The Meaning of the Wood, Oil, Spices, and Onyx Stones in the Tabernacle

The Wilderness Tabernacle Replica at Timnah, Israel

The Tabernacle

On Mount Sinai, Moses received more than just the Ten Commandments; he also received detailed instructions for building a place of meeting for God and His people. The Tabernacle was a temple of worship that involved specific protocols and procedures. These protocols provided a possible means for God's people to dwell with Him, as God requested.

Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.
— Exodus 25:8

From the fall of Genesis until the construction of the Tabernacle, the Bible records people occasionally walking and talking with God, but not dwelling with Him. As we shall see, it is within the framework of this Old Testament sanctuary that God draws His people closer to Himself through an intricate sacrificial system. This arrangement can speak volumes to us today about the specifics of such a great salvation and indescribable gift.

... how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation ...?
— Hebrews 2:3

Every detail that Christ accomplished to restore our relationship with God can be discovered in the particulars of the wilderness tabernacle. This article will examine the final four requested items on God's list for building this structure, beginning with the shittim wood.

And this is the offering which you shall take from them ... acacia (shittim) wood; oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate.
— Exodus 25:3, 5-7

A Shittim Tree

Shittim Wood

Trees or wood in Scripture symbolize human life and, in the case of the Tabernacle, will represent Christ's humanity. According to Glen Carpenter in his book Connections, the shittim tree, also called the Acacia, is a desert tree that can survive even the most barren and challenging conditions, as described by the prophet Isaiah.

I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia (shittim) tree,
The myrtle and the oil tree ...

— Isaiah 41:19-21

Shittim wood is resistant to decay and insect infestations, which speaks of the incorruptible Christ who became a man. Yet, His body did not see corruption when He died and was resurrected. In Acts, Paul combines this Old Testament revelation with the New Testament fulfillment as it applies to Christ.

For You will not leave my soul in Hades,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
You have made known to me the ways of life;
You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’ (quoted from Psalm 16 written by David)
“Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.
— Acts 2:27-32

Adam traded his life for death at a living tree. The transaction that paid the price for our sin was executed on a dead "tree." The erected boards of the Tabernacle in sockets of silver (redemption by blood) illustrate a type of resurrection or raised life from the dead. Death and the resurrection of a perfect human life are the frameworks of this structure and the only qualification whereby we can be forgiven and resurrected to eternal life and habitation with God.

No other type of wood besides shittim wood was used in the Tabernacle's construction, furnishings, or utensils. This illustrates how salvation was found in no other.

... let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
— Acts 4:10-12

The boards, poles, and furnishings consisted of this particular wood and were also plated with gold. As observed in an earlier study, gold represents God and His glory. In combination, we can see how Christ was both God and man. Following this revelation, our life application is provided in Paul's first letter to Timothy.

I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
God was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory
— I Timothy 3:15-16

Oil is Symbolic of the Holy Spirit

Oil

God's instructed use of the oil served two purposes in the Tabernacle's service.

1. The first purpose mentioned in the Exodus 25 account is for light and
2. The second mentioned is for anointing both the Tabernacle and the priesthood.

In Scripture, oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who enlightens, anoints, and appoints.

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

— Acts 10:38

Paul's letter to the Ephesians connects us with the believer's application for these same purposes of light and appointment by the Holy Spirit.

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

— Ephesians 1:17-19

Spices for the Anointing Oil

The Spices included two preparations for the Tabernacle protocols of anointing and incense burning.

1. The anointing contained four fragrant spices.
2. The incense burned upon the Golden Altar was also composed of four aromatic ingredients.

Both prescriptions were exclusive to Tabernacle worship and service and were forbidden for anything else.

“And you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘This shall be a holy anointing oil to Me throughout your generations. It shall not be poured on man’s flesh; nor shall you make any other like it, according to its composition. It is holy, and it shall be holy to you. Whoever compounds any like it, or whoever puts any of it on an outsider, shall be cut off from his people.’” ... But as for the incense which you shall make, you shall not make any for yourselves, according to its composition. It shall be to you holy for the Lord. Whoever makes any like it, to smell it, he shall be cut off from his people.”
— Exodus 30:31-33, 37-38

These aromatic blends were perfect recipes designed to engage in a pure, authentic, unadulterated, intimate worship experience with a Holy God. Sincere gratitude for God's love expressed through the sufferings of Christ on our behalf is at the foundation of this experience.

The cognitive and emotional experiences of recall and reward are deeply connected with aromas. Unlike our other senses (taste, touch, sight, and hearing), which are processed first in the cerebral cortex, our sense of smell directly connects to the region of our brains associated with our most basic needs, desires, and emotional experiences. Emotional memory and reward are at the center of this particular region. Here, pain and pleasure, fear, and tranquility are experienced. It is the same place where addictions cycle. Can we see where God is going with this?

This tabernacle space, representing our bodies (I Cor. 3:16), was designed for God alone and functions correctly only by following His prescription. When we add our lusts, desires, and fleshly wants into the mix, we connect ourselves with unholy things that send us into cycles that move away from God. God wants us to be, in a sense, addicted to Him and His ways that produce life and goodness.

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another.
— Galatians 5:17

Leaving out ingredients is just as unacceptable as adding unprescribed ones. Seeking the emotional experience apart from the realities of Christ's sufferings, or adding to the prescription with things of our own fabrication, is a dangerous game to play. Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu illustrate this for us.

And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange (foreign ingredients connected with the concept of adultery) fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not.
And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.
— Leviticus 10:1-2

The translated word "strange" above includes the idea of turning aside and departing. Its most common use involves worshiping other, or "strange," gods.

They provoked Him to jealousy with strange gods;
With abominations, they provoked Him to anger.
They sacrificed to demons, not to God,
To gods they did not know,
To new gods, new arrivals
— Deuteronomy 32:16-17

Drawing Courtesy of Southern Minnesota Artist Tim Zenk

The Recipe

The prescription for the oil consisted of four spices.

Moreover, the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Also take for yourself quality spices—

five hundred shekels of liquid myrrh,

half as much sweet-smelling cinnamon (two hundred and fifty shekels),

two hundred and fifty shekels of sweet-smelling cane,

five hundred shekels of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary ...

— Exodus 30:22-33

The following sections will look at these named spices and their spiritual applications.

Myrrh

Myrrh

The first spice noted in the Biblical text is myrrh. A little etymology before we continue—the word "myrrh" in Hebrew means "bitter." This particular spice is associated with the bitterness of Christ's sufferings

Myrrh comes from the extracted resin of a thorny Commiphora tree. The tree bleeds when the bark of the tree is pierced or cut. Myrrh harvesters wound the tree to induce the flow of the resin. The Hebrew word translated as "pure" in the description of Myrrh in Exodus 30:23 means free-flowing. The free-flowing blood of the tree speaks of the free-flowing blood of Christ that flowed from His nail-pierced hands and feet.

But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.”And again, another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

— John 19:34-37

Although myrrh is typically reddish-brown, a variety of myrrh called crimson myrrh is a deep and vibrant bright red.

Another intriguing association of myrrh, in connection with its Old Testament uses, is its association with the opposite of bitterness.

Myrrh's first mention is in Exodus 30 concerning the Tabernacle services. The Tabernacle protocols were all arranged for humankind to be in relationship and fellowship with God. Most other Old Testament uses connect this spice with pleasant-smelling perfume. Perfume is a substance used to attract others. This links us with the idea of intimacy. Three of them concern a king.

Esther bathed for six months in myrrh oil in preparation for the king's presence.

Psalm forty-five describes a Messiah-type King whose garments smell like myrrh and is followed by a discourse about his female companions.

The immoral woman in the book of Proverbs perfumes her bed with myrrh to entice her lovers.

The remaining seven mentions are included in the most intimate book of the Bible—Song of Solomon. Their usages are in relation to the Shulamite as well as her beloved.

Regarding the Messiah-King/suffering aspect, three New Testament mentions of myrrh align with Old Testament mentions. One of them is used to introduce Jesus as the Messiah-King. In Matthew, myrrh is one of the three gifts the wise men of the East brought to acknowledge His Lordship.

The other two cases concern Christ's suffering associated with His title "King of the Jews" (Mark 15:23), and the third concerns His death. (John 19:39). The biological tree source, its characteristics, and the harvesting process illustrate these two themes.

As earlier noted, the tree was thorny, and the suffering Christ wore a thorny crown when Jesus hung on the "tree." The crown of thorns appears in three Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and John), each of which includes bitter mockery of His Lordship as King. This event occurred shortly before His hands and feet were pierced with nails to a cross and His spear-wounded side.

The anointed King in Psalm 45, King Solomon, and the wise men's gift bestowed upon the royal Christ child present a type and a shadow of Jesus, the King of Kings and Lover of our souls. Myrrh's appearance at the cross and Christ's burial symbolized the sweet-smelling sacrifice and the bitterness of His suffering and death that exhibited God's great love bestowed upon us.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
— John 3:16

The contrasting associations (bitterness and intimacy) with myrrh relate contextually to what Christ has done and how it is perceived and received. This aroma is transferred to those who understand, believe, and appreciate such "great salvation." It is a pleasant fragrance that draws them near into intimate fellowship with Him. But it is a bitter stench to those who don't want to know.

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.
— II Corinthians 2:14-16

The tree from which Myrrh resin is extracted is a knotted, unattractive tree. The prophet Isaiah links this to the bitter source of our sweet salvation in His foretelling of the suffering Messiah.

For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,
And as a root out of dry ground.
He has no form or comeliness;
And when we see Him,
There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him

— Isaiah 53:2-3

Myrrh, therefore, spoke of the bitter price paid to cleanse us from sin so that we can be near and intimate with God, and sets the stage for reading the other ingredients, all of which contain very similar themes of Christ's sufferings, so that God may dwell with us.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is the second spice mentioned in the Tabernacle anointing oil recipe. It is made from the rolled inner bark of an evergreen cinnamon tree, which perhaps links us with the everlasting, eternal purpose of Christ's sufferings, giving us access to God.

... to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access (It was the incense Altar that was visited just prior to "accessing" God) with confidence through faith in Him. Therefore, I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

— Ephesians 3:10-12

Cinnamon is also associated with suffering in terms of how it is processed. The branch of the cinnamon tree is stripped of its outer bark.

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.
— Matthew 27:27-28

Then, the outer bark is discarded.

... and led Him away to be crucified.
— Matthew 27:31

From an application standpoint, this description also illustrates how our sinful nature must be put off and done away with.

... our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no
longer be slaves of sin.

— Romans 6:5-6

... if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts ...

— Ephesians 4:21-24

Next, the cinnamon must be beaten to separate the inner bark from the stem, also depicting the sufferings of the Savior.

Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.

— Isaiah 53:4-5

There are three mentions of cinnamon in Scripture—one in the Tabernacle instructions and the others in Proverbs and Song of Solomon. Like myrrh, cinnamon is used in these two books in connection with intimacy. The Proverbs mention is in relation to a harlot crying out to her lovers in the street.

I have perfumed my bed
With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
Come, let us take our fill of love until morning;
Let us delight ourselves with love.

— Proverbs 7:17-18

Song of Solomon mentions cinnamon in the beloved's description of his spouse in terms of a fragrant garden.

A garden enclosed
Is my sister, my spouse,
A spring shut up,
A fountain sealed.
Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates
With pleasant fruits,
Fragrant henna with spikenard,
Spikenard and saffron,
Calamus and cinnamon,
With all the trees of frankincense,
Myrrh and aloes,
With all the chief spices—
A fountain of gardens,
A well of living waters,
And streams from Lebanon.

— Song of Solomon 4:12-15

Calamus is otherwise known as "Sweet Flag."

Cane/Calamus/Sweet Flag

The next ingredient for the anointing oil is Calamus or "Sweet Flag." It is a reed that grows in muddy marshes, like cattails, and contains fragrant and medicinal properties.

In Hebrew, this word is the same as the one translated as "branch" in the description of the Menorah's branches and the measuring reed used in Ezekiel's Temple.

In connection with its reliability for use as a measuring rod, the uprightness and straightness of this plant also hint at the uprightness, straightness, and righteousness of Christ.

He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.

— Deuteronomy 32:4

As with the other two spices, a brief mention is given in the Song of Solomon. This mention, once again, makes a connection with intimacy. The Psalmist offers a sweet-smelling offering of prayer and praise that relates to this memorable quality.

Those who are planted in the house of the Lord
Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bear fruit in old age;
They shall be fresh and flourishing,
To declare that the Lord is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

— Psalm 92:13-15

Cassia

Cassia is a variety of cinnamon mentioned only twice in the Bible. The same principles of processing that paralleled Christ's sufferings in the cinnamon also apply to this ingredient. The Hebrew word for Cassia is rooted in a word meaning "bow the head to the ground" or "bend the body in deference." Its first occurrence shows up in the account of Abraham's servant finding a wife for Isaac.

And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.

— Genesis 24:26

It is most generally used in the context of a response of extreme gratitude for deliverance or answered prayer.

And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

— Exodus 4:31

Bowing relates to how Christ humbled Himself by becoming one of us to procure our salvation.

Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

— Philippians 2:5-8

Peter gives us the application in light of the sufferings of Christ.

The elders who are among you I exhort, I (Peter) who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed ...

... be clothed with humility, for

“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.

Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

— I Peter 5:1-5

Spices

Spices for Incense

Incense illustrates both prayer and worship that go up to God, as is stated by the Psalmist.

Let my prayer be set before You as incense The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

— Psalm 141:2

The New Testament writer of Revelation confirms this connection.

Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.
— Revelation 8:3-4

Paul's letter to the Ephesians expounds on Christ's fulfillment and our application, and uses the metaphor of fragrance throughout.

Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
— Ephesians 5:1-2

As discussed earlier, regarding memory, incense was also used in association with the acknowledgment, honor, and remembrance of God's name.

For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down,
My name shall be great among the Gentiles;
In every place incense shall be offered to My name
And a pure offering;
For My name shall be great among the nations,”
Says the Lord of hosts.

— Malachi 1:11

The pleasant aroma of the incense connects God's people with the pleasantness of His name. Each of the spices evokes an association with the fragrant aroma of the great things God has done for us, so that He might dwell with us and in us. Lastly, incense rising is also an image of Christ's ascension.

“When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men

— Ephesians 4:7

As was seen in the Shittim wood boards, the resurrection was about Christ rising from the grave. The ascension was about Christ ascending into heaven.

The book of Revelation reveals how this translates to believers in the culmination of all things.

And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud ...
— Revelation 11:12

Unlike oil spices, the list of spices for the incense ingredients does not record specific amounts.

And the Lord said to Moses: “Take sweet spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum, and pure frankincense with these sweet spices; there shall be equal amounts of each. You shall make of these an incense, a compound according to the art of the perfumer, salted, pure, and holy
— Exodus 30:34

Stacte

The Hebrew word used for this ingredient means to fall in drops. It is not clear what particular substance this was. Some commentaries suggest it is a product of myrrh, also used in the anointing oil. Interestingly, its root word connects with themes of words dropping from the mouth, as Job testifies.

After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.

— Job 29:22

In terms of words, dropping is also associated with the prophetic word.

Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,
— Ezekiel 21:2

It is connected with intimacy, once again, in the book of Song of Solomon. And it is interestingly associated with the dripping of myrrh.

His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet-smelling myrrh
— Song of Solomon 5:13

We can connect this word's meaning "to drip" or "drop down" with a bitter New Testament event in the Garden of Gethsemane that fits perfectly with the purpose of incense, that being prayer.

And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
— Luke 22:44

The writer of Hebrews gives us the application of how we should respond to such great salvation.

For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.
— Hebrews 12:3-4

Distillation is also a definition of this incense ingredient and alludes to purification. When a substance is distilled, it is heated into a vapor that leaves solids and impurities behind. The pure vapor is then cooled, turning it back into liquid drops free of pollutants. Old Testament purification rituals always involved a separation. The fulfillment in Christ and our application are discovered in a short verse from John's first epistle.

And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
— I John 3:3

Onycha

Onycha

Onycha is thought to derive from the door membrane of a Red Sea mollusk. These are still used in incense making today in the Eastern part of the world.

Like the dolphin skin covering the Tabernacle, this particular ingredient is the only one derived from the sea. The other oil and incense ingredients are plant derivatives, much like all the other Tabernacle coverings were animal derivatives.

Recall that the blue threads used to embroider the white linen tapestry and priestly garments came from a sea mollusk. It is interesting that the Hebrew word for blue, as it referred to mollusk and the colors of the Tabernacle threads, is tᵉkêleth (תכלת), and the Hebrew word for Onycha is very similar to shᵉchêleth (שכלת). Apart from their first letter, both terms are identical.

The process involves drying the membrane and grinding it into a fine powder. The grinding process connects with Christ's work on the cross, which was accomplished to defeat our enemies. Using sea themes, the Psalmist prophetically writes of a coming one who will achieve just that.

Then the channels of the sea were seen,
The foundations of the world were uncovered
At Your rebuke, O Lord,
At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

He sent from above, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.
He delivered me from my strong enemy ...

... I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them;
Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.
I have wounded them,
So that they could not rise;
They have fallen under my feet.
For You have armed me with strength for the battle;
You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
You have also given me the necks of my enemies,
So that I destroyed those who hated me.
They cried out, but there was none to save;
Even to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind;
I cast them out like dirt in the streets.

— Psalm 18:15-17, 37-42

Paul illustrates the New Testament fulfillment in his letter to the Colossians concerning enemies who are not flesh and blood.

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

— Colossians 2:13-15

Galbanum

Galbanum occurs only once in Scripture, making it difficult to trace its deeper meaning, so we will connect it with what we can, as it concerns its qualities. This particular spice is an aromatic gum resin obtained from the roots of the Galbanum plant. Much like myrrh and frankincense, galbanum forms resin tears, and, as with all the ingredients, they were "beaten small."

The Hebrew word for galbanum is chêlebanah (חלבנה), and is rooted in the term for fat or the best and choicest part, which belonged to the Lord and is forbidden for human consumption. The video above relates this idea to offering our excess to God to complete His mission and ministry on earth, and to not be lazy or greedy in excess. Christ fulfilled this when He stripped Himself of His heavenly privileges to become one of us.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

— Philippians 2:6-10

This stripping contrasted the fleshly example given by the scribes and Pharisees.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
— Matthew 23:25

Their excesses were listed along with eight total "woes" in Matthew chapter 23, all of which included self-fattening, self-exalting, and prideful agendas.

Frankincense

Pure Frankincense

Frankincense, like myrrh, was one of the three gifts given to Jesus by wise men from the East. It also shares a similar type of processing. Frankincense is tapped by stripping the branch or the bark, which releases the sap.

... who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

— I Peter 2:21-24

The hardened resin, referred to as tears, is included in all resin-based ingredients. The writer of Hebrews gives us the fulfillment of Christ concerning this and its connection with prayer.

So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest...who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

— Hebrews 5:5-7

The Hebrew word for frankincense is "levonah," לבונה, meaning white, which speaks of purity. The altar of incense was located just before the entrance to the Holy of Holies, where God's presence resided.

Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.

— Matthew 5:8

Salt

Salted, Pure, and Holy

The list of spices concluded with the requirement that the ingredients be salted, pure, and holy. All of these, together, are related in theme. First, let's look at salt. From a practical perspective, salt may have been used as a preservative due to its well-known antimicrobial properties.

Salt was a required ingredient, with all the blood sacrifices symbolizing eternal covenant concepts that included the remembrance of judgment. The Dead Sea or Salt Sea is an example of the connection between salt and judgment. God cleansed the filthiness of Sodom and Gomorrah in a salty, fiery judgment that can still be seen and remembered to this day. Jesus cautions those who claim to be one of His covenant ones to live faithfully to Him with that recollection in mind.

Remember Lot’s wife (who turned to salt along with the environment she looked longingly back to) . Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.

— Luke 17:32-33

All but one of the spice offerings were plant-based, and all offered a hint at a type of judgment on our behalf to ratify a new eternal (salted) covenant. Salt has an "everlasting" quality. Even if you dissolve it in liquid, it recrystallizes when the water evaporates.

Salt also enhances aromas by absorbing moisture from the substances it is mixed with, thereby releasing and lifting the odors trapped within. These plant-based salted aromas might give us a glimpse of God's covenant fulfillment by causing our hearts and minds to recall a botanical place where the eternal and the natural physical realm met in Eden.

In the following instruction, the Hebrew word for "pure" means unmixed, unalloyed, unpolluted, clear, and clean.

The third instructive characteristic is that it was to be Holy. The combined spices were to have no other purpose than the Tabernacle service at the Incense Altar.

I will wrap up this section with a quote from Samuel Ridout that ties together the combined principles concerning Christ's fulfillment of these images and definitions.

"But all was blended together in the power of the Spirit, so that the result was a "perfume, a confection," absolutely sweet and delightful to the infinite God, and tempered together according to the "salt" of the eternal covenant (Lev.2:13), which sets forth the perpetual character of Him of whom all speaks, and the eternal nature of that praise of which He is the theme."

Onyx

Onyx/Chalcedony Stones

Interestingly, this particular stone is the only one of the two precious stones mentioned in the creation account. Much like the botanicals, it takes us back to the garden experience. This stone connects with the land of Havilah, where there was also gold. It was the location of the first of four rivers.

Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one that skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there.

— Genesis 2:10

As mentioned in Exodus 25, the founding chapter of our topic, the onyx was also used on the shoulder pieces of the High Priestly garment, and the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were engraved upon them. This stone was also one of the twelve stones on the High Priest's breastplate worn over his heart.

... onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate.
— Exodus 25

An alternative definition of the Hebrew word translated as "onyx" is Chalcedony. We tend to think of onyx as a black stone, whereas pure Chalcedony is white. The color becomes essential when connecting it with another white stone in Scripture.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”

— Revelation 2:17

The twelve tribal names inscribed on the High Priest's shoulder stones parallel the names of the overcomers engraved on a white stone in Revelation. Christ overcame for us that we might overcome in the face of tribulation.

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
— John 16:33

The United View

Taken together, the final items listed in Exodus chapter 25 show us the incorruptible humanity of Christ in the Shittim wood. He was anointed with the Holy Spirit and appointed to suffer for our sakes, as shown in the ingredients of the anointing oil.

“Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:

‘Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?
The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His Christ (anointed).

“For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.

— Acts 4:24-28

The incense ingredients contained a different set of spices that also spoke of Christ's suffering on our behalf to secure our salvation. Altogether, they represent the prayers of intercession and praise born from the foundation of that salvation. They were a sweet aroma to the Lord.

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin ...

... He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.
By His knowledge, My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities.

— Isaiah 53:10-11

In the final item, the onyx/chalcedony stone, we discover how Christ overcame to make us overcomers.

Conclusion

We conclude with the final list and account of the people's obedience to willingly offer all that God had asked.

Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments. They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing heart, and brought earrings and nose rings, rings and necklaces, all jewelry of gold, that is, every man who made an offering of gold to the Lord. And every man, with whom was found blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats’ hair, red skins of rams, and badger skins, brought them. Everyone who offered an offering of silver or bronze brought the Lord’s offering. And everyone with whom was found acacia wood for any work of the service, brought it. All the women who were gifted artisans spun yarn with their hands, and brought what they had spun, of blue, purple, and scarlet, and fine linen. And all the women whose hearts stirred with wisdom spun yarn of goats’ hair. The rulers brought onyx stones, and the stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate, and spices and oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to the Lord, all the men and women whose hearts were willing to bring material for all kinds of work which the Lord, by the hand of Moses, had commanded to be done.

— Exodus 35:20-29

Next article in this series, The Purpose of the Wilderness Tabernacle: The Ark of the Covenant