You are never to use this formula to make incense for yourselves; you shall regard it as holy to the LORD.
God Himself appointed the spices and their quantities because nothing comes to Him but what comes from Him; the oil was compounded with exact art, infused, strained, and left sweetly fragrant for the tent and all its furniture, and for consecrating the priests in their generations.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 30:22-38
And as for the perfume which thou shalt make,.... As above directed: ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof; that is, for their own use, for the scenting of their rooms, or to snuff up, or smell to, as in the next verse: it shall be unto thee holy for the Lord; separated entirely for his service, to be burned upon...
These four substances, storax gum, onycha from a shell-fish, galbanum from the ferula shrub, and frankincense from an Arabian tree, were mixed in equal parts, each ingredient first prepared separately before combining all four together into the holy incense.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 30:34-38