John Gill 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)

You shall put it before the veil
That divides between the holy and the most holy place; not within the veil in the holy of holies, but before it at the holy place, for there the altar of incense stood: Josephus ^F15 says, between the candlestick and the table, i.e. of shewbread, stood the altar of incense; now the candlestick and shewbread were in the holy place; and with this account the Talmudists ^F16 agree, who say, that the table was in the north, distant from the wall two cubits and a half, and the candlestick on the south, distant from the wall two cubits and a half, and the altar was in the middle, and stood between them: and Maimonides ^F17 gives the like account of its situation, which is here further described:

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that is by the ark of the testimony ;
which veil was by it, before which the altar was placed; the ark of the testimony was the chest or coffer in which the law was put, and which was the testimony of the will of God, from where it had this name; and it stood in the most holy place; and not by it in the same place, but over against it, in the holy place stood the altar of incense:

before the mercy seat ,
that is over the testimony; the mercy seat that was over the ark, a lid or cover to it, where the testimony was; and towards this, before the face of it, was the altar of incense, where the priest officiating, looked directly towards it; having that in view for the acceptance of the people's prayers to God through Christ, which they were making while he was burning the incense:

where I will meet you ;
as he had before promised, (Exodus 25:22) .

FOOTNOTES:

• F15: Antiqu. l. 3. c. 6. sect. 8.
• F16: T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 33. 2.
• F17: Hilchot Beth. Habechirah, c. 1. sect. 7.