The Altar's Function
The Altar of Burnt Offering is the primary name given to the large Altar near the door of the Tabernacle (Ex 40.29). It is also frequently described as the Brazen (i.e. brass) Altar in distinction to the Golden Altar. This Altar was the largest though probably not the heaviest vessel in the Tabernacle.¹ Altars² in Scripture were a type of platform on which the carcasses of dead animals were placed after being killed. The bodies of the animals were then laid on wood set out on the Altar grating. Once in the flames the bodies were burnt and turned into ashes and smoke. The smoke produced by the body rose upwards. This symbolised the idea that they were offered to God who dwelt above in heaven. The remainder was reduced to ash. The Altar in the Tabernacle had a grate. The ash fell through the grate and was periodically removed by the priest. The ashes were regarded as sacred and were disposed of carefully (Lev 4.12; 6.10-11).
The Altar's Form
The Altar was more sophisticated than the impromptu Altars that had been used hitherto by the Patriarchs. It was made of brass,³ a precious metal. This reflected its status. Brass is also repeatedly connected in Scripture with God's judgment (brass serpent, Num 21.9; "heavens as brass", Deut 28.234; feet burning like brass, Rev 1.15). It also has associations with strength (Job 6.12; 41.27). This may also be the meaning of the horns that decorated the four corners of the Altar. Horns are a symbol of strength in Scripture. The Altar's design assisted the consuming of the sacrifice. The grate was inserted into the Altar half way up its side and air passing through it provided a draught which supplied the flames which burnt the sacrifice which lay on the grate above.
The Altar was not just made of brass. It was also made of wood. The shittim or acacia wood, which was used throughout the Tabernacle, was sheathed in metal which appears to have been beaten into sheets and attached to the wood with nails or pins. Why the wood did not char because of the heat of the flames and the conducting qualities of the brass is an issue that has been discussed intensely. If the underlying wood had been liable to charring, the serviceability of the Altar would have been seriously impaired. Gold and silver conduct heat very efficiently. Copper conducts at similar levels to gold and silver. Bronze has a very low conductivity and was therefore suitable for the Altar.
The Altar was portable. It had rings attached to its extremities. Staves or poles were run through the rings and it could then be carried when the Israelites struck camp and moved on through the wilderness.
Although there is no mention of it, some have thought that in order to hoist the carcasses of animals or the parts of the butchered carcass on to the Altar, there must have been some form of ramp. The fact of the matter is, however, that no instructions are recorded in this connection. Although the silences of Scripture are not always fatal, Exodus 20.26, which prohibits steps to an Altar described there, seems to rule out the presence of a ramp or steps at the Altar of Burnt Offering.
The Altar's Foreshadowings
The Altar meant nothing without a sacrifice and the sacrifice meant nothing without a worshipper moved by faith in God (Ps 51.16-17). Sacrifice taught the Israelites that, although God cared for them and protected them, a relationship with Him depended on their sin being forgiven. Sin could not be dealt with by anything other than death. While, strictly, their sin involved the forfeiture of their own lives, God permitted animals to die as their substitute. The Altar was the place where the substitute was offered, and anticipated Calvary where the Lord Jesus offered Himself as the final substitute for sin.
The Israelite could not wander through the Tabernacle as he pleased. He could enter the Tabernacle courtyard by the gate and stand by the Altar but could go no further. The priests alone were permitted to go into the Tabernacle itself. The position of the Altar at the entrance was an important lesson that sacrifice for sin was the primary requirement for anyone who wished to draw near to God.
The Laver's Function
The Laver was designed to provide the priests with a means of washing their hands and feet before they served in the Tabernacle. This had both a practical and spiritual purpose. It was desirable that the priests be free from blood, dust and other defilement for service in a place as sacred as the Tabernacle. The washing also illustrated a deeper truth. It depicted the idea that those who approach God must be spiritually clean.
The Laver's Form
There is little detail given about the construction or size of the Laver. Some have thought that it was a large bowl and that the priests took water from it. Others have thought that it was constructed with two bowls - a lower bowl for the feet and an upper bowl for the hands. Whatever its design, it had a pedestal or stand on which it was based. Like the Altar it was made of brass. The women had donated their looking glasses to provide metal for the Laver. Thus, items that were designed to maintain external appearances and possibly indulge human vanity were devoted to sacred purposes and to the prevention of ceremonial defilement. It sat between the Altar and the entrance to the Tabernacle (Ex 40.7).
The Laver's Foreshadowings
If the Altar taught that sin must be put away by sacrifice, the Laver taught that those who serve God and approach Him must be clean. This again links back to the idea that the death of Christ cleanses and washes (Titus 3.5). When a priest entered the priesthood his whole body was washed (Ex 29.4). This was a "once for all" act, whereas the washing of the Laver was a daily act for the hands and feet. In salvation there is a single and perpetual cleansing. But for fellowship to be maintained and service protected there is need of daily washing (1 Jn 1.9). God cleanses us through His Word and communion with Him.
To be continued.
1 Unlike the Ark it was made of bronze and wood. The Ark was half its size but was overlaid within and without of gold and its Mercy Seat was solid gold.
2 Heb. mizbēah – "place of slaughter or sacrifice".
3 The references to brass in the Old Testament are slightly obscure. It may mean copper which occurs naturally with zinc. It may also mean bronze which is an alloy. It is thought that bronze is the metal in question.
4 This may indicate that the appearance of the sky was copper in colour because of sandstorms, or that the sky was hard like copper and gave no rain. Either way it signified God's judgment during drought conditions. Cp. Leviticus 26.19 where the imagery is reversed.
