Exodus 20:24-25 KJV,NLT

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 20:22-26

Nothing could be more appropriate as the commencement of the book of the covenant than these regulations for public worship. The rules for the building of altars must have been old and accepted, and are not inconsistent with the directions for the construction of the altar of the court of the tabernacle, Exodus 27:1-8 (compare Joshua 22:26-28). read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 20:24

Exodus 20:24. An altar of earth It is meant of occasional altars, such as they reared in the wilderness before the tabernacle was erected, and afterward upon special emergencies, for present use. They are appointed to make these very plain, either of earth or of unhewn stones. That they might not be tempted to think of a graven image, they must not so much as hew the stones into shape that they made their altars of, but pile them up as they were in the rough. In all places... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 20:18-26

Correct attitudes in worship (20:18-26)Moses was satisfied when he saw that the people, having witnessed the frightening events connected with God’s coming to Mount Sinai, were suitably humbled. They became aware of their shortcomings and at the same time developed a greater fear of God (18-21).People were to show a similarly humble attitude when they built altars at places of God’s special revelation (e.g. 17:14-16). Because Israel was a wandering people, such altars were not to be permanent;... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Exodus 20:24

of earth . . . in all places . Shiloh was the first place, Jeremiah 7:12 ; Bethel, 1 Samuel 10:3 ; then Zion, Psalms 78:68 . "Where'er we seek Thee Thou art found". sacrifice. Hebrew. zabach. App-43 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Exodus 20:25

not . . . hewn stone . No human handiwork tc be used in approaching God in worship. tool. Man's work, in this sphere, pollutes. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Exodus 20:22-26

"And Jehovah said unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of lsrael, Ye yourselves have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. Ye shall not make other gods with me, gods of silver, or gods of gold, ye shall not make unto you. An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in every place where I record my name I will come unto thee and I will bless thee. And if thou make me an altar... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Exodus 20:24

Exodus 20:24. An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me— The service of the tabernacle being not yet appointed, that there might be no superstition attached to any altars of a curious or costly sort, God enjoins that they should, for the present, form them only of such plain turf and common earth as could easily be met with, and thereon slay their sacrifices, their burnt-offerings, &c. expressions (by the way) which are a further proof of what we have often advanced, that the apparatus and... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Exodus 20:25

Exodus 20:25. And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, &c.— The Lord will have an altar of turf, or natural stone, not put together with much art. For if thou lift up thy tool upon it, it is added, thou hast polluted it: i.e. thou hast rendered it unfit for my use and worship; it must be no longer considered as an altar consecrated to me. This is all that the original word חלל chilel can import, which is used in a sense directly opposite to קדשׁ kidesh; that is, holy, or set apart to... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown