incense

A compound of aromatic gums and spices, of which the ingredients, apparently made by skilled perfumers (Exod 37:29), are detailed in (Exod 30:34-35). It had a secular use as a costly adornment (Song 3:6, Song 4:6, Song 4:14), but the incense employed in worship was clearly distinguished and considered as specially holy (Exod 30:37-38). This was burned originally in portable censers (Lev 10:1; Lev 16:12; Num 16:17-18), but later also on the altar of incense that stood before the veil of the Holy of Holies in the Temple (Exod 40:26).