קח לך סמים נטף ושחלת וחלבנה… (כי תשא ל:לד)

Rashi says that the chelbenoh – galbanum – had a bad smell, so the passuk listed it between the spices of the Ketores – incense – to show that one should include even the simple Yidden in their prayers.

The Baal Hafla-ah once needed a Minyan and an atheist was among the assembled people.  The Baal Hafla-ah hinted that an eleventh person should be brought in to serve as the tenth for the Minyan.  The atheist noticed this and protested: “Rebbi, the chelbenoh was also included amongst the spices of the Ketores”, implying that even though he is a non-believer, still he should not be ignored. The Gaon instantly replied: “That’s why there were eleven spices!”.