The Mizbayach HaZahav, Golden Altar, also known as Mizbayach HaPenimi, Inner Altar, and Mizbayach HaKetores, Incense Altar, was not used for the offering of animal sacrifices, but for burning ketores, incense. Nonetheless, it was called a mizbayach, derived from the root word, zevach, sacrifice. The concept of sacrifice is the reducing of something to nothingness. The burning of incense has such beneficial impact that it can defeat plagues, calamities, even death. The mysterious power of the incense burning explains the privileged place within the Mishkan reserved for the Golden Mizbayach upon which the ketores was burnt. Hence, its name –…
