And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood ,.... Like those that were made for the ark, and for the same purpose: and overlay them with brass ; with plates of brass, whereas those for the ark were overlaid with gold. read more
The symbolism of the brazen altar. The noticeable points of this altar are its position, material, ornaments, and purpose or use. I. ITS POSITION . II. ITS MATERIAL . The material was the earth alone constituting the true altar ( Exodus 20:24 ), and the wood and metal a casing, by means of which the earth was kept together. III. ITS ORNAMENTS . These were, IV. ITS PURPOSE . We have assumed throughout that the purpose of the altar—its main purpose—was... read more
The brazen altar and court of the tabernacle. From the sanctuary, we pass in this chapter to the outer court, the principal object in which was the brazen altar, or altar of burnt offering. I. THE BRAZEN ALTAR ( Exodus 27:1-9 ). 1 . Form of the altar . The altar was a foursquare case of shittim wood, five cubits long and five broad, made with four horns, and overlaid with plates of bronze. Round it, at some distance from the ground, was apparently a ledge, on which the... read more
The tabernacle and its teachings. I. THE ALTAR OF SACRIFICE . 1 . The situation of the altar. 2 . The altar, on which the sacrifice for sin is laid, is the place of power. The horns, the symbol of Divine power. The gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation. 3 . In Christ God gives us a place for accepted offerings. The altar was Israel's as well as God's: upon it were laid their offerings as well as those prescribed for the daily service and the great day of... read more
Staves , or polos, were needed for the carriage of the altar from place to place, as for the ark ( Exodus 25:13 ) and the table of shew-bread ( Exodus 25:28 ). They were to be inserted into the rings mentioned in Exodus 27:4 . As the altar was of bronze, so the rings were to be of bronze, and the staves overlaid with bronze. There is a gradual descent in the preciousness of the materials from the holy of holies to the holy place, and from that to the court. read more
(Compare Exodus 38:1-7.) The great altar which stood in the court immediately in front of the tabernacle was commonly called the altar of burnt-offering, because on it were burnt the whole burnt-offerings, and all those parts of the other animal sacrifices which were offered to the Lord. It was also called the brazen altar, because it was covered with bronze, in distinction from the golden altar or altar of incense Exodus 39:38-39; Exodus 40:5-6.Exodus 27:2His horns shall be of the same - These... read more
Altar of burnt offering (27:1-8)All animal sacrifices were offered on what has become known as the brazen altar (though the metal referred to in older English versions as brass was probably bronze or, less likely, copper). The altar was made of timber overlaid with bronze and was hollow inside. Its utensils also were made of bronze (27:1-3).The instructions do not tell us how sacrifices were burnt on this altar. Either the altar was filled with earth to form a mound on which the sacrifices were... read more
THE GREAT BRONZE ALTAR"And thou shalt make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits. And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof; and the horns thereof shall be of one piece with it: and thou shalt overlay it with brass. And thou shalt make its pots to take away its ashes, and its shovels, and its basins, and its fleshhooks, and its firepans: all the vessels thereof thou... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 27:1-8
As God intended in the tabernacle to manifest his presence among his people, so there they were to pay their devotions to him, not in the tabernacle itself (into that only the priests entered as God's domestic servants), but in the court before the tabernacle, where, as common subjects, they attended. There an altar was ordered to be set up, to which they must bring their sacrifices, and on which their priests must offer them to God: and this altar was to sanctify their gifts. Here they were... read more