The Altar of Burnt-Offering, also known as the Brazen Altar, holds significant importance in the worship practices of ancient Israel as described in the Old Testament. This altar was a central fixture in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple, serving as the primary location for sacrifices and offerings to God.

Biblical Description and Construction

The instructions for constructing the Brazen Altar are detailed in the Book of Exodus. According to Exodus 27:1-2 , "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." The use of acacia wood overlaid with bronze (or brass) gave the altar its name, emphasizing its durability and the significance of the materials used.

The altar was designed with practical features to facilitate the sacrificial system. It included a grating, a network of bronze, and bronze rings for carrying poles, as described in Exodus 27:4-7 . This design allowed the altar to be portable, aligning with the Israelites' nomadic lifestyle during their wilderness journey.

Function and Significance

The primary function of the Brazen Altar was for the offering of sacrifices, particularly burnt offerings, which were a central aspect of Israelite worship. Leviticus 1:9 states, "The priest is to burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD." These offerings symbolized atonement, dedication, and worship, serving as a means for the Israelites to maintain a covenant relationship with God.

The altar's location in the Tabernacle courtyard, as described in Exodus 40:6 , "Place the altar of burnt offering in front of the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting," highlights its accessibility and centrality in the worship practices. It was the first object encountered upon entering the Tabernacle, signifying the necessity of atonement and purification before approaching the holy presence of God.

Symbolism and Theological Implications

The Brazen Altar symbolizes the concept of substitutionary atonement, where the sacrifice of an innocent animal bore the sins of the people, pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 9:22 underscores this principle: "In fact, according to the Law, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."

The altar's bronze construction is often interpreted as a symbol of judgment and endurance, reflecting the seriousness of sin and the need for divine justice. The horns of the altar, mentioned in Exodus 27:2 , were considered a place of refuge and mercy, as seen in passages like 1 Kings 1:50-51 , where Adonijah sought asylum by grasping the altar's horns.

Historical Context and Legacy

The Brazen Altar remained a fixture in Israelite worship from the time of the Tabernacle through the First and Second Temples. Its presence and use are chronicled throughout the historical books of the Old Testament, including the dedication of Solomon's Temple in 2 Chronicles 7:7 , where Solomon consecrated the middle of the courtyard for burnt offerings due to the altar's limited capacity.

The altar's legacy extends into Christian theology, where it is seen as a foreshadowing of Christ's sacrificial death. The New Testament book of Hebrews elaborates on this typology, presenting Jesus as the ultimate high priest and sacrifice, fulfilling the sacrificial system once and for all.

In summary, the Brazen Altar was a vital component of Israelite worship, embodying themes of sacrifice, atonement, and divine justice. Its theological and symbolic significance continues to resonate within the Christian faith, pointing to the redemptive work of Christ.Exodus 39:39
The brazen altar, and his grate of brass, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Kings 8:64
The same day did the king hallow the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings: because the brazen altar that was before the LORD was too little to receive the burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Temple and Its Dedication
... The brazen furniture,"the altar of burnt offering, the great laver ... stood at the east
end of the altar, and with ... house which I have built is called by Thy name ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 2 the temple and.htm

Scriptural Types.
... Of the unbloody offerings [oblations, called in our version meat-offerings], some
were ... the Lord, and then burned by Moses on the altar of burnt-offering. ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxvii scriptural types.htm

Princely Service.
... He divides the help, and those who are called to the ... and one lamb of the first
year"all for a burnt-offering. ... all to be wholly consumed on the altar, for the ...
/.../taylor/separation and service/part iii princely service.htm

"Lo, I Come": Exposition
... laver, no table of shewbread, no brazen altar, and no ... "Burnt offering and sin offering
hast thou not required ... God ordained, we have a so-called priesthood among ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/lo i come exposition.htm

The Prophet Amos.
... Go prophesy unto My people Israel." The fruit of the sycamores, called [Greek: atrophos]
and ... Such was the brazen altar, or altar of burnt-offering in the ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet amos.htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... slain. This altar was called 'the altar of burnt-offering,' and
therefore it was a type of Christ in his divinity. For ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

A Discourse
... he 'will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, and it shall be called
the valley of ... In the first sense was the altar of burnt-offering, the altar ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a discourse.htm

Chrysostom -- Excessive Grief at the Death of Friends
... For as when men are called to some high office, multitudes ... a sacrifice offered without
blood, a whole burnt offering without fire, an altar representing a ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume i/chrysostom excessive grief at.htm

The Bible
... These are being called into the Church and will form a part of the ... The Burnt Offering. ...
You will see the brazen altar to be the cross, the brazen laver, the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/haldeman/christ christianity and the bible/the bible.htm

The Saints' Privilege and Profit;
... do, that have washed before in the brazen laver that ... priest under the law was to
approach the incense-altar. ... Exodus 28:4). These are briefly called his garments ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the saints privilege and profit.htm

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