Daily Chumash & Rashi Parshas Tetzaveh – Shevi’i: The gold altar for incense

📘 Rashi Q&A — Shemot 30:1–10

30:1 — The Incense Altar

Q1. What does “מִקְטַר קְטֹרֶת” mean?

A: To raise the mist (קִיטוֹר) of smoke by burning the incense of spices.

Q2. What material was the Incense Altar made of?

A: Acacia wood.

30:2 — Shape and Structure

Q3. What were the dimensions of the Incense Altar?

A: One cubit long, one cubit wide, and two cubits high.

Q4. What does “מִמֶּנּוּ תִּהְיֶיןָ קַרְנֹתָיו” teach?

A: The protrusions (horns) were of one piece with the Altar, not attached separately.

30:3 — Gold Overlay and Crown

Q5. What parts of the Altar were overlaid with gold?

A: Its top, its walls all around, and its protrusions.

Q6. What is unique about the Incense Altar’s top?

A: It had a top, unlike the sacrificial Altar, which was hollow and filled with earth.

Q7. What did the gold rim (זֵר זָהָב) signify?

A: The crown of priesthood.

30:4 — Rings and Placement

Q8. Where were the rings placed on the Incense Altar?

A: Below the rim, on two corners of its two sides.

Q9. What does “צַלְעֹתָיו” mean here?

A: Corners, as Onkelos translates it: זָוְיָתֵיהּ.

Q10. Why does Scripture say both “צַלְעֹתָיו” and “שְׁנֵי צִדָּיו”?

A: To clarify that the rings were on the two corners located on its two sides.

Q11. What does “לְבָתִּים לְבַדִּים” mean?

A: The rings served as holders for the poles.

30:5 — Carrying Poles

Q12. What were the poles made of?

A: Acacia wood, overlaid with gold.

30:6 — Location of the Incense Altar

Q13. Where was the Incense Altar placed?

A: In front of the Curtain, directly opposite the Ark and the Cover.

Q14. Why does Scripture add “in front of the Cover”?

A: To teach that it must be placed precisely opposite the Ark, not merely anywhere along the Curtain.

30:7 — Morning Incense

Q15. When did Aaron burn incense in the morning?

A: When he cleaned out the lamps of the Candelabrum.

Q16. What does “בְּהֵיטִיבוֹ” mean?

A: Cleaning the lamps of ash from the burnt wicks.

Q17. What does “נֵרוֹת” mean here?

A: Lamps (Old French: lozes), not the flames themselves.

30:8 — Afternoon Incense

Q18. What does “וּבְהַעֲלֹת” mean?

A: When he lights the lamps and causes the flames to rise.

Q19. How was the daily incense divided?

A: Half burned in the morning, and half in the afternoon.

Q20. What does “קְטֹרֶת תָּמִיד” mean?

A: A regular, daily incense offering throughout the generations.

30:9 — Prohibited Offerings

Q21. What does “קְטֹרֶת זָרָה” mean?

A: Any voluntary or unauthorized incense.

Q22. What offerings were forbidden on this Altar?

A:

• Any other incense,
• Ascent‑offerings,
• Grain‑offerings,
• Libations.

Q23. Why are these offerings forbidden?

A: Because this Altar was sanctified only for the prescribed incense.

30:10 — Annual Atonement

Q24. What does “וְכִפֶּר אַהֲרֹן” mean?

A: Aaron must apply blood to effect atonement.

Q25. When was this atonement performed?

A: Once a year, on Yom Kippur.

Q26. Which blood was used for this atonement?

A: The blood of the Yom Kippur bull and goat.

Q27. What do these sacrifices atone for?

A: Inadvertent ritual defilement of the Temple and its sacred offerings.

Q28. What does “קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים” teach about this Altar?

A: Its holiness surpasses that of the Outer Altar, and it is forbidden for any other service.