Altar

An altar is any structure upon which sacrifices or other offerings are offered for religious purposes.

Altars in the Hebrew Bible

Altars (Hebrew mizbe'ah, from a word meaning "to slay") in the Hebrew Bible were typically made of earth (Ex. 20:24) or unwrought stone (20:25). Altars were generally erected in conspicuous places (Genesis 22:9; Ezekiel 6:3; 2 Kings 23:12; 16:4; 23:8.) The first altar recorded in the Hebrew Bible is that erected by Noah (Genesis 8:20). Altars were erected by Abraham (Genesis 12:7; 13:4; 22:9), by Isaac (Genesis 26:25), by Jacob (33:20; 35:1, 3), and by Moses (Exodus 17:15, "Adonai-nissi").

Related Topics:
Hebrew - Hebrew Bible - Noah - Abraham - Isaac - Jacob - Moses

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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) upon which the korbanot were offered.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 used with 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

Related Topics:
Solomon's temple - Ahaz

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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) where it had formerly stood. (Comp. 1 Macc. 4:47.) When Antiochus IV Epiphanes pillaged Jerusalem he defiled the altar of burnt offering by erecting a pagan altar upon it. Judas Maccabeus renewed the altar when he re-took Jerusalem. It was likely refurbushed by Herod during his extensive building activity on the Temple Mount, and remained in its place until the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 A.D.

Related Topics:
Antiochus IV Epiphanes - Jerusalem - Judas Maccabeus - Herod - Temple Mount

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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, and may have been the site of the altar of burnt offering. Underneath this rock is a cave, which may 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 opened 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 Maccabeus (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

Related Topics:
Exile - Judas Maccabeus - Titus - Jerusalem - Zacharias

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

appeared to him (Luke 1:11).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~