¹⁸ Make two cherubim^[a] of beaten gold for the two ends of the cover; ¹⁹ make one cherub at one end, and the other at the other end, of one piece with the cover, at each end. ²⁰ The cherubim shall have their wings spread out above, sheltering the cover with them; they shall face each other, with their faces looking toward the cover. ²¹ This cover you shall then place on top of the ark. In the ark itself you are to put the covenant which I will give you. ²² There I will meet you and there, from above the cover, between the two cherubim on the ark of the covenant, I will tell you all that I command you regarding the Israelites.

Chapter 30

Altar of Incense. ¹ For burning incense you shall make an altar of acacia wood,^{(A) 2} with a square surface, a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high, with horns that are of one piece with it. ³ Its grate on top, its walls on all four sides, and its horns you shall plate with pure gold. Put a gold molding around it. ⁴ Underneath the molding you shall put gold rings, two on one side and two on the opposite side, as holders for the poles used in carrying it. ⁵ Make the poles, too, of acacia wood and plate them with gold. ⁶ This altar you are to place in front of the veil that hangs before the ark of the covenant where I will meet you.^(B)

⁷ On it Aaron shall burn fragrant incense. Morning after morning, when he prepares the lamps, ⁸ and again in the evening twilight, when he lights the lamps, he shall burn incense. Throughout your generations this shall be the regular incense offering before the Lord. ⁹ On this altar you shall not offer up any profane incense, or any burnt offering or grain offering; nor shall you pour out a libation upon it. ¹⁰ Once a year Aaron shall purge its horns.^(C) Throughout your generations he is to purge it once a year with the blood of the atoning purification offering. This altar is most sacred to the Lord.

²³ In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim, each ten cubits high, made of pine. ²⁴ Each wing of a cherub was five cubits so that the span from wing tip to wing tip was ten cubits. ²⁵ The second cherub was also ten cubits: the two cherubim were identical in size and shape; ²⁶ the first cherub was ten cubits high, and so was the second. ²⁷ He placed the cherubim in the inmost part of the house; the wings of the cherubim were spread wide, so that one wing of the first touched the side wall and the wing of the second touched the other wall; the wings pointing to the middle of the room touched each other. ²⁸ He overlaid the cherubim with gold.