Numbers 7:80
One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
Original Language Analysis
כַּ֥ף
spoon
H3709
כַּ֥ף
spoon
Strong's:
H3709
Word #:
1 of 6
the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-
עֲשָׂרָ֥ה
of ten
H6235
עֲשָׂרָ֥ה
of ten
Strong's:
H6235
Word #:
3 of 6
ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits)
זָהָ֖ב
golden
H2091
זָהָ֖ב
golden
Strong's:
H2091
Word #:
4 of 6
gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e., yellow), as oil, a clear sky
Historical Context
The incense altar stood before the veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy (Exodus 30:1-10). The prescribed incense formula could not be altered or replicated for personal use (Exodus 30:34-38), emphasizing the exclusivity and holiness of approaching God through the appointed means.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the unchanging recipe and weight of the incense challenge the notion that worship evolves with cultural preferences?
- What does the golden spoon's symbolism (the 'palm' of the hand) teach about prayer as both a priestly privilege and a human responsibility?
- Why might the last tribe's incense (Naphtali) be recorded with the same detail as the first tribe's (Judah), and what does this reveal about God's attentiveness?
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Analysis & Commentary
One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense (כַּף אַחַת עֲשָׂרָה זָהָב מְלֵאָה קְטֹרֶת, kaf achat asarah zahav mele'ah qetoret)—The golden spoon (kaf, literally "palm" or "hand") represents the hand of worship lifting prayers to God. Gold signifies deity, purity, and imperishability. The precise ten shekels reflects divine order—not nine (deficiency) or eleven (excess), but measured perfection.
Incense (qetoret) ascending from the golden censer prefigures Christ's intercession (Hebrews 7:25) and the prayers of the saints (Revelation 8:3-4). Naphtali's incense, though offered last, is equally precious. This teaches that no faithful prayer, however late or from however humble a source, is less acceptable to God. The repetition across all twelve tribes emphasizes that true worship is not innovative but imitative of the divine pattern.