What is the meaning of Exodus 38:2? a horn at each corner The craftsman followed the earlier pattern given in Exodus 27:2, adding “a horn at each of its four corners.” In Scripture, horns symbolize strength and authority; Psalm 18:2 calls God “my horn of salvation,” and in 1 Kings 1:50 Adonijah grasped the horns of the altar seeking mercy. The four horns—one on every corner—point to the altar’s complete sufficiency: no matter the direction, an Israelite could approach and find an appointed place for atonement (Leviticus 4:7, 30). Because the text says “He made,” we see deliberate obedience to God’s earlier blueprint, affirming that true worship aligns precisely with divine instruction. of one piece Exodus 38:2 goes on, “so that the horns and altar were of one piece.” Nothing was bolted on; everything was hammered from the same material, mirroring other tabernacle items such as the lampstand “of a single piece” (Exodus 25:31) and the cherubim “of one piece with the mercy seat” (Exodus 25:18). The unity underscores the indivisibility of God’s provision: sacrifice and refuge cannot be separated. Hebrews 13:10 reminds believers, “We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat,” linking the seamless construction here to the unbreakable, once-for-all work accomplished in Christ. overlaid with bronze Finally, “he overlaid the altar with bronze.” Bronze, resistant to heat, was ideal for continual fire (Leviticus 6:13). It also carries a biblical association with judgment and purification, as seen in the bronze serpent lifted up for healing (Numbers 21:9) and the glowing bronze imagery of Christ’s feet in Revelation 1:15. By covering the wooden structure with bronze, the altar could endure the consuming sacrifices day after day (2 Chronicles 4:1). The overlay speaks of protection: the sinner is shielded from wrath when a substitute is offered upon a God-provided, judgment-bearing surface. summary Exodus 38:2 records faithful construction: four horns for universal access to mercy, a single unified structure reflecting God’s seamless salvation plan, and durable bronze proclaiming judgment borne in the place of sinners. Every detail points ahead to the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice that fully satisfies God’s righteous requirements while opening wide the way of grace. |
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