What role does the altar play in Exodus 29:12's sacrificial process? Text of Exodus 29:12 “Take some of the bull’s blood and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and pour out the rest of it at the base of the altar.” Setting the Scene • Israel is at Sinai, preparing to install Aaron and his sons as priests. • A sin offering (the bull) is being presented so the priests can serve before a holy God without their own sin standing in the way (cf. Exodus 29:10–14). • The altar of burnt offering stands in the courtyard—God’s appointed place for sacrifices (Exodus 27:1–8). Why the Altar Matters in This Moment • The altar is the ordained contact point between God and His people (Exodus 20:24). • It receives the blood, which Leviticus 17:11 calls “the life of the flesh,” making atonement possible. • By touching and surrounding the altar with blood, every offering that follows is accepted on a cleansed, consecrated platform. Blood on the Horns: Atonement and Power • Horns symbolize strength and authority (Psalm 18:2; 1 Kings 22:11). • Smearing blood there declares that sin’s guilt is addressed at the very “power points” of the altar (Leviticus 4:7). • This act makes atonement for the priests themselves (Exodus 30:10), enabling them to minister. Blood at the Base: Total Consecration • Pouring the remainder at the base bathes the altar’s foundation in sacrificial life. • It shows that atonement isn’t partial; it covers from top to bottom (Hebrews 9:22). • The base represents the ground of Israel’s relationship with God—every subsequent sacrifice rests on prior cleansing. The Altar as Meeting Place • God’s justice meets human sin here; the blood satisfies divine wrath (Leviticus 8:15). • The altar becomes a sanctuary where forgiven people can draw near (Psalm 51:18–19). • The ritual marks the altar as holy, so “whatever touches it will be holy” (Exodus 29:37). Looking Forward • These actions foreshadow Christ, whose blood sanctifies the true heavenly altar (Hebrews 9:12). • Just as the priestly ministry began only after blood touched the altar, our access to God rests solely on Jesus’ shed blood (Hebrews 10:19–22). Summary Points • The altar receives the blood because it is God’s chosen site of atonement. • Blood on the horns addresses sin at the altar’s points of power. • Blood at the base consecrates the entire structure, grounding future worship in completed atonement. • This ceremony points beyond itself to the full, final sacrifice of Christ. |
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