KEEP THE FIRE ON THE ALTAR BURNING.

ALTAR.

An altar is the place where offerings are made to God. This could be a sacrifice of animals or a burning of incense (a pleasant odor) before God (Exodus 30:1-10). The sacrificing of animals to God was used as a covering for sin. The practice was known in the ancient Middle East. Israel's neighbors, the Canaanites, had their own altars and ceremonies. The altar was always a raised-up place.

The earliest chapters of the Bible refer to several altars that were built. Noah offered burnt offerings (Genesis 8:20). Abraham built an altar at Shechem (12:7), another at Bethel (12:8), and one on Mount Moriah (22:9). Isaac built an altar at Beersheba (26:25), and Jacob at Shechem (33:20) and Bethel (35:7). Moses built one at Rephidim (Exodus 17:15) and another at Horeb (24:4). In each case the altar was built to remember an event in which God had helped the offerer.

Two altars were used in the tabernacle (the place Israel met with God). One, measuring 5 by 5 by 3 cubits (7.5 by 7.5 by 4.5 feet; 2.3 by 2.3 by 1.4 meters), was made of wood covered with bronze, and used for burnt offerings (Exodus 27:1-8; 38:1-7). The other, smaller one, the golden altar, was about 18 inches (45 centimeters) square and 3 feet (90 centimeters) high. It was used to burn incense before the veil (30:1-10; 40:5).

In Exodus 20:24-26, Israel was instructed to make an altar of earth or of uncut stones. Burnt offerings and peace offerings were to be made in every place where God caused his name to dwell. Various individuals built an altar from time to time. Joshua built an altar on Mount Ebal (Joshua 8:30-31). The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh built one in Transjordan (22:10-16). Gideon built one in Ophrah (Judges 6:24). The family of David did so in Bethlehem (1 Samuel 20:6, 29). David built one at the threshing floor of Araunah (2 Samuel 24:25). Elijah built an altar on Matthew Carmel (1 Kings 18:30).

There were two altars in Solomon's temple. One was 20 cubits square (about 25 feet; 7.6 meters) and 10 cubits high (about 12.5 feet; 3.8 meters). It was made of bronze and used for burnt offerings. It remained the center of temple worship until the temple was destroyed. The second, the incense altar, stood in front of the veil. It was made of cedar and covered with gold (1 Kings 6:20-22).

When the temple lay in ruins, Ezekiel had a vision of the restored temple in Jerusalem. This was an elaborate altar of burnt offering, rising in three terraces to a height of 10 cubits (17.5 feet; 5.3 meters). It rested on a base about 20 cubits (35 feet; 10.6 meters) square.

Zerubbabel built an altar of burnt offerings (Ezra 3:2), but later it was not treated as sacred. There was probably an image of Zeus, the ancient Greek god, at the altar.

In Christian worship no altar was required. In the death of Jesus Christ the final sacrifice for sin had been made. The New Testament refers to the altar of burnt offering in the temple (Matthew 5:23-24; 23:18-20, 35; Luke 11:51; 1 Corinthians 9:13; 10:18; Hebrews 7:13; Revelation 11:1) It also talks about the altar of incense, both in the earthly temple (Luke 1:11) and in the heavenly temple (Revelation 6:9; 8:5; 9:13).