How does Ezekiel 41:22 connect to the altar descriptions in Exodus? Setting the Scene Ezekiel, carried in the Spirit to view the future temple, pauses at an inner-sanctuary furnishing that immediately recalls the earlier pattern God gave Moses. By noticing the echoes, we see God’s consistent heart for worship. Key Details in Ezekiel 41:22 “There was an altar of wood, three cubits high and two cubits wide; its corners, base, and sides were of wood. And the man told me, ‘This is the table that is before the LORD.’” • Material: wood, with no metal mentioned. • Size: 3 × 2 cubits (roughly 5 × 3½ feet). • Location: “before the LORD,” i.e., in the Holy Place, just outside the Most Holy Place. • Dual terminology: called both an “altar” and a “table.” Parallel Features in Exodus’ Altars 1. Golden altar of incense (Exodus 30:1-10, 40:26-27) • Also situated “in front of the veil” (Exodus 40:26). • Made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. • Four horns at the corners (Exodus 30:3). • Priestly service of fragrant incense morning and evening (Exodus 30:7-8). 2. Bronze altar of burnt offering (Exodus 27:1-8) • Square construction with horns. • Acacia wood overlaid with bronze. • Stood in the courtyard, not inside. Shared traits between Ezekiel 41:22 and Exodus 30: • Inner‐sanctuary placement. • Wooden core. • Horned corners (implied by the word “corners” in Ezekiel). • Design received by divine revelation—not human innovation. Why Ezekiel Calls It a “Table” Exodus links covenant fellowship to the table of showbread (Exodus 25:23-30). By using “table,” Ezekiel hints that the altar of incense has always symbolized communion: prayers rising like fragrance while God “spreads a table” of grace before His people (cf. Psalm 141:2; Revelation 8:3-4). The prophetic vision merges altar and table language to stress both sacrifice and fellowship in one place. Shared Theological Themes • God designs worship space down to the cubit—His holiness demands precision. • Blood-anchored access (bronze altar) leads to fragrance-filled communion (golden/wooden altar). • Continuity: the post-exilic community could trust that the God who met Israel in the tabernacle would meet them again. Why the Differences Matter • Size change (3 × 2 cubits) shows the vision points forward; yet the familiar proportions reassure. • No gold overlay is mentioned—wood alone may reflect millennial simplicity or a focus on the substance over ornamentation, but the pattern remains recognizable. • Ezekiel’s altar merges imagery, anticipating Christ who fulfills both sacrifice and fellowship (Hebrews 13:10). Takeaway for Us Today • God’s pattern never shifts away from holiness and fellowship; it only moves closer to fulfillment. • Scripture’s internal harmony—Ezekiel echoing Exodus—underlines the reliability of every detail God has breathed out. |
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