Censer: see 10.1.

Altar: see 1.5. The altar mentioned here is the “incense altar” located in the sanctuary (see Exo 40.5).

Two handfuls: it may be more natural to say “his hands full” or “a double handful.”

Sweet incense: since the word sweet often refers to taste in many languages, it may be better to say “sweet-smelling,” “pleasant-smelling,” or “fragrant.”

Beaten small: this refers to incense that has been finely ground and is very powdery. It was made from a compound of spices and tree resins mixed together by expert perfumers (see Exo 30.34-38). The whole expression is translated “powdered fragrant incense” by New English Bible.

He shall bring it: the pronoun it refers to both the censer filled with burning coals and the incense. In some languages it may be clearer to say “these things,” or even “the fire pan and the incense.”

Within the veil: this clearly refers to the same place as in verses 2 and 3. Good News Translation has translated the meaning clearly: “into the Most Holy Place.”

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René and Ellington, John. A Handbook on Leviticus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1990. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .