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Topic:
Thoughts And Things Of The Bible -- Altar
From Easton's Bible Dictionary…
The word "altar" (Heb. mizbe'ah, from a word meaning
"to slay") means any structure of earth (Ex. 20:24) or
unwrought stone (20:25) on which sacrifices were offered. Altars were
generally erected in conspicuous places (Gen. 22:9; Ezek. 6:3; 2 Kings
23:12; 16:4; 23:8; Acts 14:13). The word is used in Heb. 13:10 for the
sacrifice offered upon it--the sacrifice Christ offered. Paul found
among the many altars erected in Athens one bearing the inscription,
"To the unknown God" (Acts 17:23), or rather "to an
[i.e., some] unknown God." The reason for this inscription cannot
now be accurately determined. It afforded the apostle the occasion of
proclaiming the gospel to the "men of Athens." The first altar
we read of is that erected by Noah (Gen. 8:20). Altars were erected by
Abraham (Gen. 12:7; 13:4; 22:9), by Isaac (Gen. 26:25), by Jacob (33:20;
35:1, 3), and by Moses (Ex. 17:15, "Jehovah-nissi"). In the
tabernacle, and afterwards in the temple, two altars were erected.
(1.) The altar of burnt offering (Ex. 30:28), called also the "brasen
altar" (Ex. 39:39) and "the table of the Lord" (Mal.
1:7). This altar, as erected in the tabernacle, is described in Ex.
27:1-8. It was a hollow square, 5 cubits in length and in breadth, and 3
cubits in height. It was made of shittim wood, and was overlaid with
plates of brass. Its corners were ornamented with "horns" (Ex.
29:12; Lev. 4:18). In Ex. 27:3 the various utensils appertaining to the
altar are enumerated. They were made of brass. (Comp. 1 Sam. 2:13, 14;
Lev. 16:12; Num. 16:6, 7.) In Solomon's temple the altar was of larger
dimensions (2 Chr. 4:1. Comp. 1 Kings 8:22, 64; 9:25), and was made
wholly of brass, covering a structure of stone or earth. This altar was
renewed by Asa (2 Chr. 15:8). It was removed by Ahaz (2 Kings 16:14),
and "cleansed" by Hezekiah, in the latter part of whose reign
it was rebuilt. It was finally broken up and carried away by the
Babylonians (Jer. 52:17). After the return from captivity it was
re-erected (Ezra 3:3, 6) on the same place where it had formerly stood.
(Comp. 1 Macc. 4:47.) When Antiochus Epiphanes pillaged Jerusalem the
altar of burnt offering was taken away. Again the altar was erected by
Herod, and remained in its place till the destruction of Jerusalem by
the Romans (70 A.D.). The fire on the altar was not permitted to go out
(Lev. 6:9). In the Mosque of Omar, immediately underneath the great
dome, which occupies the site of the old temple, there is a rough
projection of the natural rock, of about 60 feet in its extreme length,
and 50 in its greatest breadth, and in its highest part about 4 feet
above the general pavement. This rock seems to have been left intact
when Solomon's temple was built. It was in all probability the site of
the altar of burnt offering. Underneath this rock is a cave, which may
probably have been the granary of Araunah's threshing-floor (1 Chr.
21:22).
(2.) The altar of incense (Ex. 30:1-10), called also "the golden
altar" (39:38; Num. 4:11), stood in the holy place "before the
vail that is by the ark of the testimony." On this altar sweet
spices were continually burned with fire taken from the brazen altar.
The morning and the evening services were commenced by the high priest
offering incense on this altar. The burning of the incense was a type of
prayer (Ps. 141:2; Rev. 5:8; 8:3, 4). This altar was a small movable
table, made of acacia wood overlaid with gold (Ex. 37:25, 26). It was 1
cubit in length and breadth, and 2 cubits in height. In Solomon's temple
the altar was similar in size, but was made of cedar-wood (1 Kings 6:20;
7:48) overlaid with gold. In Ezek. 41:22 it is called "the altar of
wood." (Comp. Ex. 30:1-6.) In the temple built after the Exile the
altar was restored. Antiochus Epiphanes took it away, but it was
afterwards restored by Judas Maccabaeus (1 Macc. 1:23; 4:49). Among the
trophies carried away by Titus on the destruction of Jerusalem the altar
of incense is not found, nor is any mention made of it in Heb. 9. It was
at this altar Zacharias ministered when an angel appeared to him (Luke
1:11). It is the only altar which appears in the heavenly temple (Isa.
6:6; Rev. 8:3,4).
From Smith's Bible Dictionary…
The first altar of which we have any account is that built by Noah
when he left the ark. (Genesis 8:20) In the early times altars were
usually built in certain spots hallowed by religious associations, e.g.,
where God appeared. (Genesis 12:7; 13:18; 26:25; 35:1) Though generally
erected for the offering of sacrifice, in some instances they appear to
have been only memorials. (Genesis 12:7; Exodus 17:15,16) Altars were
most probably originally made of earth. The law of Moses allowed them to
be made of either earth or unhewn stones. (Exodus 20:24,25) I. The Altar
of Burnt Offering. It differed in construction at different times. (1)
In the tabernacle, (Exodus 27:1) ff.; Exod 38:1 ff., it was
comparatively small and portable. In shape it was square. It as five
cubits in length, the same in breadth, and three cubits high. It was
made of planks of shittim (or acacia) wood overlaid with brass. The
interior was hollow. (Exodus 27:8) At the four corners were four
projections called horns made, like the altar itself, of shittim wood
overlaid with brass, (Exodus 27:2) and to them the victim was bound when
about to be sacrificed. (Psalms 118:27) Round the altar, midway between
the top and bottom, ran a projecting ledge, on which perhaps the priest
stood when officiating. To the outer edge of this, again, a grating or
network of brass was affixed, and reached to the bottom of the altar. At
the four corners of the network were four brazen rings, into which were
inserted the staves by which the altar was carried. These staves were of
the same material as the altar itself. As the priests were forbidden to
ascend the altar by steps, (Exodus 20:26) it has been conjectured that a
slope of earth led gradually up to the ledge from which they officiated.
The place of the altar was at the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation.)" (Exodus 40:29) (2) In Solomon's temple the altar
was considerably larger in its dimensions. It differed too in the
material of which it was made, being entirely of brass. (1 Kings 8:64; 2
Chronicles 7:7) It had no grating, and instead of a single gradual
slope, the ascent to it was probably made by three successive platforms,
to each of which it has been supposed that steps led. The altar erected
by Herod in front of the temple was 15 cubits in height and 50 cubits in
length and breadth. According to (Leviticus 6:12,13) a perpetual fire
was to be kept burning on the altar. II. The Altar of Incense, called
also the golden altar to distinguish it from the altar of burnt offering
which was called the brazen altar. (Exodus 38:30) (a) That in the
tabernacle was made of acacia wood, overlaid with pure gold. In shape it
was square, being a cubit in length and breadth and two cubits in
height. Like the altar of burnt offering it had horns at the four
corners, which were of one piece with the rest of the altar. This altar
stood in the holy place, "before the vail that is by the ark of the
testimony." (Exodus 30:6; 40:5) (b) The altar of Solomon's temple
was similar, (1 Kings 7:48; 1 Chronicles 28:18) but was made of cedar
overlaid with gold. III. Other Altars. In (Acts 17:23) reference is made
to an alter to an unknown God. There were several altars in Athens with
this inscription, erected during the time of a plague. Since they knew
not what god was offended and required to be propitiated.
Derived from Easton's and Smith's Bible
Dictionaries
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