Reconstruction of the golden Altar of Incense, one of the sacred furnishings described in the biblical Tabernacle. According to Exodus 30, the altar was made from acacia wood, overlaid with pure gold, and designed as a square structure measuring one cubit in length, one cubit in width, and two cubits in height. Four projecting horns were placed at its corners, forming an integral part of the altar.
For this reconstruction, I used an Egyptian royal cubit of 52.36 cm as the principal unit of measurement. This choice reflects the historical and cultural context of Moses, who is traditionally associated with Egypt, as well as the possibility that Egyptian measurement standards influenced the construction of the Tabernacle and its sacred objects.
Using this scale, the biblical dimensions of the incense altar correspond to approximately:
Width: 52.36 cm.
Depth: 52.36 cm.
Height: 104.72 cm.
My model is 1:10 scale
The model includes the gilded wooden body, decorative upper molding, corner horns, side rings, and carrying poles. The surface ornamentation is an artistic interpretation intended to evoke the visual language of ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern ceremonial objects.
The same measurement system also offers an interesting perspective on the dimensions of the Ark of the Covenant. Exodus describes the Ark as measuring two and a half cubits long, one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. Hebrews 9:4 associates the Ark with the tablets of the covenant, the jar of manna, and Aaron’s rod; the biblical texts do not specify the rod’s exact length or explain precisely how it was positioned. But if it’s dimension was 130 cm a traditional cubit of 45cm will not allow the ark to contain it.
This model should therefore be understood as a historically informed interpretation, rather than a definitive archaeological reconstruction. It explores how biblical measurements, Egyptian influence, and ancient craftsmanship may have converged in the design of the Tabernacle.
The model also includes the ritual implements mentioned in the Bible in connection with the Altar of Incense. These include the censer, fire pan, burning coals, and incense bowl, representing the tools used to carry the live coals and burn the sacred incense during worship.
