What is the meaning of Exodus 27:2? Make a horn on each of its four corners • Exodus 27:2 instructs that each corner of the altar is to bear a projecting “horn.” This mirrors the four-sided nature of the altar itself (Exodus 27:1). • Throughout the Law, these horns become places where sacrificial blood is applied—“Put some of the blood on the horns of the altar” (Exodus 29:12; Leviticus 4:7). • The four horns picture complete coverage: north, south, east, and west—extending God’s provision of atonement in every direction, echoing Genesis 22:13-14 where God supplies a ram in place of Isaac. • Later narratives show the horns as places of refuge (1 Kings 1:50-53), highlighting the altar as both a site of sacrifice and a symbol of mercy. So that the horns are of one piece • The horns were not to be separate parts attached later; they were to rise seamlessly from the altar itself (Exodus 38:2). • This “one piece” design underscores unity and integrity—no division between altar and horns, just as there is no division between God’s justice and mercy (Psalm 85:10). • It foreshadows Christ, whose saving work is not an add-on but intrinsic to His person (Hebrews 10:5-10). • The single casting also ensured durability, reflecting God’s unchanging plan of redemption (Malachi 3:6). And overlay it with bronze • Bronze, a durable metal resistant to fire, covered the wooden structure, enabling the altar to withstand continual burning (Exodus 27:3-4). • In Scripture, bronze often speaks of judgment refined by fire (Numbers 21:8-9; Revelation 1:15). • Every sacrifice burned on a bronze-clad altar points to the final, once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus, who endured God’s fiery judgment in our place (2 Corinthians 5:21). • The overlay also protected the altar, ensuring its service endured as long as Israel journeyed—just as the eternal value of Christ’s atonement never diminishes (Hebrews 7:24-25). summary Exodus 27:2 weaves together rich symbolism: four horns broadcasting universal atonement, their seamless construction revealing God’s unified plan, and the bronze overlay portraying judgment borne so mercy can flow. Every detail anticipates Christ, the perfect altar and sacrifice, securing refuge and forgiveness for all who come. |
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