Atonement for the Altar is a significant concept within the Old Testament, particularly in the context of the Tabernacle and later the Temple worship. The altar, as a central element of Israelite worship, required consecration and purification to maintain its sanctity and to ensure that the offerings made upon it were acceptable to God.

Biblical Foundation

The primary scriptural basis for the atonement of the altar is found in the book of Exodus. In Exodus 29:36-37 , God commands Moses, "Each day you are to offer a bull as a sin offering for atonement. Also purify the altar by making atonement for it, and anoint it to consecrate it. For seven days you shall make atonement for the altar and consecrate it. Then the altar will be most holy; whatever touches the altar will be holy."

This passage highlights the necessity of atonement for the altar as part of the broader consecration process. The altar, being the place where sacrifices were offered, had to be cleansed from any impurity or defilement to ensure that it was a fitting place for the holy offerings to the Lord.

Purpose and Significance

The atonement for the altar served several purposes. Firstly, it symbolized the removal of impurity and sin, ensuring that the altar was a pure and holy place. This was crucial because the altar was the focal point of sacrificial worship, where the Israelites sought reconciliation with God through offerings.

Secondly, the atonement for the altar underscored the holiness of God and the need for His people to approach Him with reverence and purity. The process of atonement and consecration was a reminder of the separation between the divine and the profane, and the need for mediation through sacrifice.

Ritual Process

The ritual process of atonement for the altar involved the offering of a sin offering, typically a bull, as described in Exodus 29. The blood of the sacrifice was applied to the altar, symbolizing purification and the covering of sin. This act of atonement was not a one-time event but was part of a continual process, as seen in the instructions for the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16, where the altar was again purified.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, the atonement for the altar points to the broader theme of atonement in the Bible, which finds its ultimate fulfillment in the New Testament through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The altar, as a place of sacrifice, prefigures the cross, where the ultimate atonement for sin was made. Hebrews 9:13-14 reflects on this, stating, "For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works, so that we may serve the living God!"

Conclusion

The atonement for the altar is a profound aspect of Old Testament worship, emphasizing the need for holiness and the means by which God's people could approach Him. It serves as a precursor to the ultimate atonement provided through Christ, highlighting the continuity of God's redemptive plan throughout Scripture.