Charles Ellicott Commentary Exodus 30:6

"And thou shalt put it before the veil that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy-seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee." — Exodus 30:6 (ASV)

Before the veil. —The ark was behind the veil (Exodus 26:33; Exodus 40:3), the altar of incense directly in front of it, nearer to the veil than either the golden candlestick or the table of shewbread. Hence the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews speaks of it as belonging, in a certain sense, to the Holy of Holies (Hebrews 9:4; see Kay, in Speaker’s Commentary). The veil that is by the ark of the testimony is distinguished here from the veil, or curtain, at the entrance to the holy place.

Before the mercy seat. —The altar bore a close relation to the mercy seat. It was the instrument by which the “mercy” there enthroned was made available to the penitent sinner.

Where I will meet with thee. —Compare Exodus 25:22; Exodus 29:42–43.