says (g), it was a golden one the h…
calvinLeviticus 16:1-34: "And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died;"
And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.
Dixitque Jellova ad Mosen, Loquere ad Aharon fratrem tuum, ut ne ingrediatnr omni tempore sanctuarium intra velum…
The burning coals are taken from the altar before the LORD, emphasizing that God Himself provides the fuel for atonement through His presence and acceptance of sacrifice, not just a human action. This isn't just about the priest carrying fire; it's about God's own provision being brought into the sacred space.
This passage describes a critical step in the Day of Atonement ritual. The High Priest, after preparing himself and sacrificing a bullock for his own sins, must now enter the Most Holy Place, the inner sanctuary, to perform the most sacred part of the atonement. He carries coals from the altar and incense, preparing to make a fragrant smoke that will cover the Ark of the Covenant and avert God's deadly presence.
This passage describes a critical step in the Day of Atonement ritual. The High Priest, after preparing himself and sacrificing a bullock for his own sins, must now enter the Most Holy Place, the inner sanctuary, to perform the most sacred part of the atonement. He carries coals from the altar and incense, preparing to make a fragrant smoke that will cover the Ark of the Covenant and avert God's deadly presence.
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The Intercession of Christ
This incense powerfully prefigures the intercessory work of Jesus Christ. Just as the incense masked the raw judgment represented by the coals, Christ’s perfect life, atoning sacrifice, and continuous intercession mask our sinfulness from God. The "sweetness" of the incense speaks to the unfailing acceptability of Christ's mediation on our behalf, ensuring our prayers ascend to God with favor.
Essential for Access
Without the incense, the High Priest faced immediate death. This shows how crucial intercession is for our access to God. It’s not just our own faith, but Christ’s fragrant intercession that makes our approach to the Father safe and acceptable.
The Holy of Holies was the most restricted place on earth. What did it take for even the High Priest to enter, and what does this tell us about God's presence?
The act of bringing the coals and incense "within the veil" was the climax of this ritual, signifying entry into God’s most intimate space.
The Barrier of Sin
The veil in the Tabernacle was a thick curtain separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. It represented the barrier created by human sin between humanity and God’s absolute holiness. Only once a year, on the Day of Atonement, was this barrier temporarily breached by the High Priest.
A Shadow of Christ's Work
This ritual was a vivid shadow of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. When Jesus died, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). This wasn't an accident; it symbolized that Christ, our High Priest, had perfectly accomplished atonement and broken down the barrier of sin. Through His death and resurrection, He entered the true Holy of Holies – heaven itself – not with the blood of goats, but with His own perfect sacrifice.
New and Living Way
Now, because Christ has gone before us, believers have a "new and living way" into God's presence (Hebrews 10:19-20). We no longer need to wait for a single day or a human priest to mediate for us in the same way. We can approach God directly, clothed in Christ's righteousness, through faith.
"And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and he shall bring it inside the veil" — The burning coals are taken from the altar before the LORD, emphasizing that God Himself provides the fuel for atonement through His presence and acceptance of sacrifice, not just a human action. T…
