Frankincense לְבֹנָה

We are in chapter six of Leviticus with our word for today. לְבֹנָה Frankincense. It is used 21 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of a yellowish, ground aromatic gum resin obtained from various Arabian or East African trees especially used for incense. We actually see our word translated as incense because its purpose was so closely connected to it. 1 Chronicles 9:29 Others of them were appointed over the furniture and over all the holy utensils, also over the fine flour, the wine, the oil, וְהַלְּבוֹנָ֖ה the incense, and the spices. Our word is one of the main ingredients of the special incense that God instructed to be made as part of the tabernacle worship. Exodus 30:34-37 The Lord said to Moses, “Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure וּלְבֹנָ֣ה frankincense (of each shall there be an equal part), and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy. You shall beat some of it very small, and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting where I shall meet with you. It shall be most holy for you. And the incense that you shall make according to its composition, you shall not make for yourselves. It shall be for you holy to the Lord. We find our word referenced with the sin offering. Leviticus 5:11 But if he cannot afford two turtledoves or two pigeons, then he shall bring as his offering for the sin that he has committed a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering. He shall put no oil on it and shall put no לְבֹנָ֔ה frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering. It is interesting that frankincense was not to be included in the sin offering. We see our word used as part of the food offering. Leviticus 24:7 And you shall put pure לְבֹנָ֣ה frankincense on each pile, that it may go with the bread as a memorial portion as a food offering to the Lord. It is also used as part of the grain offering. Leviticus 2:1 When anyone brings a grain offering as an offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it and put לְבֹנָֽה frankincense on it. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Leviticus 6:14-15 And this is the law of the grain offering. The sons of Aaron shall offer it before the Lord in front of the altar. And one shall take from it a handful of the fine flour of the grain offering and its oil and all הַלְּבֹנָ֔ה the frankincense that is on the grain offering and burn this as its memorial portion on the altar, a pleasing aroma to the Lord. It is interesting that we see gold referenced with our word. Isaiah 60:6 A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold וּלְבוֹנָה֙ and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord. Did you notice that both gold and our word are brought as gifts along with bringing good news. This reminds us of Jesus birth that has all of these gold, frankincense and good news. I’ll close with this great passage. Matthew 2:9-11 behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.