FIREPAN (מַחְתָּה, H4746). A pan for carrying live or dead coals. It was used for three different functions in the sacrifice and worship of the OT.

1. It was used to carry coals to and from the altar of burnt offering (Exod 27:3; 38:3; Num 4:14), usually tr. “firepans.”

2. It was used in combination with the snuffers of the golden lampstand, prob. as a tray to catch the pieces of burned wick (Exod 25:38; 37:23; Num 4:9), tr. by KJV as “snuff dishes,” by other VSS as “trays,” “ash-trays” or “firepans.”

3. It was used as a receptacle to burn incense, live coals being placed in the pan and the incense thrown on top to burn (Lev 10:1; 16:12, 13; Num 16:6, 7, 17, 18, 37-39, 46). As such it is tr. by KJV and others as “censer,” although other trs. use “firepan” or “pan.”

In some passages it is difficult to determine which of these specific usages is meant (1 Kings 7:50; 2 Kings 25:15; 2 Chron 4:22; Jer 52:19), although firepans for carrying coals are prob. intended, esp. in the latter case where the same terms as occur in Exodus 27:3; 38:3; Numbers 4:14 are mentioned in the list.