5 Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.
6 “You are to place the altar in front of the veil by the ark of the testimony — in front of the mercy seat that is over the testimony — where I will meet with you.
7 Aaron must burn fragrant incense on it; he must burn it every morning when he tends the lamps.
8 When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he must burn incense. There is to be an incense offering before the Lord throughout your generations.
9 You must not offer unauthorized incense on it, or a burnt or grain offering; you are not to pour a drink offering on it.
10 “Once a year Aaron is to perform the purification rite on the horns of the altar. Throughout your generations he is to perform the purification rite for it once a year, with the blood of the sin offering for atonement. The altar is especially holy to the Lord.”
11 The Lord spoke to Moses: