Commandment to Not Libate

(1) You shall make an altar for burning incense; make it of acacia wood. (2) It shall be a cubit long and a cubit wide—it shall be square—and two cubits high, its horns of one piece with it. (3) Overlay it with pure gold: its top, its sides round about, and its horns; and make a gold molding for it round about. (4) And make two gold rings for it under its molding; make them on its two side walls, on opposite*opposite Lit. “its two.” sides. They shall serve as holders for poles with which to carry it. (5) Make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. (6) Place it in front of the curtain that is over the Ark of the Pact—in front of the cover that is over the Pact—where I will meet with you. (7) On it Aaron shall burn aromatic incense: he shall burn it every morning when he tends the lamps, (8) and Aaron shall burn it at twilight when he lights the lamps—a regular incense offering before יהוה throughout the ages. (9) You shall not offer alien incense on it, or a burnt offering or a meal offering; neither shall you pour a libation on it. (10) Once a year Aaron shall perform purification upon its horns with blood of the sin offering of purification; purification shall be performed upon it once a year throughout the ages. It is most holy to יהוה.

"And libation—'You shall not pour upon it' (lo taseku alav)—meaning that one should not pour wine or oil upon it, similar to what is done with the outer altar. This, too, in my opinion, is a negative commandment. However, the Rabbi, the Guide (Rambam in Moreh Nevukhim), did not count it as such, and his understanding is broader than ours."

"And libation (nesekh)—to warn even regarding the libations. However, this requires further examination, as the Sefer Mitzvot (Sefer HaMitzvot) did not count this prohibition separately, despite the fact that two prohibitions were stated: 'You shall not offer up' (lo ta'alu) and 'You shall not pour' (lo tasek)."

"And libation—'You shall not pour upon it' (lo taseku alav): Throughout the entire year, this altar shall be used only for the burning of incense (words from the root katar appear seven times in this passage)."