Perfumed resin of a tree (Sir. 50:8; Song 3:6), white in color, as indicated by its Heb. name, "l'bonah."
Incense entered into the composition of the holy oil, with which the priests were consecrated (Ex. 30:34); It was included in the oil coming on the fine flour offering (Lev. 2:1, 2, 15, 16), and was finally burned with fire (Lev. 6:15).
No incense was added to the atonement sacrifice (Lev. 5:11), nor to the jealousy offering (Num. 5:15). Pure incense was poured over the twelve shewbread (Lev. 24:7; cf. 1 Chron. 9:29; Neh. 13:5).
The dromedaries of Midian, Ephah and Sheba brought it from Arabia (Is. 60:6; Jer. 6:20).
It is possible that the hill of incense (Song 4:6) was a place removed from the royal gardens in the midst of incense trees (Eccl. 2:5; Ant. 8:6, 6; 9:1-2).
The incense of antiquity, the frankincense of European trade, comes from the "Boswellia Floribunda", of the Buseraceae family, which grows in India, or from other species native to India, the coast of Somalia and the southern Arabia.
Incense is a resinous gum that comes in the form of 2 cm "tears", which dry and spread a balsamic smell when burned.
Inferior quality incense is reddish, and is collected in spring; the top quality is white, being picked later.
Meaning of INCENSE
Incense entered into the composition of the holy oil, with which the priests were consecrated (Ex. 30:34); It was included in the oil coming on the fine flour offering (Lev. 2:1, 2, 15, 16), and was finally burned with fire (Lev. 6:15).
