Incense

The altars, priests and the Levites had a purpose and function in a free society. They provided a system of charity that nurtured the social bonds and virtue of society prospers in the humility those freewill offerings. Without that fervent practice of charity eyes will be dimmed and vanity will grow like a cancer.
Sweet incense and oils are often metaphorically representative of an "underlying harmony and inter-connectivity" on a spiritual level through the precepts of the I am, which can be found in the word of God, and the Logos of Christ by those who have eyes to see.
The welfare system of Moses and his living altars provided the care for their neighbor through a social safety net of charity and attention to the weightier matters.
Not only Breeches but incense are symbols in the text whose meaning and message is revealed with in the intent of Moses and Jesus.

Sweet Incense

What is Sweet Incense mentioned many times in the Old Testament?

The smell arising from burning of incense is symbolic of sanctification and purification. All offerings were accounted to be burnt offerings entirely given up as if it was burned. Incense would be the symbol of the intent of the prayers of the faithful that must be sincere and free from pretense or deceit. It is only an outward sign of what is hopefully a spiritual reality, like the sacrifice of Cain and Abel.

According to Bavli in Yoma 44a incense was often about atonement for sins.

Scriptures seems to dictate that its use was purely for holy purposes and was not to be used for selfish purposes or given for self-serving purposes. To misuse, give, or use it for personal gain was counterproductive to its purpose.

If there is Sweet Incense and is there an incense that is not sweet?

Specific ingredients

The specific ingredients and process employed in making sacred incense was a guarded secret.

Because it could include health benefits like many of the oils also valued by the Israelites.

These items became a great thing to use to make an offering of recompence for a wrong done. The only way to determine the quality of the gift a portion could be burned.

What really made incense sweet from God's point of view was the same thing that made Abel's offering sweet and made Cain's offering was less excellent or not respected as sweet. It was the means, method, and the manner by which it was obtained or given.

Required incense

Many nations required sacrifice in the form of tribute. And those offerings often included some incense. There was an annual burning of incense at the temples of Rome where the faithful confirmed their allegiance and acceptance of Caesar as the Son of God.

While burning incense is an outward demonstration of allegiance or faith it often included an offering as the true fulfillment of the out ward ritual.

The question should always arise as to the sour or sweetness of the incense. Was it forced or freewill?

The word sweet is associated with the Greek word translated “peaceable” which appears in Hebrews and James. Both are related in the text to peaceable fruit which is not only said to be “pure” but is said to be the “fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."

Is “sweet incense” something sown in peace producing “peace” and “a state of national tranquility” “security, safety, prosperity,” because it is in accordance with the “Messiah’s peace” and what was called “the way that leads to peace (salvation)”.

If there is “sweet incense” is there also “sour incense” and “bitter fruit” because it is not sown in peace nor according to The Way?

Incense in the temple

Were the temples and priests of ancient times merely superstitious institutions of ignorant people or did they have a practical and socioeconomic value and purpose?

• If the terms like altars of clay and stones were symbolic of institutions of men providing Pure Religion...

• If burnt offerings were just a metaphor for sacrifices of the people in the form of contributions entirely given to those Charitable institutions...

• If the statue of the golden calf was not just a superstitious idol, but served a practical purpose to bind the people in the face of the danger of attack from other nations and fostering loyalty through a bound economy and population...

• If the sacrifice of the red heifer was not just a red female bovine but actually represented foreign aid given to other neighboring nations to build trust and honorable support...

• If the temple of Israel was always meant to be made of men called out (livelistones) to bring the people together through a international network of faith, [[hope and charity...

Then what is the burning of incense in the temple?

Uzziah, also spelled Ozias, also called Azariah, or Azarias was considered to be a good king but got in trouble because as king he tried to burn incense in the temple which was a job only for the priests.

• Was the idea of burning incense more than just a mindless smoke and mirrors of unmoored religion ritual?

• Did the metaphor of burning incense actually represent a more practical aspect of culture and social structure of society which created the underlying social bonds of a free society?

The word incense

The word translated incense is qëtoreth(KufTetReishTav(קְטֹרֶת‎)) which is said to appear some 60 times in the sacred text and is from the root word qatar(KufTetReish(קָטַר‎)) meaning to sacrifice or to make a sacrifice. The word incense appears in the Bible some 121 times and often it may be more often a metaphor for you making a sacrifice and burning the incense is merely the outward sign.

Its first appearance is in Exodus 25:6 as "sweet incense" where it is listed with "Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil". The actual word which appears in the text is wəliqṭōreṯ consisting of the Hebrew letters (וְלִקְטֹ֖רֶת) VavLamedKufTetReishTav. This form only appears 3 times in the whole text.

It also appears 4 times without the Lamed but only with the Vav as ūqəṭōreṯ VavKufTetReishTav and seemingly associated with "oil for the light".

Is the burning of incense a metaphor for activities that bring light and understanding to our souls?

A more common form of this word for incense is qəṭōreṯ consisting of the letters KufTetReishTav appearing some 36 times and another 13 times with an additional Hey as haqqəṭōreṯ HeyKufTetReishTav and often associated with an altar. הַקְּטֹֽרֶת

• ה Hey Expression--Thought, Speech, Action. Manifest seeds of thought and life. [Emphasize, jubilation, window, fence] (Numeric value: 5)
• ק Kuf or Kof Omnipresence - Redemption of Fallen Sparks The paradoxical union Reish and a Zayin holiness or separateness omnipresence of God [Cord and needle 𐤒 ... back of head neck... the last or least] (Numeric value: 100)
• ט Tet Introversion - The Concealed power of good or paradoxically evil [to twist a snake... wheel To surround (gestation)] (Numeric value: 9)
• ר Reish Process of Clarification The "head" or "beginning". Life's revelation. [Head... Person head highest] (Numeric value: 200)
• ת Tav is a Seal of a Higher kingdom or realm through faith. The paradigm keter–malchut “The Crown of Sovereignty” from the Tree of Life spiritually linking worlds or realms through an unseen doorway of faith. The Aleph & Tav are the first and last letters. [door sign cross seal] (Numeric value: 400)

Burnt

Leviticus 9:10: “But the fat, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver of the sin offering, he burnt upon the altar; as the LORD commanded Moses.”

The Kidney fat was supposed to be a portion given to the Levites which we have explained in other publications. It was not actually set on fire.

So what does burning incense mean if it does not actually mean burning something up?

The idea of the smoke from the disposal of the incense permeating and even fumigating the mind or souls of men is a metaphor for what takes place in society when the disposal of the "incense", what ever that represents, is done in peace.

Covetous practices that require force to implement are not sown in peace but in fear and fealty.

They are neither righteous nor according to The Way of the Messiah. They are the way of Cain, Nimrod, Pharaoh, Caesar and FDR. They will not produce national peace and tranquility but riots, greed, and wantonness and degenerate the people and the parties into Perfect savages and the governments of the world into roaring beasts because that sour savor of their offering will permeate the souls of men.

The term "burnt" is from the Hebrew word qatar, רטק, Kuf, Tet, Reish given the Strong's number 06999 and translated incense 59 times, and burn 49 times, but also translated offer 3 times, kindle, and offering once each, with 4 other miscellaneous translations. It is said to be a primitive root but is identical to Strong's number 7000, qatar, רטק, and other Strong's numbers 7001 and 7002 which are translated doubts twice, joints once, incense once, and joined once, and given the definitions of to shut in, enclose, join, knot, joint, and even problem.

• ק Kuf or Kof Omnipresence - Redemption of Fallen Sparks The paradoxical union Reish and a Zayin holiness or separateness omnipresence of God [Cord and needle 𐤒 ... back of head neck... the last or least] (Numeric value: 100)
• ט Tet Introversion - The Concealed power of good or paradoxically evil [to twist a snake... wheel To surround (gestation)] (Numeric value: 9)
• ר Reish Process of Clarification The "head" or "beginning". Life's revelation. [Head... Person head highest] (Numeric value: 200)

Another word for burnt offering is `olah, (הלע), which is translated as burnt offering 264 times, burnt sacrifice 21, but also translated ascent and go up. The same word, olah, is also numbered 05929 but translated leaf and branch.

Also, הלע, numbered 05927, is translated up 676 times, offer 67, come 22, bring 18, ascend 15, go 12, chew 9 times, offering 8, light 6, increase 4, burn 3, depart 3, put 3, spring, raised, arose, break, exalted twice each and another 33 other miscellaneous ways.

"Words are symbols of ideas." And in Hebrew the letters are also symbols but ultimately they are meant to express precepts built into creation which should never be unmoored from their purpose because of allegories.

Incense of the Altar

The words upon the altar is from the Hebrew word mizbeach חבזמ [Mem, Zayin, Beit, Chet], given the Strong's number 04196, and is always translated altar. It is from zabach, חבז, [Zayin, Beit, Chet] Strong's number 02076 and translated sacrifice 85 times, offer 39, kill 5, slay 5, but as Strong's 02077 חבז, it is said to mean sacrifice and is translated sacrifice 155 times, offerings 6, offer once. It also appears as the name Zebah said to mean “deprived of protection.”

Jeremiah 44:21 "The incense that ye burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them, and came it [not] into his mind?"

But the word translated burned is also a word for incense.

But being the primitive root [identical with qatar] supposedly through the idea of fumigation in a close place and perhaps thus driving out the occupants we find the same word said to mean shut in and translated Joined in Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 46:22 In the four corners of the court [there were] courts joined of forty [cubits] long and thirty broad: hese four corners [were] of one measure.

The word ‎ qëtar also written (קְטַר) may mean literally dissolving of doubts as we see on Daniel.

The term <qëtoreth(קְטֹרֶת‎) is also translated incense.

1 Samuel 2:28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel [to be] my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense<qëtoreth(קְטֹרֶת‎), to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?

We have fallen away from the teachings of the Bible. Their institution of modern Churches are barren. Instead of leading people to liberty they have delivered them into bondage.

“While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” 2 Peter 2:19

The people seeking the kingdom of God have been influenced by Roman ideas and many of our traditions have evolved from that influence.

“But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.” Rev. 2:14, 15

Balac was not a religion but a government system that brought the people to a state of selfish apathy and wantonness by an exercising authority and covetous practices of vanity. The exercising authority of rulers, their entitlements, traditions and doctrines usurps the responsibility of the individual and brings them into sloth, apathy and avarice.

Religion today has been polluted by men who desire power and authority over other people, whether in civil democracies or the church pew. This power and authority to exercise authority over the choices of men was never intended by the Lord.

Taking away the power of choice makes men things, even human resources.

“Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways [from] the ancient paths, to walk in paths, [in] a way not cast up;” Jeremiah 18:15

"But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, [who were] ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: 13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off." Ezra 3:12

We may return to the ancient paths and join together in true worship of our King and Father. Modern Christianity is the product of centuries of book burning, prevarication and persecution. We must learn to worship the Father by paying Him homage and service by caring for His sheep. We cannot serve two masters nor can we pay homage to one King while we say we worship another.

“And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.” Luke 11:2

There should be no kings or ruler for Christians but Jesus the Christ. No Father on earth but our Father in Heaven. It is that kingdom of liberty under God which is at hand. It is the justice and mercy of His perfect law of liberty to which we owe our homage, allegiance and worship.

“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:2

2 Corinthians 2:14 "... God... causeth us to ... manifest the savour of his knowledge..."

The Greek word osme is translated savour but like incense has to do with the permeation of Christ and the anointing of the Holy Spirit of God in us and blessings that permeate around us when we allow that spirit to manifest in us and through us.

We are changed by our practices. If they be practices of charity and forgiveness which is required for righteousness then we are born again as we put our faith in to doing the word and will of God.

If we engage in covetous practices we are also changed too. Our love and addiction to the wages of unrighteousness and the benefits provided by the men who exercise authority the people are altered by the degenerating effect of becoming accustomed to living at the expense of others and depending for our livelihood on the properties of others. Society will steadily be divided without the practice of the bonds of love and become perfect savages.

The herb

Maaleh Ashan is the secret ingredient of the ketoret, the incense offered in the Temple in Jerusalem. It was added in the incense that made the smoke of its burning rise, which according to the Talmud the House of Avitnas, the incense maker, never revealed.

The Hebrew noun minḥah (מִנְחָה‎) is used 211 times in the Masoretic Text of the Hebrew Bible, with the first uses referring to vegetable and animal offerings brought by Cain and Abel to God. Minha, Mincha, or Minchah, Hebrew Minḥa, are all forms and aspects of “offerings”. For some reason the offerings of Cain the smoke did not rise. What is in the Maaleh Ashan that makes the smoke rise up to God. Assuming this is a metaphor what is the secret hidden in the name?

Most other uses of Maaleh Ashan refer to a gift offering, made of grain, which could be offered at any time in the day.

4608. maaleh

6227. ashan

6228. עָשָׁן (Ashan) -- a place in Judah… Strong's Exhaustive Concordance. Ashan . The same as ashan; Ashan, a place in Palestine -- Ashan. see HEBREW ashan. Forms and Transliterations. וְעָשָֽׁן׃ וְעָשָׁ֑ן ועשן ועשן׃ עָשָׁן֙ עשן ‘ā·šān ‘āšān aShan veaShan wə‘āšān wə·‘ā·šān.

6225. עָשַׁן (ashan) -- to smoke, be angry denominative verb from ashan. Definition. to smoke, be angry. NASB Translation. angry (1), burn (1), smoke (4). The Discovery Bible. NAS Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible with Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries.

3565. כּוֹר (Kor Ashan) -- Chor-ashan כּוֺרעָֿשָׁן proper name, of a location see בּוֺר עַשָׁן

Firstfruit | Freewill offerings |
Burnt offering | Sin offering | Corban |
Heave offering | Wave offering |
Meat offering or Grain offering |
Trespass offering | Drink offering |
Peace offering | Sweet savour |
Charity | Fervent charity | Legal charity |
Sophistry | Leaven | Altars |
Milk and meat | Fire |
Kidney | Liver | Breeches |
Naked | Religion | Red Heifer |
Hebrew word Offer and offering |