7. “Aaron must burn sweet-smelling incense on the altar every morning. He will do this when he comes to take care of the oil lamps.
8. He must burn incense again in the evening when he lights the lamps. So incense will burn before the Lord every day from now on.
9. Do not use this altar for offering any other incense or burnt offering. Do not use this altar to offer any kind of grain offering or drink offering.
10. Once a year Aaron must make the altar ready for service to God. He will do it by putting blood on its corners. This is blood of the animal offered to remove sins. He is to do this once a year from now on. This altar belongs completely to God’s service.”
11. The Lord said to Moses,
12. “Count the people of Israel. At that time every person must pay to buy back his life from the Lord. Then no terrible things will happen to the people when you number them.
13. Every person who is counted must pay one-fifth of an ounce of silver. This is set by the Holy Place measure, which weighs two-fifths of an ounce. This amount is a gift to the Lord.
14. Every person who is counted and is 20 years old or older must give this amount to the Lord.
15. A rich person must not give more than one-fifth of an ounce. And a poor person must not give less than one-fifth of an ounce. You are paying this to the Lord to buy back your lives.
16. Gather from the people of Israel this money paid to buy back their lives. Spend it to buy things for the service in the Meeting Tent. This payment will remind the Lord that the Israelites’ lives have been bought back.”
17. The Lord said to Moses,
18. “Make a bronze bowl for washing. Build it on a bronze stand. Put the bowl and stand between the Meeting Tent and the altar. Put water in the bowl.
19. Aaron and his sons must wash their hands and feet with the water from this bowl.
20. Each time, before they enter the Meeting Tent, they must wash with water. This way they will not die. They approach the altar to serve as priests. They offer a sacrifice to the Lord by fire.
21. Each time they do this, they must wash their hands and their feet so they will not die. This is a rule which Aaron and his descendants are to keep from now on.”
22. Then the Lord said to Moses,