Altar

A construction, usually of wood, stone or metal, for the offering of sacrifice. The conflict between true and false religion often focused on altars, which were of key significance in biblical times.

Early altars built to the LORD

Genesis 8:20 These early altars were erected at sites where God's presence or power had been experienced. Genesis 12:7–8, Genesis 13:18, Genesis 22:9; Genesis 26:25 by Isaac; Genesis 33:20, Genesis 35:7; Exodus 17:15, Exodus 24:4; Joshua 8:30 by Joshua; Judges 6:24 by Gideon; Judges 21:4 by unnamed Israelites; 1 Samuel 7:17 by Samuel; 1 Samuel 14:35 by Saul; 2 Samuel 24:25 parallel 1 Chronicles 21:26 by David

Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. And taking from every kind of clean animal and clean bird, he offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Solomon's temple altar

It was preceded by the tabernacle altar of burnt offering: Exodus 27:1–8, Exodus 30:1–10, Exodus 37:25–28, Exodus 38:1–7; Hebrews 9:3–4; 1 Kings 8:22, 1 Kings 6:20

OT pagan altars

A symptom of decline in the northern kingdom

1 Kings 16:32; 2 Kings 23:15; Hosea 8:11, Hosea 10:1

A symptom of decline in the southern kingdom

2 Kings 16:10 ignoring the command in Deuteronomy 12:2–3; 2 Kings 21:3; Isaiah 17:8; Jeremiah 11:13, Jeremiah 19:13; Zephaniah 1:5

Josiah's reform targeted illicit altars

2 Kings 23:12 See also Deuteronomy 7:5, Deuteronomy 12:8–14 Josiah was implementing the law requiring sacrifice to be offered only on the altar at the sanctuary of God's choice; 2 Kings 23:15–20

He pulled down the altars that the kings of Judah had set up on the roof near the upper chamber of Ahaz, and the altars that Manasseh had set up in the two courtyards of the house of the LORD. The king pulverized them there and threw their dust into the Kidron Valley.

The altar in the second temple

Ezra 3:2–3 See also Ezra 7:17

Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests, along with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates, began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. They set up the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the LORD — both the morning and evening burnt offerings — even though they feared the people of the land.

Laws concerning the altar of burnt offering

Its construction

Exodus 20:24–26 An earlier more basic form than in the tabernacle. No human hand was to shape the stones. See also Exodus 27:1–8, Exodus 38:1–7

You are to make for Me an altar of earth, 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. Now if you make an altar of stones for Me, you must not build it with stones shaped by tools; for if you use a chisel on it, you will defile it. And you must not go up to My altar on steps, lest your nakedness be exposed on it.’[’’]

Its use for the daily sacrifice

Exodus 29:38–39 See also Exodus 30:28; Numbers 4:13, Numbers 7:10, Numbers 7:84

This is what you are to offer regularly on the altar, each day: two lambs that are a year old. Offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight.

Its use for asylum

1 Kings 1:50–51 See also Exodus 21:14; 1 Kings 2:28; Amos 3:14

But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar. It was reported to Solomon: “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, and he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon first swear to me not to put his servant to the sword.’”

Laws concerning the incense altar

Its construction

Exodus 30:1–5 See also Exodus 37:25–28

“You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for the burning of incense. It is to be square, a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high. Its horns must be of one piece. Overlay with pure gold the top and all the sides and horns, and make a molding of gold around it. And make two gold rings below the molding on opposite sides to hold the poles used to carry it. Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.

Its use

Exodus 30:7 See also Exodus 30:8–10; Numbers 4:11

And Aaron is to burn fragrant incense on it every morning when he tends the lamps.

Altars in the NT

The Jerusalem temple altar

Matthew 5:23–24 See also Matthew 23:18–20; 1 Corinthians 9:13, 1 Corinthians 10:18; Hebrews 7:13, Hebrews 9:4

So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

Pagan altars

Acts 17:23

For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to you.

The cross as an ``altar''

Hebrews 13:10

We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat.

Altars in heaven

Revelation 6:9 The lives of martyred saints are compared to the blood of offerings poured out at the base of the altar; Revelation 8:3 The prayers of God's people are like incense, offered to him on the heavenly altar. See also Revelation 9:13, Revelation 11:1, Revelation 14:18, Revelation 16:7

And when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they had upheld.

Then another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne.