Altar: Built by Isaac
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Topical Encyclopedia
The altar built by Isaac holds significant importance in the biblical narrative, symbolizing his faithfulness and obedience to God. Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah, is a patriarch in the lineage of the Israelites, and his actions often reflect the covenantal promises made by God to his father, Abraham.

Biblical Context

The account of Isaac building an altar is found in Genesis 26. During a time of famine, Isaac settled in Gerar, the land of the Philistines, as instructed by the Lord. God reaffirmed the covenant He had made with Abraham, promising to bless Isaac and multiply his descendants. In response to God's promises and guidance, Isaac demonstrated his devotion through the construction of an altar.

Scriptural Reference

Genesis 26:23-25 provides the specific account of Isaac building the altar: "From there Isaac went up to Beersheba, and that night the LORD appeared to him and said, 'I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for the sake of My servant Abraham.' So Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD, and he pitched his tent there. His servants also dug a well."

Significance of the Altar

1. Expression of Faith: The altar built by Isaac is a tangible expression of his faith and reliance on God. By constructing the altar, Isaac acknowledges God's presence and promises, continuing the legacy of worship and devotion established by his father, Abraham.

2. Covenantal Continuity: The altar signifies the continuation of the Abrahamic covenant through Isaac. God's reaffirmation of His promises to Isaac underscores the enduring nature of His covenant with Abraham's descendants. The altar serves as a physical reminder of God's faithfulness and the blessings promised to Isaac and his lineage.

3. Worship and Prayer: The act of building an altar and calling on the name of the Lord indicates Isaac's commitment to worship and prayer. It reflects a personal relationship with God, characterized by communication and reverence. The altar becomes a sacred space where Isaac can seek guidance and offer thanksgiving.

4. Symbol of Peace and Settlement: The location of the altar in Beersheba, a place where Isaac eventually settles, symbolizes peace and stability. After experiencing conflict over water rights with the Philistines, the altar represents a turning point where Isaac finds a place of rest and divine assurance.

Theological Implications

Isaac's construction of the altar highlights the importance of maintaining a personal and communal relationship with God. It serves as a model for believers to prioritize worship and trust in God's promises, even amidst challenges. The altar is a testament to God's unwavering commitment to His people and His desire for them to live in faithful obedience.

In summary, the altar built by Isaac is a profound symbol of faith, covenant, and worship. It reflects the patriarch's dedication to God and the continuation of the divine promises that would ultimately shape the history of Israel and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan.
Nave's Topical Index
Genesis 26:25
And he built an altar there, and called on the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants dig a well.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Story of Abraham and Isaac
... There Abraham built an altar of stones and earth heaped up; and on it he placed
the wood. Then he tied the hands and the feet of Isaac, and laid him on the ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of abraham and.htm

Abraham and Isaac.
... The altar was built, Isaac was bound and laid upon it, and Abraham's arm was uplifted
to strike the blow that was to take his son's life away. ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/abraham and isaac.htm

The Crowning Test and Triumph of Faith
... The place is slowly reached, the hill slowly climbed, the altar built, the unresisting
Isaac bound (with what deep thoughts in each, who can tell?), the steady ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the crowning test and triumph.htm

Abraham's Offering up his Son Isaac
... And when you hear how Abraham built an altar, and laid the wood in order, and bound
Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood; think how your ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/abrahams offering up his son.htm

Concerning Isaac the Legitimate Son of Abraham.
... It was that mountain upon which king David afterwards built the temple ... Now Isaac
was twenty-five years old ... And as he was building the altar, he asked his father ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 13 concerning isaac the.htm

Abraham --The Father of the Faithful.
... to the very rock upon which the temple was built long afterward, with its great
altar and Holy of ... at the foot of the mount, and went with Isaac to the ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter iii abrahamthe father of.htm

Demonstration xxi. --Of Persecution.
... old, (that is) as in the former time when the mountain of the Amorites lay in
desolation, whereon Abraham built the altar, when he bound upon it Isaac his son ...
/.../aphrahat/aphrahat select demonstrations/demonstration xxi of persecution.htm

Abraham's Loyalty to God
... When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there
and laid the wood on it and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/abrahams loyalty to god.htm

Mount Moriah
... all, that the place, where David built an altar in the threshing-floor of Araunah,
was the place where Abraham built his, upon which he bound Isaac; where Noah ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 27 mount moriah.htm

Home Dedication.
... for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told
him." There he built an altar, laid the wood in order, bound Isaac, and laid ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/philips/the christian home/chapter x home dedication.htm

Resources
Why was the altar in Joshua 22:10 34 such a big deal? | GotQuestions.org

What was the significance of the altar King Ahaz built? | GotQuestions.org

Why is Gideon referred to as Jerubbaal? | GotQuestions.org

Altar: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Altar

Altar in Solomon's Temple in Second Temple

Altar in Solomon's Temple: Cleansed by Hezekiah

Altar in Solomon's Temple: Description of

Altar in Solomon's Temple: Ezekiel's Vision of

Altar in Solomon's Temple: Furniture of, Taken to Babylon

Altar in Solomon's Temple: Removed by Ahaz, and One of Idolatrous Fashion Substituted

Altar in Solomon's Temple: Renewed by Asa

Altar in Solomon's Temple: Repaired by Manasseh

Altar in the Tabernacle: A Place of Refuge

Altar in the Tabernacle: Constructed by Bezaleel

Altar in the Tabernacle: Furniture of

Altar in the Tabernacle: Horns of

Altar in the Tabernacle: How Sanctified

Altar in the Tabernacle: Location of

Altar in the Tabernacle: Pattern of

Altar in the Tabernacle: Sanctified Everything That Touched It

Altar in the Tabernacle: See

Altar in the Tabernacle: Uses of the Horns

Altar of Burnt offerings: Called Altar of God

Altar of Burnt offerings: Called Altar of the Lord

Altar of Burnt offerings: Called Brazen Altar

Altar of Incense in Solomon's Temple

Altar of Incense: A Cover Made For, of the Censers of Korah

Altar of Incense: A Type of Christ

Altar of Incense: Altar Before the Lord

Altar of Incense: Altar of Sweet Incense

Altar of Incense: Anointed With Holy Oil

Altar of Incense: Atonement Made For, by the High Priest Once Every Year

Altar of Incense: Called the Golden Altar

Altar of Incense: Carried by Kohathites

Altar of Incense: Constructed

Altar of Incense: Covered by the Priest Before Removal from the Sanctuary

Altar of Incense: Covered With Gold

Altar of Incense: Dimensions of

Altar of Incense: had Four Rings of Gold Under the Crown for the Staves

Altar of Incense: How Prepared for Carrying

Altar of Incense: Location of

Altar of Incense: No Strange Incense Nor Any Sacrifice to be offered On

Altar of Incense: Pattern of

Altar of Incense: Placed Before the Vail in the Outer Sanctuary

Altar of Incense: Punishment For: Offering Strange Fire On

Altar of Incense: Punishment For: Unauthorised offering On

Altar of Incense: Said to be Before the Lord

Altar of Incense: Seen in John's Vision

Altar of Incense: Staves of, Covered With Gold

Altar of Incense: The Blood of all Sin offerings Put on the Horns of

Altar of Incense: The Priest Burned Incense on Every Morning and Evening

Altar of Incense: Top of, Surrounded With a Crown of Gold

Altar of Incense: Uses of

Altar used in Idolatrous Worship

Altar: Built by Abraham

Altar: Built by Balaam

Altar: Built by David

Altar: Built by Elijah

Altar: Built by Gideon

Altar: Built by Isaac

Altar: Built by Jacob

Altar: Built by Joshua

Altar: Built by Moses

Altar: Built by Noah

Altar: Built by Samuel

Altar: Built by Saul

Altar: Built by the Reubenites and Gadites

Altar: Mosaic Commandments Prescribing the Construction of

Altar: See

The Altar of Burnt-Offering was Most Holy

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: A Net-Working Grate of Brass Placed In

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: A Type of Christ

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Ahaz Removed and Profaned

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: All Gifts to be Presented At

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: All Its Vessels of Brass

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: All Sacrifices to be offered On

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Anointed and Sanctified With Holy Oil

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Called: The Altar of God

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Called: The Altar of the Lord

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Called: The Brazen Altar

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Cleansed and Purified With Blood

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Covered With Brass

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Dimensions of

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Furnished With Rings and Staves

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Horns on the Corners of

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Made After a Divine Pattern

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Nothing Polluted or Defective to be offered On

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Offering at the Dedication of

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Placed in the Court Before the Door of the Tabernacle

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Sacrifices Bound to the Horns of

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Sanctified by God

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: Sanctified Whatever Touched It

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: The Blood of Sacrifices Put on the Horns and Poured at The

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: The Fire Upon was Continually Burning

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: The Fire Upon: Came from Before the Lord

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: The Fire Upon: Consumed the Sacrifices

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: The Jews Condemned for Swearing Lightly By

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: The Priests: Alone to Serve

The Altar of Burnt-Offering: The Priests: Derived Support From

Related Terms

Incense-altar (2 Occurrences)

Perfume-altar (1 Occurrence)

Altar-hearths (2 Occurrences)

Soothing (40 Occurrences)

Censer (10 Occurrences)

Ba'al (55 Occurrences)

Sprinkleth (11 Occurrences)

Sanctifieth (21 Occurrences)

Pleasant (119 Occurrences)

Ashe'rah (18 Occurrences)

Aroma (50 Occurrences)

Bottom (33 Occurrences)

Horn (108 Occurrences)

Burnt-sacrifice (13 Occurrences)

Arranged (32 Occurrences)

Slaughtereth (13 Occurrences)

Savour (52 Occurrences)

Staffs (47 Occurrences)

Sanctify (91 Occurrences)

Sprinkled (55 Occurrences)

Aaron's (53 Occurrences)

Acacia-wood (27 Occurrences)

Staves (50 Occurrences)

Pour (137 Occurrences)

Shrine (34 Occurrences)

Pole (21 Occurrences)

Buildeth (73 Occurrences)

Slew (206 Occurrences)

Sides (170 Occurrences)

Builded (65 Occurrences)

Burnt-offering (205 Occurrences)

Acacia (28 Occurrences)

Meat-offerings (10 Occurrences)

Memorial-part (7 Occurrences)

Baal's (6 Occurrences)

Copy (18 Occurrences)

Slaughtered (72 Occurrences)

Screen (26 Occurrences)

Strange (234 Occurrences)

Araunah (14 Occurrences)

Savor (51 Occurrences)

Smell (77 Occurrences)

Ashes (44 Occurrences)

Brazen (42 Occurrences)

Shewbread (16 Occurrences)

Sprinkle (37 Occurrences)

Smoke (98 Occurrences)

Sweet (147 Occurrences)

Attend (71 Occurrences)

Basins (33 Occurrences)

Plates (19 Occurrences)

Pertaineth (18 Occurrences)

Bull's (8 Occurrences)

Chalkstone

Contain (19 Occurrences)

Arrange (19 Occurrences)

Shelf (5 Occurrences)

Spice-perfume (5 Occurrences)

Swears (16 Occurrences)

Copper (55 Occurrences)

Poles (58 Occurrences)

Shittim (34 Occurrences)

Beth-el (65 Occurrences)

Anointed (132 Occurrences)

Putteth (182 Occurrences)

Perfumes (69 Occurrences)

Manoah (14 Occurrences)

Peace-offering (46 Occurrences)

Purify (39 Occurrences)

Bullocks (50 Occurrences)

Pulled (84 Occurrences)

Asylum

Courtyard (59 Occurrences)

Anointing (39 Occurrences)

Vessels (210 Occurrences)

Ablution

Memorial (54 Occurrences)

Built (299 Occurrences)

Perfume (202 Occurrences)

Altar: Built by Gideon
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