What significance does the altar of burnt offering hold in 1 Chronicles 21:29? Text And Immediate Context “Now the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering, were at that time on the high place at Gibeon.” (1 Chronicles 21:29) This explanatory note follows David’s sacrifice on Ornan’s threshing floor (21:18-28). Verse 30 adds that David “could not go before it to inquire of God, because he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the LORD.” The Chronicler clarifies why David did not travel to Gibeon: the authorized bronze altar was still there, but God had just revealed a new, divinely chosen worship site in Jerusalem. Historical Placement At Gibeon 1 Chronicles 16:39 already records that the Mosaic tabernacle and its bronze altar were transferred to “the high place at Gibeon” during David’s reign, while the ark had been brought to Jerusalem. Gibeon lay about six miles northwest of the City of David. Excavations at modern el-Jib (identified as Gibeon by jar-handle inscriptions reading “gbʿn”) confirm a large Iron-Age cultic center on a rocky prominence, consistent with the biblical “high place.” The Chronicler therefore anchors the story in verifiable geography and history. The Mosaic Altar: Design, Function, And Theology Exodus 27:1-8 details the altar’s acacia-wood frame overlaid with bronze, horns on its four corners, and a grating mid-way for the fire. Leviticus 1 establishes the burnt offering (‘olah) as an atoning, substitutionary sacrifice whose smoke “ascends” to God. Morning and evening lambs (Numbers 28:3-4) symbolized continual fellowship between a holy God and a sinful nation. Thus the altar of burnt offering embodied covenantal mercy: blood atoned, fire consumed, smoke rose, and worshippers were accepted. David’S Crisis, Census, And Sacrifice David’s unauthorized census (21:1-8) revealed misplaced trust in military strength. God’s judgment—a three-day plague—killed 70 000 Israelites (21:14). The angel halted over Ornan’s threshing floor. At Gad’s command, David built an emergency altar there, offered burnt and peace offerings, and God answered “with fire from heaven upon the altar” (21:26). Divine fire, reminiscent of Leviticus 9:24 and 2 Chronicles 7:1, authenticated the new site and demonstrated that true atonement is granted at God’s chosen altar, not merely at a traditional locale. Transition From Tabernacle To Temple Immediately after noting the old altar’s location, the Chronicler records David’s declaration: “This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel” (22:1). The bronze altar at Gibeon had served faithfully since Sinai, but redemptive history was advancing toward a permanent temple. Solomon later dismantled Moses’ bronze altar, placing it in front of the new temple (2 Chronicles 1:3-6; 4:1). First Chronicles 21:29 therefore marks the hinge between wilderness worship and temple worship, between mobility and permanence, between provisional and climactic dwelling. Theological Significance: Atonement, Mercy, And Judgment 1. Legitimacy: By mentioning the original altar, the Chronicler underscores that God’s acceptance of David’s Jerusalem sacrifice was not arbitrary but a sovereign redirection. 2. Divine Initiative: Fire from heaven on David’s altar mirrored God’s fire that had once fallen on the Mosaic altar, indicating continuity in divine approval. 3. Mercy Triumphs over Judgment: The same angel who wielded judgment’s sword witnessed atonement’s fire; God’s wrath was propitiated through sacrifice. 4. Centralization of Worship: God alone designates the place where sin is atoned (Deuteronomy 12:5-14). The new altar—the future temple site—fulfilled that mandate. Typological Fulfillment In Christ The burnt offering foreshadows the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ. Hebrews 10:10 teaches, “We have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” At Ornan’s threshing floor, substitutionary blood halted a plague; at Calvary, Christ’s blood halted eternal death. Gibeon’s bronze altar and David’s provisional altar both pointed forward: one to continuity with the Mosaic covenant, the other to the Davidic covenant culminating in Messiah (Luke 1:32-33). Paul unites these strands: “Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). Archaeological And Manuscript Corroboration • Tel el-Jib excavations (1956-62) produced over 60 wine-jar handles stamped “gbʿn,” verifying Gibeon’s prominence in the 10th–8th centuries BC—matching the united monarchy era. • The Ketef Hinnom silver scrolls (7th century BC) preserve the Priestly Blessing (Numbers 6:24-26), confirming the antiquity of pentateuchal priestly material. • The Masoretic Text, 4Q58 (4QChr) at Qumran, and the LXX agree on 1 Chronicles 21:29, affirming textual stability. These converging lines of evidence reinforce the narrative’s historical reliability. Practical And Devotional Implications 1. Sin’s seriousness: even a “successful” king cannot ignore God’s holiness. 2. Immediate repentance: David’s swift obedience at Gad’s word models contrition. 3. God-provided atonement: Mercy is available only at the place and in the manner God ordains, fulfilled ultimately in Christ. 4. Worship’s priority: The altar’s relocation anticipates a centralized, God-glorifying house—calling believers today to prioritize God’s presence above tradition or convenience. In 1 Chronicles 21:29 the altar of burnt offering stands as a vivid reminder of covenant continuity, divine sovereignty, and the relentless forward movement of redemptive history toward the ultimate, once-for-all atonement accomplished by Jesus Christ. |
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