Altar @ (Heb. mizbe'ah, from a word meaning "to slay"), any structure of earth Exodus:20:24) or unwrought stone (20:25) on which sacrifices were offered. Altars were generally erected in conspicuous places Genesis:22:9; Ezekiel:6:3; 2Kings:23:122Kings:16:42Kings:23:8 ; Acts:14:13). The word is used in Hebrews: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 Genesis:8:20). Altars were erected by Abraham Genesis:12:7Genesis:13:4Genesis:22:9 ), by Isaac Genesis:26:25), by Jacob (33:20; 35:1-3), and by Moses Exodus:17:15, "Jehovah-nissi"). In the tabernacle, and afterwards in the temple, two altars were erected. (1.) The altar of burnt offering Exodus:30:28), called also the "brasen altar" Exodus:39:39) and "the table of the Lord" Malachi:1:7). This altar, as erected in the tabernacle, is described in Exodus: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" Exodus:29:12; Leviticus:4:18). In Exodus:27:3 the various utensils appertaining to the altar are enumerated. They were made of brass. (Comp. 1Samuel:2:13-14; Leviticus:16:12; Numbers:16:6-7.) In Solomon's temple the altar was of larger dimensions ( 2Chronicals:4:1. Comp. kjvKings:8:22,64; 9:25), and was made wholly of brass, covering a structure of stone or earth. This altar was renewed by Asa ( 2Chronicals:15:8). It was removed by Ahaz ( 2Kings: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 Jeremiah:52:17). After the return from captivity it was re-erected Ezra:3:3Ezra: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 Leviticus: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 ( 1Chronicles:21:22). (2.) The altar of incense Exodus:30:1-10), called also "the golden altar" (39:38; Numbers: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 Psalms:141:2; Revelation:5:8Revelation:8:3-4). This altar was a small movable table, made of acacia wood overlaid with gold Exodus: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 (kjvKings:6:20; 7:48) overlaid with gold. In Ezekiel:41:22 it is called "the altar of wood." (Comp. Exodus: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 Hebrews: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 Isaiah:6:6; Revelation:8:3-4).
ALTAR @ - 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:12:7Genesis:13:18Genesis: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. (Kings:8:64; 2Chronicles: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:30:6Exodus:40:5) (b) The altar of Solomon’s temple was similar, (Kings:7:48; 1Chronicles: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.
Home
Bible
PCARR
Discuss
Help
BibleTools>