And he put the golden altar, literally “And he placed the gold altar,” refers to the altar for burning incense, or “gold incense altar” (Contemporary English Version). In the tent of meeting, the ʾohel moʿed, refers to the tabernacle. And we know that this would be in the Holy Place, the larger of the two rooms of the tent. Before the veil, literally “to the face of the veil,” means, as Good News Translation translates it, “in front of the curtain,” that is, the curtain that separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place. (See the comment at 26.33.)

And burnt fragrant incense upon it, literally “and he caused fragrant incense to smoke upon it,” uses the same terms as in 30.7. (See the comment there.) As the LORD had commanded Moses is the fifth use of this formula in this section. (See the comment at verse 19 above.)

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .