Exo 27:1-8 Exo 38:1-7
A. Its construction
1. the altar itself
construction
acacia wood clad with bronze
7-1/2′ x 7-1/2′ x 4-1/2′ hollow square
approached by a ramp (since steps were forbidden; see Ex. 20:26)
bronze grate midway up with carrying rings protruding through the corners
a horn on each of the four corners
transportation
acacia wood carrying poles clad with bronze
covering for transportation – see Num 4:13-14 – purple cloth and then a manatee skin
2. the accessories – all made of bronze
pots
for carrying the ashes outside the camp to the place where “leftover” portions of the sacrificial animal were burned; see Lev 4:12
shovels
for removing the ashes from the fire and putting in the pots Lev. 6:10
basins
for collecting the blood of the sacrifice and out of which it was sprinkled or poured; see Lev 4:7
meat forks
used to adjust the position of the sacrifice on the grate
firepans
used to carry coals from the brazen altar to the golden altar (Leviticus 16:12-13 and Numbers 16:46); also to carry coals from the fire while the encampment was being moved
B. Its use
1. sacrifice
a continual fire Lev 6:8-13
a daily offering Exo 29:38-42 a weekly Sabbath offering Num 28:9-10 monthly offering Num 28:11-15
a sin offering Lev 4
2. refuge Exo 21:14, and 1Ki 1:50
“The altar was regarded from time immemorial and among all nations as a place of refuge for criminals deserving of death; but, according to Exo 21:14, in Israel it was only allowed to afford protection in cases of unintentional slaying, and for these special cities of refuge were afterwards provided (Num 35). In the horns of the altar, as symbols of power and strength, there was concentrated the true significance of the altar as a divine place, from which there emanated both life and health. By grasping the horns of the altar the culprit placed himself under the protection of the saving and helping grace of God, which wipes away sin, and thereby abolishes punishment.” Keil & Delitzsch
C. Its significance
1. the largest article of “furniture” in the tabernacle
nearly large enough to hold all the other articles
its massive size indicated its great importance
2. its covering of bronze
It is a symbol of insensibility and obstinacy in sin (Isa 48:4; Jer 6:28; Eze 22:18) Easton’s Dictionary
“Brass,” naturally, is used in Scripture as the symbol of what is firm, strong, lasting; hence, “gates of brass” (Psa 107:16), “hoofs of brass” (Mic 4:13), “walls of brass” (Jeremiah is made as a “brazen wall,” Jer 1:18; Jer 15:20), “mountains of brass” (Dan 2:35, the Macedonian empire; the arms of ancient times were mostly of bronze). It becomes a symbol, therefore, of hardness, obstinacy, insensibility, in sin, as “brow of brass” (Isa 48:4); “they are brass and iron” (Jer 6:28, of the wicked); “all of them are brass” (Eze 22:18, of Israel). ISBE
As gold speaks of glory and silver of redemption, so brass signifies judgment. This may be gathered from the connections in which it is found. The serpent (reminder of the one who was responsible for the bringing in of the “curse”) which Moses was ordered to make and affix to the pole, was made of brass (Num. 21:9). When Jehovah made known the sore judgments which would come upon Israel for their disobedience (see the whole of Deuteronomy 28), among other things He threatened, “and thy heaven that is above thy head shall be brass (v. 23). When describing the millennial blessedness of Israel, following their long alienation from God, the promise given is “for brass I will bring gold” (Isa. 60:17), i.e., judgment shall give place to glory. When Christ appears in judicial character. inspecting His churches, pronouncing sentence upon them, we read that “His feet (were) like unto fine brass as if they burned in a furnace” (Rev. 1:15). Pink, Gleanings in Exodus
3. positioned immediately inside the entrance
“The brazen altar was situated very strategically: It was placed in the courtyard right inside the gate, so that it was the first thing one encountered upon entering the tabernacle complex. Why?
The altar was the place for burning animal sacrifices. It showed the Israelites that the first step for sinful man to approach a holy God was to admit that he was a sinner. He had to bring an animal sacrifice to offer on the altar, which showed that he needed to be cleansed of his sins by blood. Similarly, when someone wants to approach God today, the first thing he needs to do is to admit he is a helpless sinner and look to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for his sins. The altar and the cross were both places of death where a sacrifice was made to atone for sin.” Tabernacle Lessons, Good Seed International
4. positioned immediately inside the entrance
Man is not obligated to make himself presentable and acceptable before he may enter the precincts of God’s dwelling. Certainly God defines and establishes the terms of approach but he does not prevent it. It was on the basis of what God did at the brazen altar that sinful man was allowed to approach nearer to the very presence of God.
It was plain from the ritual of the sin offering that substitutionary atonement was the core of God’s plan for his people – the sinner brought a sacrificial animal, laid his hand on the head of the animal showing his identification with the sacrifice, and symbolizing the transfer of sin from him to the animal. This demonstrated his belief that God would accept the life of the animal as a substitute for his life, albeit in anticipation of what the future Substitute would accomplish once-for-all at Calvary.
