Reference: Altar
American
A table-like structure, on which sacrifices and incense were offered, built of various materials, usually of stone, but sometimes of brass, etc. It is evident that sacrifices were offered long before the flood; but the first mention of an altar in Scripture is when Noah left the ark. Mention is made of altars reared by Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses. The latter was commanded to build an altar of earth, Ex 20:24. If stone was employed, it must be rough and unhewn, probably lest the practice of sculpture should lead them to violate the second commandment. It was not to be furnished with steps, De 27:2-6.
The altars in the Jewish tabernacle, and in the temple at Jerusalem, were the following: 1. The altar of burnt offerings. 2. The altar of incense. 3. The table of showbread, for which see BREAD.
1. THE ALTAR OF BURNT-OFFERINGS was a kind of coffer of shittim-wood covered with brass plates, about seven feet six inches square, and four feet six inches in height. At the four corners were four horns, or elevations. It was portable, and had rings and staves for bearing in, Ex 27-28. It was placed in the court before the tabernacle, towards the east. The furniture of the altar was of brass, and consisted of a pan, to receive the ashes that fell through the grating; shovels; basins, to contain the blood with which the altar was sprinkled; and forks, to turn and remove the pieces of flesh upon the coals. The fire was a perpetual one, kindled miraculously, and carefully cherished. Upon this altar the lamb of the daily morning and evening sacrifice was offered, and the other stated and voluntary blood-sacrifices and meat and drink-offerings. To this also certain fugitives were allowed to flee and find protection. The altar in Solomon's temple was larger, being about thirty feet square and fifteen feet high, 2Ch 4:1. It is said to have been covered with thick plates of brass and filled with stones, with an ascent on the east side. It is often called "the brazen altar."
2.THE ALTAR OF INCENSE was a small table of shittim-wood, covered with plates of gold; it was eighteen inches square, and three feet high, Ex 30; 37:25, etc. At the four corners were four horns, and all around its top was a little border or crown. On each side were two rings, into which staves might be inserted for the purpose of carrying it. It stood in the Holy place; not in the Holy of Holies, but before it, between the golden candlestick and the table of showbread, and the priests burned incense upon it every morning and evening. So Zacharias, Lu 1:9,11. See TEMPLE.
3. ALTAR AT ATHENS, inscribed "to the unknown God,"
Ac 17:23. It is certain. Both from Paul's assertion and the testimony of Greek writers, that altars to an unknown or gods existed at Athens. But the attempt to ascertain definitely whom the Athenians worshipped under this appellation must ever remain fruitless for want of sufficient data. The inscription afforded to Paul a happy occasion of proclaiming the gospel; and those who embraced it found it indeed that the Being whom they had thus ignorantly worshipped was the one only living and true God.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
An altar of earth, shalt thou make to me, then shalt thou offer thereupon thine ascending-sacrifices and thy peace-offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen. In every place where I may mention my name, will I come in unto thee and will bless thee.
So then it shall be in the day when ye shall pass over the Jordan, into the land which Yahweh thy God is giving unto thee, - that thou shalt rear thee up great stones, and plaster them with plaster; and shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou shalt pass over, - to the end that thou mayest enter upon the land which Yahweh thy God is giving unto thee a land flowing with milk and honey, as Yahweh the God of thy fathers hath spoken unto thee. read more. So then it shall be when ye shall pass over the Jordan, that ye shall rear up these stones which I am commanding you to-day in Mount Ebal, - and thou shalt plaster them with plaster. And thou shalt build there an altar unto Yahweh thy God, - an altar of stones, thou shalt not wield thereupon any tool of iron. Of whole stones, shalt thou build the altar of Yahweh thy God, - then shalt thou cause to go up thereon ascending-sacrifices, unto Yahweh thy God;
And he made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits, the length thereof, and, twenty cubits, the breadth thereof, - and, ten cubits, the height thereof.
according to the custom of his priesthood, it fell to his lot to offer incense, entering into the Temple of the Lord;
And there appeared unto him a messenger of the Lord, standing on the right hand of the altar of incense;
For, passing through, and carefully observing your objects of devotion, I found an altar also, in which was inscribed - Unto an Unknown God. What, therefore, not knowing, ye reverence, the same, do, I, declare unto you.
Easton
(Heb. mizbe'ah, from a word meaning "to slay"), any structure of earth (Ex 20:24) or unwrought stone (Ex 20:25) on which sacrifices were offered. Altars were generally erected in conspicuous places (Ge 22:9; Eze 6:3; 2Ki 23:12; 16:4; 23:8; Ac 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" (Ac 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 (Ge 8:20). Altars were erected by Abraham (Ge 12:7; 13:4; 22:9), by Isaac (Ge 26:25), by Jacob (Ge 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; Le 4:18).
In Ex 27:3 the various utensils appertaining to the altar are enumerated. They were made of brass. (Comp. 1Sa 2:13-14; Le 16:12; Nu 16:6-7.)
In Solomon's temple the altar was of larger dimensions (2Ch 4:1. Comp. 1Ki 8:22,64; 9:25), and was made wholly of brass, covering a structure of stone or earth. This altar was renewed by Asa (2Ch 15:8). It was removed by Ahaz (2Ki 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 (Ezr 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 (Le 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 (1Ch 21:22).
(2.) The altar of incense (Ex 30:1-10), called also "the golden altar" (Ex 39:38; Nu 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; Re 5:8; 8:3-4).
Illustration: Brazen and Golden Altars
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 (1Ki 6:20; 7:48) overlaid with gold. In Eze 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 (Lu 1:11). It is the only altar which appears in the heavenly temple (Isa 6:6; Re 8:3-4).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Noah builded an altar to Yahweh, - and took of all the clean beasts and of all the clean birds, and caused ascending Sacrifices to go up on the altar.
And Yahweh appeared unto Abram, and said: To thy seed, will I give this land, - And he built there an altar, unto Yahweh who appeared unto him.
unto the place of the altar, which he made there at first, - and Abram called there, on the name of Yahweh.
Then came they into the place which God had named to him, and Abraham built there the altar, and aid in order the pieces of wood, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, above the pieces of wood.
Then came they into the place which God had named to him, and Abraham built there the altar, and aid in order the pieces of wood, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, above the pieces of wood.
So he builded there all altar and called on the name of Yahweh, and spread out there, his rent, - and the servants of Isaac cut out there a well.
Then said God unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there, - and make there an altar, to the GOD who appeared unto thee, when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.
And let us arise, and go up to Beth-el, - that I may make there an altar to the GOD who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way that I went.
And Moses built an altar, - and called the name thereof, Yahweh-nissi.
An altar of earth, shalt thou make to me, then shalt thou offer thereupon thine ascending-sacrifices and thy peace-offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen. In every place where I may mention my name, will I come in unto thee and will bless thee. But if, an altar of stones, thou wilt make to me, thou shalt not build them hewn, - for as soon as thou hast lifted, thy sharp tool, thereupon, thou hast profaned it;
And thou shalt make the altar of acacia wood, - of five cubits length and five cubits breadth four square, shall the altar be, and three cubits the height thereof. And thou shalt make its horns upon its four corners, of the same, shall be its horns, - and thou shalt overlay it with copper. read more. And thou shalt make its pans for removing its ashes, and its shovels and its sprinkling bowls, and its flesh-hooks and its fire-pans, - all its vessels, shalt thou make of bronze.
And thou shalt make its pans for removing its ashes, and its shovels and its sprinkling bowls, and its flesh-hooks and its fire-pans, - all its vessels, shalt thou make of bronze. And thou shalt make to it a grating, a network of bronze, - and thou shalt make upon the network, four rings of bronze, upon the four corners thereof. read more. And thou shalt place it under the margin of the altar beneath, - so shall the network reach unto the midst of the altar. And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of acacia wood, - and shalt overlay them with copper. And the staves shall be brought into the rings, - so shall the staves be on the two sides of the altar in lifting it: Hollow with boards, shalt thou make it, - as it was showed thee in the mount, so, shall they make it.
and thou shalt take of the blood of the bullock, and place upon the horns of the altar, with thy finger, - and all the remaining blood, shalt thou pour out at the foundation of the altar;
And thou shalt make an altar, for burning incense, of acacia wood, shalt thou make it:
And thou shalt make an altar, for burning incense, of acacia wood, shalt thou make it: a cubit, the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof four square, shall it be, - and two cubits, the height thereof, of the same, shall be the horns thereof,
a cubit, the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof four square, shall it be, - and two cubits, the height thereof, of the same, shall be the horns thereof, And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof,-and thou shalt make to it a border of gold round about.
And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof,-and thou shalt make to it a border of gold round about. And, two rings of gold, shalt thou make to it, under the border thereof upon the two corners thereof, shalt thou make them on the two sides thereof, - so shall they become receptacles for the staves, to lift it therewith.
And, two rings of gold, shalt thou make to it, under the border thereof upon the two corners thereof, shalt thou make them on the two sides thereof, - so shall they become receptacles for the staves, to lift it therewith. And thou shalt make the staves of acacia wood, - and overlay them with gold.
And thou shalt make the staves of acacia wood, - and overlay them with gold. And thou shalt place it before the veil, which is by the ark of the testimony, - before the propitiatory which is upon the testimony, where I will meet thee.
And thou shalt place it before the veil, which is by the ark of the testimony, - before the propitiatory which is upon the testimony, where I will meet thee. And Aaron shall burn thereon fragrant incense, - morning by morning, when he trimmeth the lamps, shall he burn it; read more. and, when Aaron lighteth the lamps, between the evenings, shall he burn it, - a continual incense before Yahweh, to your generations. Ye shall not cause to ascend thereupon strange incense, nor an ascending-sacrifice, nor a meal-offering, - and a drink offering, shall ye not pour out thereupon. But Aaron shall put a propitiatory-covering upon the horns thereof, once in the year: of the blood of the sin-bearer for propitiatory-coverings, once in the year, shall he put a propitiatory-covering thereupon to your generations, most holy, it is to Yahweh.
and the altar for the ascending-sacrifice, and all its utensils,-and the laver, and its stand.
And he made the incense altar, of acacia wood, - a cubit, the length thereof, and, a cubit, the breadth thereof, foursquare, and two cubits the height thereof, of the same, were the horns thereof. And he overlaid it with pure gold - the top thereof and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof,-and he made thereto a rim of gold, round about.
and the altar of gold, and the oil of anointing, and the fragrant incense, - and the screen for the opening of the tent; the altar of bronze and the grating of bronze which pertaineth thereto, the staves thereof, and all the utensils thereof, - the laver, and its stand,
and, some of the blood, shall he put upon the horns of the altar which is before Yahweh, which is in the tent of meeting; and, all the remainder of the blood, shall he pour out at the base of the altar of ascending-sacrifice, which is at the entrance of the tent of meeting;
Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the ascending-sacrifice, - the same, is the ascending-sacrifice, which is upon the hearth, upon the altar, nil the night until the morning, - and the fire of the altar, shall be kept burning therein.
and shall take the censer-full of burning coals of fire from off the altar from before Yahweh, and his hands full of fragrant incense, beaten small, - and bring within the veil;
And upon the altar of gold, shall they spread a wrapper of blue, and shall cover the same in a covering of badgers skin, - and shall put in the staves thereof,
This do, - Take to you censers, Korah and all his assembly; and place therein fire, and put thereon incense before Yahweh, to-morrow, So shall it be - that, the man whom Yahweh shall choose, he shall be the holy one. Too much for you ye sons of Levi!
And, the custom of the priests with the people, was - when any man offered a sacrifice, then would come the priests young man, as the flesh was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand; and would strike it into the boiler, or into the trough, or into the kettle, or into the pot, all that the fork would bring up, the priest took for himself. Thus and thus, used they to do unto all Israel, who came thither, in Shiloh.
And, the interior of the shrine, was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in height, and he overlaid it, with pure gold, - and overlaid the altar with cedar.
And Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of Yahweh, - the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereon was the presence-bread;
And Solomon stood before the altar of Yahweh, in the presence of all the convocation of Israel, - and spread forth his hands towards the heavens;
On that day, did the king hallow the middle of the court, that was before the house of Yahweh, - for he offered there the ascending-sacrifice, and the meal-offering, and the fat portions of the peace-offerings, because, the altar of bronze that was before Yahweh, was too small to receive the ascending-sacrifice and the meal-offering, and the fat portions of the peace-offerings.
And Solomon used to offer, three times a year, ascending-sacrifices and peace-offerings, upon the altar which he had built unto Yahweh, and to offer incense at the altar which was before Yahweh, - thus Solomon gave completeness unto the house.
And, the altar of bronze which was before Yahweh, he brought away from the forefront of the house, from between the altar, and the house of Yahweh, - and put it at the side of the altar northward.
And David said unto Ornan, Grant me the place of the threshing-floor, that I may build thereon an altar, unto Yahweh, - for silver in full, shalt thou grant it me, that the plague may be stayed from off the people.
And he made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits, the length thereof, and, twenty cubits, the breadth thereof, - and, ten cubits, the height thereof.
And, when Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he strengthened himself, and put away the abominations out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had captured out of the hill country of Ephraim, - and renewed the altar of Yahweh, that was before the porch of Yahweh.
So they settled the altar upon its stands, for, dread, was upon them, because of the peoples of the countries, - therefore caused they to go up thereon, ascending-sacrifices unto Yahweh, ascending-sacrifices for the morning and for the evening.
From the first day of the seventh month, began they to offer up ascending-sacrifices unto Yahweh, - but, the temple of Yahweh, had not had its foundation laid.
Then flew unto me one of the seraphim, And in his hand, a live coal, - With tongs, had he taken it from off the altar.
And the pillars of bronze that pertained to the house of Yahweh and the stands and the sea of bronze which was in the house of Yahweh, did the Chaldeans, break in pieces, - and they carried away all the bronze of them to Babylon;
and say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear ye the word of My Lord Yahweh, - Thus saith My Lord, Yahweh- To the mountains and to the hills to the hollows and to the valleys,- Behold me! I, am bringing upon you a sword, And I will destroy your high places;
The altar, was of wood, three cubits in height and the length thereof, two cubits and the corners thereof and the length thereof and the walls thereof were of wood, - then spake he unto me saying, This, is the table, which is before Yahweh.
In bringing near upon mine altar, polluted food, while yet ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? Because ye say, As for the table of Yahweh, a thing to be despised, it is;
And there appeared unto him a messenger of the Lord, standing on the right hand of the altar of incense;
Also, the priest of the Jupiter that was before the city, bringing bulls and garlands unto the gates, with the multitudes, would have offered sacrifice.
For, passing through, and carefully observing your objects of devotion, I found an altar also, in which was inscribed - Unto an Unknown God. What, therefore, not knowing, ye reverence, the same, do, I, declare unto you.
We have an altar - to eat out of which, they, have no right, who in the tent are doing divine service;
And, when he took the scroll, the four living creatures, and the four-and-twenty elders, fell down before the Lamb, having, each one, a harp, and bowls of gold full of incense, - which are the prayers of the saints;
And, another messenger, came, and took his stand at the altar, having a censer of gold: and there was given unto him much incense, that he might give it unto the prayers of all the saints, upon the altar of gold that is before the throne.
And, another messenger, came, and took his stand at the altar, having a censer of gold: and there was given unto him much incense, that he might give it unto the prayers of all the saints, upon the altar of gold that is before the throne. And the smoke of the incense went up, with the prayers of the saints, out of the hand of the messenger before God.
Fausets
The first of which we have mention was built by Noah after leaving the ark (Ge 8:20). The English (from the Latin) means an elevation or high place: not the site, but the erections on them which could be built or removed (1Ki 12:7; 2Ki 23:15). So the Greek bomos, and Hebrew bamath. But the proper Hebrew name mizbeach is "the sacrificing place;" Septuagint thusiasterion. Spots hallowed by divine revelations or appearances were originally the sites of altars (Ge 12:7; 13:18; 26:25; 35:1). Mostly for sacrificing; sometimes only as a memorial, as that named by Moses Jehovah Nissi, the pledge that Jehovah would war against Amalek to all generations (Ex 17:15-16), and that built by Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh, "not for burnt offering, nor sacrifice, but as a witness" (Jos 22:26-27).
Altars were to be made only of earth or else unhewn stone, on which no iron tool was used, and without steps up to them (Ex 20:24-26). Steps toward the E. on the contrary are introduced in the temple yet future (Eze 43:17), marking its distinctness from any past temple. No pomp or ornament was allowed; all was to be plain and simple; for it was the meeting place between God and the sinner, and therefore a place of shedding of blood without which there is no remission (Le 17:11; Heb 9:22), a place of fellowship with God for us only through death. The mother dust of earth, or its stones in their native state as from the hand of God, were the suitable material. The art of sinful beings would mar, rather than aid, the consecration of the common meeting ground. The earth made for man's nourishment, but now the witness of his sin and drinker in of his forfeited life, was the most suitable (see Fairbairn, Typology). The altar was at "the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation" (Ex 40:29).
In the tabernacle the altar of burnt offering was made of shittim (acacia) boards overlaid with brass, terming a square of five cubits, or eight feet. three cubits high or five feet, the hollow within being probably filled with earth or stones. A ledge (Hebrew karkob) projected on the side for the priest to stand on, to which a slope of earth gradually led up on the S. side, and outside the ledge was a network of brass. At the grainers were four horn shaped projections. to which the victim was bound (Ps 118:27), and which were touched with blood in consecrating priests (Ex 29:12), and in the sin offering (Le 4:7). The horn symbolizes might. The culmination's of the altar, being hornlike, imply the mighty salvation and security which Jehovah engages to the believing worshippers approaching Him in His own appointed way. Hence it was the asylum or place of refuge (1Ki 1:50; Ex 21:14).
So the Antitype, Christ (Isa 27:5; 25:4). To grasp the altar horns in faith was to lay hold of Jehovah's strength. In Solomon's temple the altar square was entirely of brass, and was 20 cubits, or from 30 to 35 feet, and the height 10 cubits. In Mal 1:7,12, it is called "the table of the Lord." In Herod's temple the altar was 50 cubits long, and 50 broad, and 15 high; a pipe from the S.W. grainer conveyed away the blood to the brook Kedron. Except in emergencies (as Jg 6:24; 1Sa 7:9-10; 2Sa 24:18,25; 1Ki 8:64; 18:31-32) only the one altar was sanctioned (Le 17:8-9; De 12:13-14), to mark the unity and ubiquity of God, as contrasted with the many altars of the manifold idols and local deities of pagandom. Every true Israelite, wherever he might be, realized his share in the common daily sacrifices at the one altar in Zion, whence Jehovah ruled to the ends of the earth.
Christ is the antitype, the one altar or meeting place between God and man, the one only atonement for sinners, the one sacrifice, and the one priest (Ac 4:12; Heb 13:10). Christ's Godhead, on which He offered His manhood, "sanctifieth the gift" (Mt 23:19), and prevents the sacrifice being consumed by God's fiery judicial wrath against man's sin. To those Judaizers who object that Christians have no altar or sacrificial meats, Paul says, "we have" (the emphasis in Greek is on have; there is no we) emphatically, but it is a spiritual altar and sacrifice. So Heb 4:14-15; 8:1; 9:1; 10:1,19-21. The interpretation which makes "altar" the Lord's table is opposed to the scope of the Epistle to the Heb., which contrasts the outward sanctuary with the unseen spiritual sanctuary.
Romanisers fall under the condemnation of Ho 8:11. The Epistle to the Hebrew reasons, servile adherents to visible altar meats are excluded from our Christian spiritual altar and meats: "For He, the true Altar, from whom we derive spiritual meats, realized the sin offering type" (of which none of the meat was eaten, but all was burnt: Le 6:30) "by suffering without the gate: teaching that we must go forth after Him from the Jewish high priest's camp of legal ceremonialism and meats, which stood only until the gospel times of reformation" (Heb 9:10-11). The temple and holy city were the Jewish people's camp in their solemn feasts.
The brass utensils for the altar (Ex 27:3) were pans, to receive the ashes and fat; shovels, for removing the ashes; basins, for the blood; flesh hooks, with three prongs, to take flesh out of the cauldron (1Sa 2:13-14); firepans, or censers, for taking coals off the altar, or for burning incense (Le 16:12; Nu 16:6-7; Ex 25:38); the same Hebrew maktoth means snuff dishes, as "tongs" means snuffers for the candlesticks. Asa "renewed" the altar, i.e. reconsecrated it, after it had been polluted by idolatries (2Ch 20:8). (See AHAZ (see) removed it to the N. side of the new altar which Urijah the priest had made after the pattern which Ahaz had seen at Damascus (2Ki 16:14). Hezekiah had it "cleansed" (2Ch 29:12-18) of all the uncleanness brought into it in Ahaz' reign. Manasseh, on his repentance, repaired it (2Ch 33:16). Rabbis pretended it stood on the spot where man was created. In Zerubbabel's temple the altar was built before the temple foundations were laid (Ezr 3:2).
After its desecration by Antiochus Epiphanes, Judas Maccabaeus built a new altar of unhewn stones. A perpetual fire kept on it symbolized the perpetuity of Jehovah's religion; for, sacrifice being the center of the Old Testament worship, to extinguish it would have been to extinguish the religion. The perpetual fire of the Persian religion was different, for this was not sacrificial, but a symbol of God, or of the notion that, fire was a primary element. The original fire of the tabernacle "came out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat" (Le 9:24). The rabbis say, It couched upon the altar like a lion, bright as the sun, the flame solid and pure, consuming things wet and dry alike, without smoke. The divine fire on the altar; the shekinah cloud, representing the divine habitation with them, which was given to the king and the high priest with the oil of unction; the spirit of prophecy; the Urim and Thummim whereby the high priest miraculously learned God's will; and the ark of the covenant, whence God gave His answers in a clear voice, were the five things of the old temple wanting in the second temple.
Heated stones (Hebrew) were laid upon the altar, by which the incense was kindled (Isa 6:6). The golden altar of incense (distinguished from the brazen altar of burnt offering), of acacia wood (in Solomon's temple cedar) underneath, two cubits high, one square. Once a year, on the great day of atonement, the high priest sprinkled upon its horns the blood of the sin offering (Ex 30:6-10; Le 16:18-19). Morning and evening incense was burnt on it with fire taken from the altar of burnt offering. It had a border round the top, and two golden rings at the sides for the staves to bear it with. It was "before the veil that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat;" between the candlestick and the shewbread table. In Heb 9:4, KJV, "censer," not "altar of incense," is right; for the latter was in the outer not the inner holy place.
The inner, or holiest, place "had the golden censer" belonging to its yearly atonement service, not kept in it. The altar of incense also was close by the second veil, directly before the ark (1Ki 6:22), "by (Hebrew b
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Noah builded an altar to Yahweh, - and took of all the clean beasts and of all the clean birds, and caused ascending Sacrifices to go up on the altar.
And Noah builded an altar to Yahweh, - and took of all the clean beasts and of all the clean birds, and caused ascending Sacrifices to go up on the altar.
And Yahweh appeared unto Abram, and said: To thy seed, will I give this land, - And he built there an altar, unto Yahweh who appeared unto him.
And Yahweh appeared unto Abram, and said: To thy seed, will I give this land, - And he built there an altar, unto Yahweh who appeared unto him.
So Abram moved his tent and came in and dwelt among the oaks of Mamre, which were in Hebron, - and built there an altar to Yahweh.
So Abram moved his tent and came in and dwelt among the oaks of Mamre, which were in Hebron, - and built there an altar to Yahweh.
So he builded there all altar and called on the name of Yahweh, and spread out there, his rent, - and the servants of Isaac cut out there a well.
So he builded there all altar and called on the name of Yahweh, and spread out there, his rent, - and the servants of Isaac cut out there a well.
Then said God unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there, - and make there an altar, to the GOD who appeared unto thee, when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.
Then said God unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there, - and make there an altar, to the GOD who appeared unto thee, when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.
And Moses built an altar, - and called the name thereof, Yahweh-nissi.
And Moses built an altar, - and called the name thereof, Yahweh-nissi. And he said - Because of a hand against the throne of Yah, Yahweh hath war with Amalek, - from generation to generation!
And he said - Because of a hand against the throne of Yah, Yahweh hath war with Amalek, - from generation to generation!
An altar of earth, shalt thou make to me, then shalt thou offer thereupon thine ascending-sacrifices and thy peace-offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen. In every place where I may mention my name, will I come in unto thee and will bless thee.
An altar of earth, shalt thou make to me, then shalt thou offer thereupon thine ascending-sacrifices and thy peace-offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen. In every place where I may mention my name, will I come in unto thee and will bless thee. But if, an altar of stones, thou wilt make to me, thou shalt not build them hewn, - for as soon as thou hast lifted, thy sharp tool, thereupon, thou hast profaned it;
But if, an altar of stones, thou wilt make to me, thou shalt not build them hewn, - for as soon as thou hast lifted, thy sharp tool, thereupon, thou hast profaned it; neither shalt thou go up, by steps unto mine altar, - lest by any means thy shame be discovered thereupon.
neither shalt thou go up, by steps unto mine altar, - lest by any means thy shame be discovered thereupon.
But, when a man shall act presumptuously against his neighbour to slay him with guile, from mine altar, shalt thou take him to die.
But, when a man shall act presumptuously against his neighbour to slay him with guile, from mine altar, shalt thou take him to die.
And thou shalt make its pans for removing its ashes, and its shovels and its sprinkling bowls, and its flesh-hooks and its fire-pans, - all its vessels, shalt thou make of bronze.
And thou shalt make its pans for removing its ashes, and its shovels and its sprinkling bowls, and its flesh-hooks and its fire-pans, - all its vessels, shalt thou make of bronze.
and thou shalt take of the blood of the bullock, and place upon the horns of the altar, with thy finger, - and all the remaining blood, shalt thou pour out at the foundation of the altar;
and thou shalt take of the blood of the bullock, and place upon the horns of the altar, with thy finger, - and all the remaining blood, shalt thou pour out at the foundation of the altar;
And thou shalt place it before the veil, which is by the ark of the testimony, - before the propitiatory which is upon the testimony, where I will meet thee.
And thou shalt place it before the veil, which is by the ark of the testimony, - before the propitiatory which is upon the testimony, where I will meet thee. And Aaron shall burn thereon fragrant incense, - morning by morning, when he trimmeth the lamps, shall he burn it;
And Aaron shall burn thereon fragrant incense, - morning by morning, when he trimmeth the lamps, shall he burn it; and, when Aaron lighteth the lamps, between the evenings, shall he burn it, - a continual incense before Yahweh, to your generations.
and, when Aaron lighteth the lamps, between the evenings, shall he burn it, - a continual incense before Yahweh, to your generations. Ye shall not cause to ascend thereupon strange incense, nor an ascending-sacrifice, nor a meal-offering, - and a drink offering, shall ye not pour out thereupon.
Ye shall not cause to ascend thereupon strange incense, nor an ascending-sacrifice, nor a meal-offering, - and a drink offering, shall ye not pour out thereupon. But Aaron shall put a propitiatory-covering upon the horns thereof, once in the year: of the blood of the sin-bearer for propitiatory-coverings, once in the year, shall he put a propitiatory-covering thereupon to your generations, most holy, it is to Yahweh.
But Aaron shall put a propitiatory-covering upon the horns thereof, once in the year: of the blood of the sin-bearer for propitiatory-coverings, once in the year, shall he put a propitiatory-covering thereupon to your generations, most holy, it is to Yahweh.
and, the altar of ascending-sacrifice, put he at the entrance of the habitation of the tent of meeting, - and he caused to ascend thereupon the ascending-sacrifice, and the meal-offering, - As Yahweh commanded Moses.
and, the altar of ascending-sacrifice, put he at the entrance of the habitation of the tent of meeting, - and he caused to ascend thereupon the ascending-sacrifice, and the meal-offering, - As Yahweh commanded Moses.
Then shall the priest put of the blood upon the horns of the altar of fragrant incense before Yahweh, which is in the tent of meeting, - and, all the remainder of the blood of the bullock, shall he pour out at the base of the altar of ascending-sacrifice, which is at the entrance of the tent of meeting,
Then shall the priest put of the blood upon the horns of the altar of fragrant incense before Yahweh, which is in the tent of meeting, - and, all the remainder of the blood of the bullock, shall he pour out at the base of the altar of ascending-sacrifice, which is at the entrance of the tent of meeting,
But, no sin-bearer whereof any of the blood is taken into the tent of meeting to make a propitiatory-covering in the sanctuary, shall be eaten, - with fire, shall it be consumed.
But, no sin-bearer whereof any of the blood is taken into the tent of meeting to make a propitiatory-covering in the sanctuary, shall be eaten, - with fire, shall it be consumed.
yea, there came forth fire from before Yahweh, and consumed upon the altar, the ascending-sacrifice and the portions of fat, - and all the people beheld and shouted, and fell down upon their faces.
yea, there came forth fire from before Yahweh, and consumed upon the altar, the ascending-sacrifice and the portions of fat, - and all the people beheld and shouted, and fell down upon their faces.
and shall take the censer-full of burning coals of fire from off the altar from before Yahweh, and his hands full of fragrant incense, beaten small, - and bring within the veil;
and shall take the censer-full of burning coals of fire from off the altar from before Yahweh, and his hands full of fragrant incense, beaten small, - and bring within the veil;
Then shall he go out unto the altar which is before Yahweh and shall put a propitiatory-covering thereupon, - and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put upon the horns of the altar, round about;
Then shall he go out unto the altar which is before Yahweh and shall put a propitiatory-covering thereupon, - and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put upon the horns of the altar, round about; and shall sprinkle upon it, of the blood with his finger seven times, - and shall cleanse it and hallow it, from the uncleannesses of the sons of Israel.
and shall sprinkle upon it, of the blood with his finger seven times, - and shall cleanse it and hallow it, from the uncleannesses of the sons of Israel.
Wherefore, unto them, shalt thou say: What man soever, there may be of the house of Israel, or of the sojourners that sojourn in their midst, - who causeth to go up an ascending-offering, or a sacrifice;
Wherefore, unto them, shalt thou say: What man soever, there may be of the house of Israel, or of the sojourners that sojourn in their midst, - who causeth to go up an ascending-offering, or a sacrifice; and unto the entrance of the tent of meeting, doth not bring it in, to offer it unto Yahweh, then shall that man be cut off from among his kinsfolk.
and unto the entrance of the tent of meeting, doth not bring it in, to offer it unto Yahweh, then shall that man be cut off from among his kinsfolk.
For as for the life of the flesh, in the blood, it is, therefore have, I, given it unto you upon the altar, to put a propitiatory-covering over your lives, - for the blood, it is, which, by virtue of the life, maketh propitiation.
For as for the life of the flesh, in the blood, it is, therefore have, I, given it unto you upon the altar, to put a propitiatory-covering over your lives, - for the blood, it is, which, by virtue of the life, maketh propitiation.
This do, - Take to you censers, Korah and all his assembly; and place therein fire, and put thereon incense before Yahweh, to-morrow, So shall it be - that, the man whom Yahweh shall choose, he shall be the holy one. Too much for you ye sons of Levi!
and place therein fire, and put thereon incense before Yahweh, to-morrow, So shall it be - that, the man whom Yahweh shall choose, he shall be the holy one. Too much for you ye sons of Levi!
Take heed to thyself, lest thou cause thine ascending-sacrifice to go up in just any place which thou shalt see;
Take heed to thyself, lest thou cause thine ascending-sacrifice to go up in just any place which thou shalt see; but, in the place which Yahweh shall choose in one of thy tribes, there, shalt thou cause thine ascending-sacrifice to go up, and, there, shalt thou do all that I am commanding thee.
but, in the place which Yahweh shall choose in one of thy tribes, there, shalt thou cause thine ascending-sacrifice to go up, and, there, shalt thou do all that I am commanding thee.
We said, therefore, Let us prepare, we pray you, to build us an altar, - not for ascending-offering, nor for sacrifice;
We said, therefore, Let us prepare, we pray you, to build us an altar, - not for ascending-offering, nor for sacrifice; but that, a witness, it may be between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we are to do the service of Yahweh, before him, with our ascending-offerings and with our sacrifices, and with our peace-offerings, - that your sons may not say, in time to come, to our sons, Ye have no portion in Yahweh.
but that, a witness, it may be between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we are to do the service of Yahweh, before him, with our ascending-offerings and with our sacrifices, and with our peace-offerings, - that your sons may not say, in time to come, to our sons, Ye have no portion in Yahweh.
So Gideon built there an altar unto Yahweh, and called it, Yahweh-shalom. Unto this day, it remaineth, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
So Gideon built there an altar unto Yahweh, and called it, Yahweh-shalom. Unto this day, it remaineth, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
And, the custom of the priests with the people, was - when any man offered a sacrifice, then would come the priests young man, as the flesh was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand;
And, the custom of the priests with the people, was - when any man offered a sacrifice, then would come the priests young man, as the flesh was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand; and would strike it into the boiler, or into the trough, or into the kettle, or into the pot, all that the fork would bring up, the priest took for himself. Thus and thus, used they to do unto all Israel, who came thither, in Shiloh.
and would strike it into the boiler, or into the trough, or into the kettle, or into the pot, all that the fork would bring up, the priest took for himself. Thus and thus, used they to do unto all Israel, who came thither, in Shiloh.
Adonijah also, feared because of Solomon, - and rose and went, and caught hold of the horns of the altar.
Adonijah also, feared because of Solomon, - and rose and went, and caught hold of the horns of the altar.
yea, all the house, overlaid he with gold, until he had made all the house into one whole, - even all the altar that was by the shrine, overlaid he with gold.
yea, all the house, overlaid he with gold, until he had made all the house into one whole, - even all the altar that was by the shrine, overlaid he with gold.
And they spake unto him, saying - If, to-day, thou wilt be servant unto this people, and wilt serve them, - and answer them kindly, and speak unto them good words, then will they be, thy, servants, always.
And they spake unto him, saying - If, to-day, thou wilt be servant unto this people, and wilt serve them, - and answer them kindly, and speak unto them good words, then will they be, thy, servants, always.
And, the altar of bronze which was before Yahweh, he brought away from the forefront of the house, from between the altar, and the house of Yahweh, - and put it at the side of the altar northward.
And, the altar of bronze which was before Yahweh, he brought away from the forefront of the house, from between the altar, and the house of Yahweh, - and put it at the side of the altar northward.
and they have dwelt therein, - and have built for thee therein, a sanctuary for thy Name, saying:
and they have dwelt therein, - and have built for thee therein, a sanctuary for thy Name, saying:
Then arose the Levites - Mahath son of Amasai, and Joel son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites, and, of the sons of Merari, Kish son of Abdi, and Azariah son of Jehallelel, - and, of the Gershonites, Joah son of Zimmah, and Eden son of Joah;
Then arose the Levites - Mahath son of Amasai, and Joel son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites, and, of the sons of Merari, Kish son of Abdi, and Azariah son of Jehallelel, - and, of the Gershonites, Joah son of Zimmah, and Eden son of Joah; and, of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeiel, - and, of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah, and Mattaniah;
and, of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeiel, - and, of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah, and Mattaniah; and, of the sons of Heman, Jehiel and Shimei, - and, of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah, and Uzziel;
and, of the sons of Heman, Jehiel and Shimei, - and, of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah, and Uzziel; and they gathered together their brethren, who hallowed themselves, and came in according to the command of the king, in the things of Yahweh, - to purify the house of Yahweh.
and they gathered together their brethren, who hallowed themselves, and came in according to the command of the king, in the things of Yahweh, - to purify the house of Yahweh. So the priests entered into the inner part of the house of Yahweh, to make purification, and they brought out every unclean thing which they found in the temple of Yahweh, into the court of the house of Yahweh, - where the Levites received it, to carry it forth to the Kidron ravine outside.
So the priests entered into the inner part of the house of Yahweh, to make purification, and they brought out every unclean thing which they found in the temple of Yahweh, into the court of the house of Yahweh, - where the Levites received it, to carry it forth to the Kidron ravine outside. And they began, on the first of the first month, to hallow, - and, on the eighth day of the month, they came to the porch of Yahweh, so they hallowed the house of Yahweh in eight days, - and, on the sixteenth day of the first month, they finished.
And they began, on the first of the first month, to hallow, - and, on the eighth day of the month, they came to the porch of Yahweh, so they hallowed the house of Yahweh in eight days, - and, on the sixteenth day of the first month, they finished. Then came they in unto Hezekiah the king, and said, We have purified all the house of Yahweh, - the altar of ascending-sacrifice, and all the utensils thereof, and the table for setting in array, and all the utensils thereof.
Then came they in unto Hezekiah the king, and said, We have purified all the house of Yahweh, - the altar of ascending-sacrifice, and all the utensils thereof, and the table for setting in array, and all the utensils thereof.
And he built the altar of Yahweh, and sacrificed thereon peace-offerings, and thanksgiving sacrifices,-and gave word to Judah to serve Yahweh, God of Israel.
And he built the altar of Yahweh, and sacrificed thereon peace-offerings, and thanksgiving sacrifices,-and gave word to Judah to serve Yahweh, God of Israel.
Then arose - Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his brethren, and built the altar of the God of Israel, - to offer thereon ascending-sacrifices, as it was written in the law of Moses, the man of God.
Then arose - Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his brethren, and built the altar of the God of Israel, - to offer thereon ascending-sacrifices, as it was written in the law of Moses, the man of God.
Yahweh is GOD, and hath shed on us light, - Bind ye the festal sacrifice with cords, Up to the horns of the altar.
Yahweh is GOD, and hath shed on us light, - Bind ye the festal sacrifice with cords, Up to the horns of the altar.
Then flew unto me one of the seraphim, And in his hand, a live coal, - With tongs, had he taken it from off the altar.
Then flew unto me one of the seraphim, And in his hand, a live coal, - With tongs, had he taken it from off the altar.
For thou didst become A refuge to the weak. A refuge to the needy, when distress was upon him, - A shelter from the storm. A shade from the heat, When the blast of tyrants was like a storm against a wall.
For thou didst become A refuge to the weak. A refuge to the needy, when distress was upon him, - A shelter from the storm. A shade from the heat, When the blast of tyrants was like a storm against a wall.
Else, let one lay hold of my protection, Let him make peace with me, - Peace, let him make with me.
Else, let one lay hold of my protection, Let him make peace with me, - Peace, let him make with me.
And the hearth, shall, be four cubits, - and from the hearth and upward, the horns shall be four.
And the hearth, shall, be four cubits, - and from the hearth and upward, the horns shall be four.
And the ledge shall he fourteen in length, by fourteen in breadth, unto the four sides thereof, - and the boundary round about it shall be half a cubit and the hollow thereof a cubit round about, with the steps thereof looking toward the east. I
And the ledge shall he fourteen in length, by fourteen in breadth, unto the four sides thereof, - and the boundary round about it shall be half a cubit and the hollow thereof a cubit round about, with the steps thereof looking toward the east. I
Because Ephraim hath multiplied altars sinfully, they have become to him the altars of sin.
Because Ephraim hath multiplied altars sinfully, they have become to him the altars of sin.
In bringing near upon mine altar, polluted food, while yet ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? Because ye say, As for the table of Yahweh, a thing to be despised, it is;
In bringing near upon mine altar, polluted food, while yet ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? Because ye say, As for the table of Yahweh, a thing to be despised, it is;
But ye are profaning me, - in that ye say, As for the table of the Lord, polluted it is, and, as for his produce, contemptible is his food.
But ye are profaning me, - in that ye say, As for the table of the Lord, polluted it is, and, as for his produce, contemptible is his food.
Blind! for which is greater, The gift, or the altar that halloweth the gift?
Blind! for which is greater, The gift, or the altar that halloweth the gift?
and, all the throng of the people, was praying outside, at the hour of the incense offering.
and, all the throng of the people, was praying outside, at the hour of the incense offering.
And there is in no one else, salvation, for, neither is there any other name, under heaven, which hath been set forth among men, in which we must needs be saved.
And there is in no one else, salvation, for, neither is there any other name, under heaven, which hath been set forth among men, in which we must needs be saved.
And Paul taking his stand in the midst of the Hill of Mars, said - Ye men of Athens! In every way, how unusually reverent of the demons ye are, I perceive.
And Paul taking his stand in the midst of the Hill of Mars, said - Ye men of Athens! In every way, how unusually reverent of the demons ye are, I perceive.
Having then a great high-priest who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the confession;
Having then a great high-priest who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the confession; For we have not a high-priest unable to have fellow-feeling with our weaknesses, but one tested in all respects, by way of likeness, apart from sin.
For we have not a high-priest unable to have fellow-feeling with our weaknesses, but one tested in all respects, by way of likeness, apart from sin.
A crowning point on the things being spoken: - such a one as this, have we, as high-priest, who hath sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, -
A crowning point on the things being spoken: - such a one as this, have we, as high-priest, who hath sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, -
Even the first, indeed, therefore, used to have righteous appointments of divine service, even the holy ritual well arranged.
Even the first, indeed, therefore, used to have righteous appointments of divine service, even the holy ritual well arranged.
Having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant covered around on every side with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and the rod of Aaron that sprouted, and the tables of the covenant;
Having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant covered around on every side with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and the rod of Aaron that sprouted, and the tables of the covenant;
Only as to eatings, and drinkings, and diversified immersions, - righteous-appointments of the flesh, which, until a season of rectifying, are in force.
Only as to eatings, and drinkings, and diversified immersions, - righteous-appointments of the flesh, which, until a season of rectifying, are in force. But, when Christ approached, as high-priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tent, not made by hand, that is, not of this creation, -
But, when Christ approached, as high-priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tent, not made by hand, that is, not of this creation, -
And, nearly, all things, with blood, are purified, according to the law, and, apart from blood-shedding, cometh no remission.
And, nearly, all things, with blood, are purified, according to the law, and, apart from blood-shedding, cometh no remission.
For the law, having in a shadow of the destined good things, not the very image of the things, they can never, with the same sacrifices which year by year they offer evermore, make them who approach, perfect;
For the law, having in a shadow of the destined good things, not the very image of the things, they can never, with the same sacrifices which year by year they offer evermore, make them who approach, perfect;
Having therefore, brethren, freedom of speech for the entrance through the Holy place, by the blood of Jesus,
Having therefore, brethren, freedom of speech for the entrance through the Holy place, by the blood of Jesus, Which entrance he hath consecrated for us, as a way recent and living, through the veil, that is, his flesh, -
Which entrance he hath consecrated for us, as a way recent and living, through the veil, that is, his flesh, - And having a great priest over the house of God,
With teachings, manifold and strange, be not carried aside; for it is, noble, that, with gratitude, should, the heart, be getting confirmed, - not with matters of food, in which, they who are walking, have not been profited.
With teachings, manifold and strange, be not carried aside; for it is, noble, that, with gratitude, should, the heart, be getting confirmed, - not with matters of food, in which, they who are walking, have not been profited. We have an altar - to eat out of which, they, have no right, who in the tent are doing divine service;
We have an altar - to eat out of which, they, have no right, who in the tent are doing divine service;
We have an altar - to eat out of which, they, have no right, who in the tent are doing divine service;
We have an altar - to eat out of which, they, have no right, who in the tent are doing divine service;
Through him, let us be offering up a sacrifice of praise, continually, unto God; that is, a fruit of lips confessing unto his name.
Through him, let us be offering up a sacrifice of praise, continually, unto God; that is, a fruit of lips confessing unto his name. But, of the doing good and of fellowship, be not forgetful; for, with such sacrifices as these, is, God, well-pleased.
But, of the doing good and of fellowship, be not forgetful; for, with such sacrifices as these, is, God, well-pleased.
And, when he opened the fifth seal, I saw, beneath the altar, the souls of them who had been slain because of the word of God and because of the witness which they held.
And, when he opened the fifth seal, I saw, beneath the altar, the souls of them who had been slain because of the word of God and because of the witness which they held.
And, another messenger, came, and took his stand at the altar, having a censer of gold: and there was given unto him much incense, that he might give it unto the prayers of all the saints, upon the altar of gold that is before the throne.
And, another messenger, came, and took his stand at the altar, having a censer of gold: and there was given unto him much incense, that he might give it unto the prayers of all the saints, upon the altar of gold that is before the throne. And the smoke of the incense went up, with the prayers of the saints, out of the hand of the messenger before God.
Hastings
1. The original purpose of an altar was to serve as a means by which the blood of an animal offered in sacrifice might be brought into contact with, or otherwise transferred to, the deity of the worshipper. For this purpose in the earliest period a single stone sufficed. Either the blood was poured over this stone, which was regarded as the temporary abode of the deity, or the stone was anointed with part, and the rest poured out at its base. The introduction of fire to consume the flesh in whole or in part belongs to a later stage in the history of sacrifice (wh. see). But even when this stage had long been reached, necessity might compel a temporary reversion to the earlier modus operandi, as we learn from Saul's procedure in 1Sa 14:33 f. From the altar of a single 'great stone' (1Sa 6:14) the transition was easy to an altar built of unhewn stones (Ex 20:25; De 27:5 f. RV), which continued to he the normal type of Hebrew altar to the end (see 1Ma 4:41; Josephus BJ V. v. 6).
2. Another type of pre-historic altar, to which much less attention has been paid, had its origin in the primitive conception of sacrifice as the food of the gods. As such it was appropriately presented on a table. Now the nearest analogy to the disc of leather spread on the ground, which was and is the table of the Semitic nomad, was the smooth face of the native rock, such as that on which Manoah spread his offering (Jg 13:19 f., cf. Jg 6:20 f.). The well-known rock-surfaces, in Palestine and elsewhere, with their mysterious cup-marks
See Verses Found in Dictionary
An altar of earth, shalt thou make to me, then shalt thou offer thereupon thine ascending-sacrifices and thy peace-offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen. In every place where I may mention my name, will I come in unto thee and will bless thee.
An altar of earth, shalt thou make to me, then shalt thou offer thereupon thine ascending-sacrifices and thy peace-offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen. In every place where I may mention my name, will I come in unto thee and will bless thee. But if, an altar of stones, thou wilt make to me, thou shalt not build them hewn, - for as soon as thou hast lifted, thy sharp tool, thereupon, thou hast profaned it; read more. neither shalt thou go up, by steps unto mine altar, - lest by any means thy shame be discovered thereupon.
But he who hath not lain in wait, but, God, hath occasioned him to come to his hand, then will I appoint for thee a place, whither he may flee.
And thou shalt make for them breeches of linen, to cover their unseemliness, from the loins even unto the thighs, shall they be;
and thou shalt take of the blood of the bullock, and place upon the horns of the altar, with thy finger, - and all the remaining blood, shalt thou pour out at the foundation of the altar;
Then shall the priest put of the blood upon the horns of the altar of fragrant incense before Yahweh, which is in the tent of meeting, - and, all the remainder of the blood of the bullock, shall he pour out at the base of the altar of ascending-sacrifice, which is at the entrance of the tent of meeting,
These are the statutes and the regulations which ye must observe to do, in the land which Yahweh the God of thy fathers hath given unto thee, to possess it, - all the days that ye are living upon the sell:
And thou shalt build there an altar unto Yahweh thy God, - an altar of stones, thou shalt not wield thereupon any tool of iron.
And the messenger of God said unto him - Take the flesh and the cakes, and set them on this crag, and, the broth, do thou pour out. And he did so.
So Manoah took the kid, and the meal-offering, and caused them to ascend upon the rock unto Yahweh, who was about to do, wondrously, while Manoah and his wife were looking on.
And, the waggon, entered into the field of Joshua, a man of Beth-shemesh, and stood still, there, where also, was a great stone, - so they clave into pieces the planks of the waggon, and, the kine, offered they up as an ascending-sacrifice, unto Yahweh.
And they told Saul, saying, Lo! the people, are sinning against Yahweh, by eating with the blood. And he said - Ye have dealt treacherously, roll unto me, here, a great stone.
And Gad came unto David, on that day, - and said unto him - Go up, rear thou unto Yahweh an altar, in the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
And it was told Solomon, saying, Lo! Adonijah, feareth King Solomon, - lo! therefore, he hath laid hold of the horns of the altar, saying, Let King Solomon swear unto me at once that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.
And, the report, came unto Joab, for, Joab, had inclined after Adonijah, although, after Solomon, he had not inclined, - so then Joab fled into the Tent of Yahweh, and laid hold of the horns of the altar.
And, the interior of the shrine, was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in height, and he overlaid it, with pure gold, - and overlaid the altar with cedar.
And Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of Yahweh, - the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereon was the presence-bread;
So then King Ahaz went to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, in Damascus, and saw the altar which was in Damascus, - and King Ahaz, sent unto Urijah the priest, a likeness of the altar, and a model thereof, according to all the workmanship thereof;
and he put down the idol-priests, whom the kings of Judah had appointed, so that incense might be burned in the high places, in the cities of Judah, and round about Jerusalem, - them also that burned incense to Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the constellations, and to all the army of the heavens;
and, the altars which were on the roof of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, also the altars which Manasseh had made, in the two courts of the house of Yahweh, did the king break down, - and hurried away from thence, and cast out the powder of them into the Kidron ravine;
Yea, the houses of Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall like the place of Topheth, be places defiled, - even all the houses upon whose roofs they burned incense to all the host of the heavens, and poured out drink-offerings to other gods.
Morish
A structure on which to offer sacrifices to God: imitated by the heathen in honour of their false gods. The first altar we read of was built by Noah on leaving the ark, on which he offered burnt offerings of every clean beast and clean fowl. Ge 8:20. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob also built altars to the Lord: these would have been constructed of stone or earth, but it is remarkable that we seldom read of their offering sacrifices on them. At times it is simply said they built an altar unto the Lord and at other times they built an altar and called upon the name of the Lord. The altars appear to have been erected as places of drawing near to God, of which sacrifice was the basis.
Moses was told that in all places where God recorded His name they should build an altar of wood or of stone and offer thereon sheep and oxen for burnt offerings and peace offerings; but such altars if made of stone were not to be made of hewn stone; for had they lifted up a tool upon it, it would have been defiled. Ex 20:25-26. There must be nothing of man's handiwork in approaching to God: a principle, alas, grossly violated in the professing church of God! It is added, "neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon." Man's contrivance is here forbidden, for in divine things anything of his only manifests the utter shamelessness of that which springs from fallen nature: cf. Col 2:20-23. When the tabernacle was made, minute instructions were given to Moses, and he was to make everything as had been shown him in the mount.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Noah builded an altar to Yahweh, - and took of all the clean beasts and of all the clean birds, and caused ascending Sacrifices to go up on the altar.
But if, an altar of stones, thou wilt make to me, thou shalt not build them hewn, - for as soon as thou hast lifted, thy sharp tool, thereupon, thou hast profaned it; neither shalt thou go up, by steps unto mine altar, - lest by any means thy shame be discovered thereupon.
If ye have died, together with Christ, from the first principles of the world, why, as though alive in the world, are ye submitting to decrees, - Do not handle, nor taste, nor touch; - read more. Which things are all for decay in the using up; - according to the commandments and teachings of men? The which things, indeed, though they have, an appearance, of wisdom, in self-devised religious observance, and lowliness of mind, and ill-treatment of body, are, in no honourable way, unto a satisfying of the flesh.
Smith
Altar.
The first altar of which we have any account is that built by Noah when he left the ark.
In the early times altars were usually built in certain spots hallowed by religious associations, e.g., where God appeared.
Ge 12:7; 18/type/emb'>13:18,18; 35:1
Though generally erected for the offering of sacrifice, in some instances they appear to have been only memorials.
Altars were most probably originally made of earth. The law of Moses allowed them to be made of either earth or unhewn stones.
I. The Altar of Burnt Offering. It differed in construction at different times. (1) In the tabernacle,
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.
At the four corners were four projections called horns made, like the altar itself, of shittim wood overlaid with brass,
and to them the victim was bound when about to be sacrificed.
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,
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.)"
(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.
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
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.
(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."
(b) The altar of Solomon's temple was similar,
but was made of cedar overlaid with gold. III. Other Altars. In
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.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Noah builded an altar to Yahweh, - and took of all the clean beasts and of all the clean birds, and caused ascending Sacrifices to go up on the altar.
And Yahweh appeared unto Abram, and said: To thy seed, will I give this land, - And he built there an altar, unto Yahweh who appeared unto him.
And Yahweh appeared unto Abram, and said: To thy seed, will I give this land, - And he built there an altar, unto Yahweh who appeared unto him.
So Abram moved his tent and came in and dwelt among the oaks of Mamre, which were in Hebron, - and built there an altar to Yahweh.
So Abram moved his tent and came in and dwelt among the oaks of Mamre, which were in Hebron, - and built there an altar to Yahweh.
Then said God unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there, - and make there an altar, to the GOD who appeared unto thee, when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.
And Moses built an altar, - and called the name thereof, Yahweh-nissi. And he said - Because of a hand against the throne of Yah, Yahweh hath war with Amalek, - from generation to generation!
An altar of earth, shalt thou make to me, then shalt thou offer thereupon thine ascending-sacrifices and thy peace-offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen. In every place where I may mention my name, will I come in unto thee and will bless thee. But if, an altar of stones, thou wilt make to me, thou shalt not build them hewn, - for as soon as thou hast lifted, thy sharp tool, thereupon, thou hast profaned it; read more. neither shalt thou go up, by steps unto mine altar, - lest by any means thy shame be discovered thereupon.
And thou shalt make the altar of acacia wood, - of five cubits length and five cubits breadth four square, shall the altar be, and three cubits the height thereof. And thou shalt make its horns upon its four corners, of the same, shall be its horns, - and thou shalt overlay it with copper.
Hollow with boards, shalt thou make it, - as it was showed thee in the mount, so, shall they make it.
And thou shalt place it before the veil, which is by the ark of the testimony, - before the propitiatory which is upon the testimony, where I will meet thee.
And he made therewith, the sockets for the opening of the tent of meeting, and the altar of bronze and the grating of bronze which pertained thereto, - and all the utensils of the altar,
and thou shalt place the altar of gold for incense, before the ark of the testimony, - and put up the screen for the opening of the habitation;
and, the altar of ascending-sacrifice, put he at the entrance of the habitation of the tent of meeting, - and he caused to ascend thereupon the ascending-sacrifice, and the meal-offering, - As Yahweh commanded Moses.
And Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of Yahweh, - the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereon was the presence-bread;
On that day, did the king hallow the middle of the court, that was before the house of Yahweh, - for he offered there the ascending-sacrifice, and the meal-offering, and the fat portions of the peace-offerings, because, the altar of bronze that was before Yahweh, was too small to receive the ascending-sacrifice and the meal-offering, and the fat portions of the peace-offerings.
Yahweh is GOD, and hath shed on us light, - Bind ye the festal sacrifice with cords, Up to the horns of the altar.
Watsons
ALTAR. Sacrifices are nearly as ancient as worship, and altars are of almost equal antiquity. Scripture speaks of altars, erected by the patriarchs, without describing their form, or the materials of which they were composed. The altar which Jacob set up at Bethel, was the stone which had served him for a pillow; Gideon sacrificed on the rock before his house. The first altars which God commanded Moses to raise, were of earth or rough stones; and it was declared that if iron were used in constructing them they would become impure, Ex 20:24-25. The altar which Moses enjoined Joshua to build on Mount Ebal, was to be of unpolished stones, De 27:5; Jos 8:31; and it is very probable that such were those built by Samuel, Saul, and David. The altar which Solomon erected in the temple was of brass, but filled, it is believed, with rough stones, 2Ch 4:1-3. It was twenty cubits long, twenty wide, and ten high. That built at Jerusalem, by Zerubbabel, after the return from Babylon, was of rough stones; as was that of Maccabees. Josephus says that the altar which in his time was in the temple was of rough stones, fifteen cubits high, forty long, and forty wide.
Among the Romans altars were of two kinds, the higher and the lower; the higher were intended for the celestial gods, and were called altaria, from altus; the lower were for the terrestrial and infernal gods, and were called arae. Those dedicated to the heavenly gods were raised a great height above the surface of the earth; those of the terrestrial gods were almost even with the surface; and those for the infernal deities were only holes dug in the ground called scrobiculi.
Before temples were in use the altars were placed in the groves, highways, or on tops of mountains, inscribed with the names, ensigns, or characters of the respective gods to whom they belonged. The great temples at Rome generally contained three altars; the first in the sanctuary, at the foot of the statue, for incense and libations; the second before the gate of the temple, for the sacrifices of victims; and the third was a portable one for the offerings and sacred vestments or vessels to lie upon. The ancients used to swear upon the altars upon solemn occasions, such as confirming alliances, treaties of peace, &c. They were also places of refuge, and served as an asylum and sanctuary to all who fled to them, whatever their crimes were.
The principal altars among the Jews were those of incense, of burnt- offering, and the altar or table for the shew bread. The altar of incense was a small table of shittim wood covered with plates of gold. It was a cubit long, a cubit broad, and two cubits high. At the four corners were four horns. The priest, whose turn it was to officiate, burnt incense on this altar, at the time of the morning sacrifice between the sprinkling of the blood and the laying of the pieces of the victim on the altar of burnt-offering. He did the same also in the evening, between the laying of the pieces on the altar and the drink-offering. At the same time the people prayed in silence, and their prayers were offered up by the priests. The altar of burnt-offering was of shittim wood also, and carried upon the shoulders of the priests, by staves of the same wood overlaid with brass. In Moses's days it was five cubits square, and three high: but it was greatly enlarged in the days of Solomon, being twenty cubits square, and ten in height. It was covered with brass, and had a horn at each corner to which the sacrifice was tied. This altar was placed in the open air, that the smoke might not sully the inside of the tabernacle or temple. On this altar the holy fire was renewed from time to time, and kept constantly burning. Hereon, likewise, the sacrifices of lambs and bullocks were burnt, especially a lamb every morning at the third hour, or nine of the clock, and a lamb every afternoon at three, 4/type/emb'>Ex 20:24-25; 27:1-2,4; 38:1. The altar of burnt-offering had the privilege of being a sanctuary or place of refuge. The wilful murderer, indeed, sought protection there in vain; for by the express command of God he might be dragged to justice, even from the altar. The altar or table of shew bread was of shittim wood also, covered with plates of gold, and had a border round it adorned with sculpture. It was two cubits long, one wide, and one and a half in height. This table stood in the sanctum sanctorum, [holy of holies,] and upon it were placed the loaves of shew bread. After the return of the Jews from their captivity, and the building of the second temple, the form and size of the altars were somewhat changed.
Sacrifices according to the laws of Moses, could not be offered except by the priests; and at any other place than on the altar of the tabernacle or the temple. Furthermore, they were not to be offered to idols, nor with any superstitious rites. See Le 17:1-7; De 12:15-16. Without these precautionary measures, the true religion would hardly have been secure. If a different arrangement had been adopted, if the priests had been scattered about to various altars, without being subjected to the salutary restraint which would result from a mutual observation of each other, they would no doubt some of them have willingly consented to the worship of idols; and others, in their separate situation, would not have been in a condition to resist the wishes of the multitude, had those wishes been wrong. The necessity of sacrificing at one altar, (that of the tabernacle or temple,) is frequently and emphatically insisted on, De 12:13-14; and all other altars are disapproved, Le 26:30, compare Jos 22:9-34. Notwithstanding this, it appears that, subsequently to the time of Moses, especially in the days of the kings, altars were multiplied; but they fell under suspicions, although some of them were perhaps sacred to the worship of the true God. It is, nevertheless, true, that prophets, whose characters were above all suspicion, sacrificed, in some instances, in other places than the one designated by the laws, 1Sa 13:3-14; 16:1-5; 1Ki 18:21-40.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
An altar of earth, shalt thou make to me, then shalt thou offer thereupon thine ascending-sacrifices and thy peace-offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen. In every place where I may mention my name, will I come in unto thee and will bless thee.
An altar of earth, shalt thou make to me, then shalt thou offer thereupon thine ascending-sacrifices and thy peace-offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen. In every place where I may mention my name, will I come in unto thee and will bless thee. But if, an altar of stones, thou wilt make to me, thou shalt not build them hewn, - for as soon as thou hast lifted, thy sharp tool, thereupon, thou hast profaned it;
But if, an altar of stones, thou wilt make to me, thou shalt not build them hewn, - for as soon as thou hast lifted, thy sharp tool, thereupon, thou hast profaned it;
And thou shalt make the altar of acacia wood, - of five cubits length and five cubits breadth four square, shall the altar be, and three cubits the height thereof. And thou shalt make its horns upon its four corners, of the same, shall be its horns, - and thou shalt overlay it with copper.
And thou shalt make to it a grating, a network of bronze, - and thou shalt make upon the network, four rings of bronze, upon the four corners thereof.
And he made the altar for the ascending-sacrifice of acacia wood, - five cubits, the length thereof and, five cubits, the breadth thereof foursquare, and, three cubits, the height thereof.
And Yahweh spake unto Moses saying: - Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons and unto all the sons of Israel, and thou shalt say unto them, - This, is the thing which Yahweh hath commanded, saying: read more. What man soever, there be of the house of Israel, who slayeth an ox or lamb or goat, in the camp, - or who slayeth it outside the camp; and, unto the entrance of the tent of meeting, bringeth it not in, to present as an oblation unto Yahweh, before the habitation of Yahweh, blood, shall be imputed to that man - blood, hath he shed, therefore shall that man be cut off from the midst of his people: to the end that the sons of Israel may bring in their sacrifices which they are offering upon the face of the field, that they may bring them in unto Yahweh - unto the entrance of the tent of meeting, unto the priest, - and that so as peace-offerings unto Yahweh, they may offer them. Then shall the priest dash the blood against the altar of Yahweh, at the entrance of the tent of meeting, - and shall make a perfume of the fat, as a satisfying odour unto Yahweh; so shall they no more offer their sacrifices unto demons after whom they are unchastely going away, - a statute age-abiding, shall this be to them unto their generations.
And I will destroy your high places And cut down your sun-pillars, And cast your caresses upon the calluses of your manufactured gods, - Thus shall my soul abhor you.
Take heed to thyself, lest thou cause thine ascending-sacrifice to go up in just any place which thou shalt see; but, in the place which Yahweh shall choose in one of thy tribes, there, shalt thou cause thine ascending-sacrifice to go up, and, there, shalt thou do all that I am commanding thee. read more. Howbeit of anything thy soul desireth, mayest thou sacrifice and so eat flesh - according to the blessing of Yahweh thy God which he hath bestowed upon thee, in all thy gates, the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, - as the gazelle and as the hart, Howbeit, the blood, shall ye not eat, - upon the earth, shalt thou pour it out, like water.
And thou shalt build there an altar unto Yahweh thy God, - an altar of stones, thou shalt not wield thereupon any tool of iron.
as Moses, the servant of Yahweh, commanded the sons of Israel, as it is written in the scroll of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, whereon had not been wielded any tool of iron, - and they caused to go up thereon, ascending-sacrifices unto Yahweh, and sacrificed peace-offerings.
So the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh. returned and departed from the sons of Israel, from Shiloh, which was in the land of Canaan, - to go unto the land of Gilead, unto the land of their possession, wherein they had received their possessions, at the bidding of Yahweh by the hand of Moses. And, when they came into the circles of the Jordan, which were in the land of Canaan, - then did the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh build there an altar by the Jordan, an altar of large dimensions, read more. And the sons of Israel heard say, - Lo! the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar in front of the land of Canaan, in the circles of the Jordan, in the region opposite the sons of Israel. And, when the sons of Israel heard, all the assembly of the sons of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up against them to war. And the sons of Israel sent unto the sons of Reuben and unto the sons of Gad and unto the half tribe of Manasseh, within the land of Gilead, - Phinehas, son of Eleazar the priest; and ten princes with him, one prince of an ancestral house for each of the tribes of Israel, - they being, severally heads of their ancestral houses, among the thousands of Israel. So they came in unto the sons of Reuben and unto the sons of Gad and unto the half tribe of Manasseh, within the land of Gilead, - and spake with them, saying: Thus, say all the assembly of Yahweh - What is this act of treachery which ye have committed against the God of Israel, that ye should turn back, to-day, from following Yahweh, - in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel, to-day, against Yahweh? Too little for us, was the iniquity of Peor, from which we have not cleansed ourselves, unto this day, - although the plague came upon the assembly of Yahweh; but that, ye, must turn back to-day from following Yahweh, - though it must needs be that, if, ye, rebel to-day against Yahweh, then, to-morrow, with all the assembly of Israel, will he be wroth? Howbeit, if, unclean, be the land of your possession, do ye on your part come over into the land of the possession of Yahweh, where abideth the habitation of Yahweh, and take your possession in our midst, - but, against Yahweh, do not rebel, nor, against us, rebel, by building yourselves an altar apart from the altar of Yahweh our God. Did not, Achan son of Zerah, commit an act of treachery, with a devoted thing, and, upon all the assembly of Israel, came wrath, - so that not, he - one man alone, died in his iniquity. Then responded the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh, - and spake unto the heads of the thousands of Israel: El-Elohim-Yahweh, El-Elohim-Yahweh, he knoweth, and, Israel, he, shall know, - if in rebellion, or if in treachery, against Yahweh, do not save us this day: that we should build for ourselves an altar, to turn back from following Yahweh, - or, if that we might cause to go up thereon ascending-sacrifice or meal-offering, or if that we might offer thereon peace-offerings, let Yahweh himself require it; if, indeed, we have not, rather, out of anxiety and of purpose, done this thing, saying, - . In time to come, your sons might speak to our sons, saying, What have ye to do with Yahweh, God of Israel; seeing that, a boundary, hath Yahweh put between us and you, ye sons of Reuben and ye sons of Gad - even the Jordan, ye have no portion in Yahweh, - so might your sons cause our sons, to cease from revering Yahweh. We said, therefore, Let us prepare, we pray you, to build us an altar, - not for ascending-offering, nor for sacrifice; but that, a witness, it may be between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we are to do the service of Yahweh, before him, with our ascending-offerings and with our sacrifices, and with our peace-offerings, - that your sons may not say, in time to come, to our sons, Ye have no portion in Yahweh. Therefore said we, And it shall be, when they so say to us, or to our generations, in time to come, - that we will say - Behold ye the pattern of the altar of Yahweh, which our fathers made, not for ascending-offerings nor for sacrifice, but that, a witness, it might be between us and you. Far be it from us - that we should rebel against Yahweh, or turn back, to-day, from following Yahweh, by building an altar, for ascending-offering, or meal-offering or for sacrifice, - other than the altar of Yahweh our God, which is before his habitation. And, when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the assembly, even the heads of the thousands of Israel who were with him, heard the words which the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the sons of Manasseh spake, then was it well-pleasing in their eyes. And Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest said unto the sons of Reuben and unto the sons of Gad and unto the sons of Manasseh - To-day, we know that, in our midst, is Yahweh, in that ye have not committed, against Yahweh, this act of treachery, - now, have ye rescued the sons of Israel out of the hand of Yahweh. So Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest and the princes returned from the sons of Reuben and from the sons of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, unto the land of Canaan, unto the sons of Israel, - and brought them back word. And the thing was well-pleasing in the eyes of the sons of Israel, and the sons of Israel blessed God, - and spake not of going up against them, to war, to lay waste the land, wherein the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad dwelt. So the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad named the altar a Witness : A witness, it is between us, That, Yahweh, is God.
Then did Jonathan smite the garrison of Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it, - and, Saul, blew with a horn throughout all the land saying, Let the Hebrews hear! And, all Israel, heard say - Saul hath smitten the garrison of the Philistines, Moreover, also, Israel have made themselves odious among the Philistines, - so the people were called together to follow Saul, to Gilgal. read more. And, the Philistines, gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, a people also like the sand that is on the sea-shore for multitude, - and they came up, and encamped in Michmash, east of Beth-aven. So, the men of Israel, saw they were in a strait, for the people had been harassed, - and the people had hidden themselves in caves, and in thickets, and among cliffs, and in holes, and in pits. And, Hebrews, had passed over the Jordan, to the land of Gad, and Gilead, - but, Saul, was yet in Gilgal, and all the people, trembled after him. And he waited seven days, by the set time that Samuel had named, but Samuel came not to Gilgal, - and the people were scattered from him. Then said Saul, Bring near unto me, the ascending-sacrifice and the peace-offerings. And he offered up the ascending-sacrifice. And it came to pass, as he had made an end of offering up the ascending-sacrifice, lo! Samuel, had come, - and Saul went out to meet him, that he might bless him. Then said Samuel - What hast thou done? And Saul said - Because I saw that the people had been scattered from me, and, thou, hadst not come within the appointed days, and, the Philistines, had gathered themselves together to Michmash, therefore I said - Now, will the Philistines come down against me, at Gilgal, but, the face of Yahweh, have I not appeased: So I forced myself, and offered up the ascending-sacrifice. And Samuel said unto Saul - Thou hast shewn thyself foolish, - thou hast not kept the commandment of Yahweh thy God, which he commanded thee, for, now, would Yahweh have established thy kingdom unto Israel until times age-abiding; Whereas, now, shall thy kingdom not be established, - Yahweh hath sought out for him a man after his own heart, and Yahweh hath commanded him to be leader over his people, because thou hast not kept that which Yahweh commanded thee.
And Yahweh said unto Samuel - How long, art thou going to pine for Saul, seeing that, I, have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill thy horn with oil, and come! let me send thee unto Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided me, among his sons, a king. And Samuel said, How can I go? As soon as Saul heareth, he will slay me. Then said Yahweh, A heifer, take thou with thee, and say, To sacrifice unto Yahweh, am I come. read more. Then shall thou bid Jesse to the sacrifice, - when, I, will let thee know what thou must do, so shalt thou anoint for me him whom I shall name unto thee. And Samuel did that which Yahweh had spoken, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him, and one said - Peaceably, comest thou? And he said - Peaceably: to sacrifice unto Yahweh, am I come. Hallow yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he hallowed Jesse and his sons, and bade them to the sacrifice.
And he made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits, the length thereof, and, twenty cubits, the breadth thereof, - and, ten cubits, the height thereof. And he made a molten sea, - ten - by the cubit, from the one brim thereof into the other brim thereof, it was round all about, and, five - by the cubit, was the height thereof, and, a line - of thirty by the cubit, did compass it round about. read more. And, the likeness of oxen, was under it round about on every side, encircling it, ten in a cubit, going round the sea, on every side,-two rows of oxen, made in the casting.