3. Overlay its top, all around its sides, and its horns with pure gold; make a gold molding all around it.
4. Make two gold rings for it under the molding on two of its sides; put these on opposite sides of it to be holders for the poles to carry it with.
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:
12. “When you take a census of the Israelites to register them, each of the men must pay a ransom for himself to the Lord as they are registered. Then no plague will come on them as they are registered.
13. Everyone who is registered must pay half a shekel according to the sanctuary shekel (20 gerahs to the shekel). This half shekel is a contribution to the Lord.
14. Each man who is registered, 20 years old or more, must give this contribution to the Lord.
15. The wealthy may not give more and the poor may not give less than half a shekel when giving the contribution to the Lord to atone for your lives.
16. Take the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the tent of meeting. It will serve as a reminder for the Israelites before the Lord to atone for your lives.”
17. The Lord spoke to Moses:
18. “Make a bronze basin for washing and a bronze stand for it. Set it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it.