פּירוש אויף שמות 30:1

מקטר קטרת FOR THE BURNING OF INCENSE — to raise smoke (קיטור) on it, viz., the smoke of incense.

ועשית מזבח מקטר קטורת, “you will make an altar for burning incense;”Up until now he had only heard about the altar on which burnt offerings, etc. were to be offered up. The reason was that G-d wished to tell Moses that on that altar unauthorized incense must not be offered, nor any libations or gift offerings. Moses had alluded to this altar after describing making of the candlestick (35,14) when prohibiting the offering of “alien” incense on it, and again in 35,14, when the construction of this altar is discussed. It is mentioned again in verse 8 of our chapter after the time for lighting the lamps on the candlestick has been given. This was necessary as the lamps on the candlestick were also permitted to be lit by an ordinary priest. This is clear from 27,21, which refers to both Aaron and his sons.

AND THOU SHALT MAKE AN ALTAR TO BURN INCENSE UPON. Now the altar of incense being one of the articles in the inner part of the Sanctuary, it should have been mentioned with the table and the candelabrum together with which it was placed, as indeed they are mentioned at the actual construction in the section of Vayakheil.²³²Further, 37:25 — next to the making of the candelabrum. But the reason for mentioning it here after the Tabernacle and all its vessels and the sacrifices [for the seven days of consecration], is because of what He said at the completion of them all, and the Tent shall be sanctified by My Glory;²³³Above, 29:43. and I will dwell among the children of Israel.²³⁴Ibid., Verse 45. Therefore He now said that they will yet be obliged to make an altar for the burning of incense — to burn it for the glory of G-d. This was a secret which was transmitted to Moses our Teacher,²³⁵Shabbath 89a. that the incense checks the plague.²³⁶Numbers 17:11-13. For the incense is of the attribute of justice, as it is said, they shall put incense ‘b’apecha’,²³⁷Deuteronomy 33:10. It is generally translated: “before Thee,” but Ramban suggests that b’apecha is of the root aph (anger). which is of the root v’charah api (My wrath shall wax hot).²³⁸Above, 22:23. It is for this reason that He said of strange incense, and before all the people I will be glorified,²³⁹Leviticus 10:3. meaning that they will know My glory, for He will not pardon your transgression.²⁴⁰Above, 23:21. For this reason too He said here [of the altar of incense], And thou shalt put it before the veil that is by the ark of the Testimony, before the ark-cover that is over the Testimony, where I will meet with thee.²⁴¹Verse 6. For why is it necessary to speak at length of all these matters, and why did He not say briefly, “and thou shalt put it before the ark of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting,” as He said in the section of Vayakheil?²⁴²It is found in the section of Pekudei (further, 40:5). But the extended form of the verse here indicates the purport [of the altar of incense].