Topical Bible: House: Architecture of Altars On

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In the biblical context, altars hold significant importance as places of worship, sacrifice, and communion with God. The architecture of altars, as described in the Bible, reflects both divine instructions and cultural practices of the time. Altars were central to the religious life of the Israelites and were constructed with specific materials and dimensions as prescribed by God.

Materials and Construction

The earliest altars mentioned in the Bible were simple structures made of earth or uncut stones. In Exodus 20:24-25, God instructs the Israelites: "You are to make an altar of earth for Me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats and cattle. In every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you. If you make an altar of stones for Me, you must not build it with cut stones, for if you use a chisel on it, you will defile it."

This directive emphasizes the use of natural materials, symbolizing purity and the unaltered creation of God. The use of uncut stones also reflects a rejection of human craftsmanship in favor of divine creation.

The Altar of Burnt Offering

The most detailed description of an altar is found in the instructions for the Tabernacle's altar of burnt offering. In Exodus 27:1-2, God commands: "You are to construct the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide; the altar is to be square, and three cubits high. Make a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns are of one piece with the altar, and overlay it with bronze."

This altar was a large, square structure with horns at each corner, symbolizing strength and power. The use of acacia wood, a durable and resistant material, and the overlay of bronze, a symbol of judgment and endurance, highlight the altar's sacred purpose and its role in atonement rituals.

The Altar of Incense

Another significant altar was the altar of incense, located inside the Tabernacle. In Exodus 30:1-3, God provides the design: "You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for the burning of incense. It is to be square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high; its horns must be of one piece. Overlay with pure gold its top and all around its sides and its horns, and make a molding of gold all around it."

This altar, smaller and overlaid with gold, was used for burning incense, symbolizing the prayers of the people ascending to God. Its placement in the Holy Place, near the Ark of the Covenant, underscores its role in the intimate worship and intercession before God.

Cultural and Symbolic Significance

Altars in the Bible were not merely functional structures but carried deep symbolic meanings. They represented a meeting place between God and humanity, a site of covenant and commitment. The architecture of altars, with their specific materials and dimensions, was designed to reflect God's holiness and the reverence due to Him.

Throughout the Old Testament, altars were erected at significant locations and events, such as Noah's altar after the flood (Genesis 8:20), Abraham's altars during his journeys (Genesis 12:7-8), and the altar built by Elijah on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:30-32). Each altar served as a testament to God's presence and faithfulness.

In summary, the architecture of altars in the Bible is a profound expression of worship, obedience, and divine-human interaction. The careful instructions and symbolic elements underscore the sacredness of these structures and their central role in the spiritual life of God's people.

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2 Kings 23:12
And the altars that were on the top of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, did the king beat down, and broke them down from there, and cast the dust of them into the brook Kidron.
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Jeremiah 19:13
And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall be defiled as the place of Tophet, because of all the houses on whose roofs they have burned incense to all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings to other gods.
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Jeremiah 32:29
And the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come and set fire on this city, and burn it with the houses, on whose roofs they have offered incense to Baal, and poured out drink offerings to other gods, to provoke me to anger.
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Zephaniah 1:5
And them that worship the host of heaven on the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;
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Library

Obadiah; Or, Early Piety Eminent Piety
... it was a child, Josiah by name, that broke down the altars of Baal ... long as he could
hear the gospel he did not mind the architecture of the house, but now ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 30 1884/obadiah or early piety eminent.htm

Index.
... Senate house, 163. ... See also Altars. ... of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, 56, 80, 84; literature,
84 n; architecture of the old temple, 86; destroyed by fire, 86; its ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lanciani/pagan and christian rome/index 2.htm

The Axe at the Root --A Testimony against Puseyite Idolatry
... The two stood by their altars; Abel by faith ... me go every morning to the steeple house
and come ... a cathedral with all its magnificence of architecture, and think ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 12 1866/the axe at the roota.htm

The Worship of the Church. The Religion of the Primitive ...
... 463:1] because they had no altars, no temples ... issued an edict of toleration, church
architecture advanced apace ... the end of the third century, the house of prayer ...
//christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter i the worship of.htm

Paul in Athens.
... been equalled, and never surpassed; here, architecture and statuary ... was crowded with
images, and temples, and altars. ... was confined within the walls of a house. ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xx paul in athens.htm

Church Fabrics and Services.
... as a principal reviver of the ancient style of architecture. ... The Lower House of
Convocation in 1710 had issued ... used sometimes to place upon the altars of their ...
/.../the english church in the eighteenth century/chapter x church fabrics and.htm

Pagan Shrines and Temples.
... One of these altars, which adjoined Domitian's paternal house on the ... The style of
the architecture was purely Etruscan, and the intercolumniations ...
/.../lanciani/pagan and christian rome/chapter ii pagan shrines and.htm

Imperial Tombs.
... of the atrium of the old Flavian house, was discovered ... The architecture of the building,
so similar to the ... the rebuilding of one of the altars, several antique ...
/.../lanciani/pagan and christian rome/chapter iv imperial tombs.htm

Christian Churches.
... fuori le Mura, are excellent specimens of mediaeval architecture. ... the discoveries
made in 1776 in the house of Aquila ... by which the number of altars alone had ...
/.../lanciani/pagan and christian rome/chapter iii christian churches.htm

The Mission of Paul and Silas to Macedonia.
... the fine arts of painting, poetry, music, architecture, and statuary. ... to the Lord,
come into my house, and abide ... As he had his temples, and altars, and priests ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xvii the mission of.htm