מִזְבֵּחַ

1. J E narrate that altars were built by Noah after leaving the ark Gen 8:20 by Abraham at Shechem Gen 12:7, Bethel Gen 12:8, Hebron Gen 13:18, mountain in land Moriah Gen 22:9 by Issac at Beersheba Gen 26:25 by Jacob at Shechem Gen 33:20 (yet this perhaps mistake for מַצֵּבָה, being object of וַיַּצֶּבשָֿׁם, not elsewhere with מזבח, compare also Di), at Bethel Gen 35:7, by Moses at Rephidim Exod 17:15, Horeb Exod 24:4, by Balak at Bamoth Baal, Pisgah, & Peor Num 23:1; Num 23:14; Num 23:29 by Joshua on Mt. Ebal Josh 8:30: the prophetic histories narrate that altars were built by Gideon at Ophra Judg 6:24 by a man of God at Bethel Judg 21:4 by Samuel at Ramah 1Sam 7:17 by Saul after Michmash 1Sam 14:35 by David on the threshing floor of Ornan 2Sam 24:25 = 1Chr 21:18; 1Chr 22:1 that Solomon sacrificed on the altar at Gibeon 1Kgs 3:4 and built altars in the temple at Jerusalem 1Kgs 6:20; 1Kgs 8:64 that Jeroboam built an altar at Bethel 1Kgs 12:32 (which was destroyed by Josiah 2Kgs 23:15); and that Elijah repaired an ancient altar on Carmel 1Kgs 18:30. An altar in Egypt is predicted Isa 19:19. All this accords with the law of the Covenant code Exod 20:24-26 which recognises a plurality of altars and prescribes that they shall be built of אֲדָמָה, or of unhewn stones, and without steps. So אֲבָנִים Deut 27:6 (JE), אֲבָנִים שְׁלֵמוֺת Josh 8:31, and twelve stones 1Kgs 18:30; 1Kgs 18:32 compare Isa 27:9. The altar was also a place of refuge Exod 21:24 (JE) 1Kgs 1:50; 1Kgs 1:51; 1Kgs 2:28.

2. D prescribes one central altar Deut 12:5f. 27; but no attempt to enforce this principle appears before Hezekiah(2Kgs 18:4; 2Kgs 18:22), and Josiah, whose reform is more effectual, 2Kgs 23:8-20.

3. P limits sacrifices to the altars of the tabernacle. A great altar was built east of the Jordan, but it was according to P only as an עֵד after the pattern of the altar before the Tabernacle Josh 22:10-34. P describes two altars:
  a. the מִזְבַּח הָעֹלָה Exod 30:28; Exod 31:9; Exod 35:16; Exod 38:1; Exod 40:6; Exod 40:10; Exod 40:29; Lev 4:7; Lev 4:10; Lev 4:25 (twice in verse); Lev 4:30; Lev 4:34 = הַנְּחשֶׁת ׳מ Exod 38:30; Exod 39:39, made of acacia wood plated with brass, 5*5*3 cubits in size, with four horns and a network of brass, on which all sacrifices by fire were made Exod 27:1-; 8; Exod 38:1-7
  b. מִקְטַר קְטֹרֶת ׳מ made of acacia wood plated with gold, 1*1*2 cubits in size, with four horns and a crown of gold Exod 30:1-6 = הקטרת ׳מ Exod 30:27; Exod 31:8; Exod 35:15; Exod 37:25 = הזהב ׳מ Exod 39:38; Exod 40:5; Exod 40:26; Num 4:11 = קטרת הַסַּמִּים ׳מ Lev 4:7 these altars are named elsewhere only in Chronicles: 1Chr 6:34; 1Chr 16:40; 1Chr 21:29; 1Chr 2:5; 1Chr 2:6.

4. Solomon made two altars for the temple at Jerusalem:
  a. הַנְּחשֶׁת ׳מ for the court 1Kgs 8:64 (which was laid aside by Ahaz 2Kgs 16:14; 2Kgs 16:15, who made an altar after the model of one he saw in Damascus 2Kgs 16:11); in v2Kgs 16:14 ׳הַמִּזְבַּח הַנּ (construct form with article) is erroneous, read probably מִזְבַּח compare Ges^{«GKC:127»§ 127}. 4 a near the end; this altar, according to Chronicles, measured 20*20*10 cubits 2Chr 4:1 this מזבח (ה)נחשׁת also 2Chr 7:7 & Ezek 9:2 = העולה ׳מ 2Chr 29:18, repaired by Asa 2Chr 15:8
  b. an altar of cedar, plated with gold, in the temple before the דְּבִיר 1Kgs 6:20; 1Kgs 6:22; 1Kgs 7:48 = הזהב ׳מ 2Chr 4:19 = הַקְּטֹרֶת ׳מ 1Chr 28:18; 2Chr 26:16.

5. Ezekiel plans two altars for the new temple:
  a. a table of wood 3*2 cubits Ezek 41:22
  b. an altar for the court, probably same dimensions as 4 a, with stairs Ezek 43:13-17.

6. after the return Jeshua built an altar on the ancient site in the court of the temple Ezra 3:2.

7. besides these altars used in the worship of Yahweh, Ahab built an altar to Baal in Samaria 1Kgs 16:32 Ahaz made an altar on the roof of the upper chamber, and other kings of Judah made altars in the two courts, all of which were destroyed by Josiah 2Kgs 23:12.

8. the ancient and most common term for making altars was בָּנָה Gen 35:7 (E) Gen 8:20 (J) Deut 27:5; Deut 27:6; Exod 32:5 (JE) +, implying building material; other verbs are הֵקִים 2Sam 24:18; 1Kgs 16:32; 2Kgs 21:3; 1Chr 21:18; 2Chr 33:3 הֵכִין Ezra 3:3 (followed by עַלמְֿכוֺנֹתָו֯); שִׂים Jer 11:13 וַיַּצֶּבֿ Gen 33:20 (but compare

1.); Num 23:4 (E) has עָרַךְ arrange, prepare; עָשָׂה Gen 35:1; Gen 35:3; Exod 20:24 (E) Gen 13:4 (J) Judg 22:28; 1Kgs 12:33; 1Kgs 18:26 this becomes usual in P, Exod 27:1; Exod 30:1; Exod 37:25; Exod 38:1; Exod 38:30, so 2Chr 4:1; 2Chr 4:19; 2Chr 7:7; 2Chr 28:24.

9. the dedication of the altar was חֲנֻכַּת המזבח Num 7:10; Num 7:11; Num 7:84; Num 7:88; 2Chr 7:9 it was anointed with oil מָשַׁח Exod 40:10; Lev 8:11; Num 7:10 (all P).

10. removal of unlawful altars is expressed by נָתַץ Exod 34:13 (JE) Deut 7:5; Judg 2:2; Judg 6:30; Judg 6:31; Judg 6:32; 2Kgs 11:18; 2Kgs 23:12; 2Kgs 23:15 נִתַּץ (Pi) Deut 12:3; 2Chr 31:1; 2Chr 34:4; 2Chr 34:7 נֻתַּץ Judg 6:28 הָרַס Judg 6:25; 1Kgs 19:10; 1Kgs 19:14 שִׁבַּר 2Chr 23:17>; הֵסִיר 2Kgs 18:22 = Isa 36:7; 2Chr 14:2; 2Chr 30:14; 2Chr 32:12; 2Chr 33:15.

11. ministry at the altar was ׳מִשְׁמֶרֶת הַמּ Num 18:5; Ezek 40:46, compare Num 3:31 (P), ׳מְשָֽׁרְתֵי מ Joel 1:13 עָמַד עַל is said of officiating priest 1Kgs 13:1, עָלָה עַל Exod 20:26; 1Sam 2:28; 1Kgs 12:33 + (compare יָרַד Lev 9:22); sacrifices were usually offered עַלהַֿמִּזְבֵּחַ Gen 22:9; Deut 12:27 +; see especially the phrases with זָרַק Exod 29:16; Exod 29:20 + (see זרק); הִקְטִיר Lev 4:10 (see קטר Hiph`il); הֶעֱלָה Lev 6:3 + (see עלה Hiph`il) לְבַעֵר Neh 10:35 but בַּמִּזְבֵּחַ Gen 8:20 (J) Num 23:2; Num 23:4; Num 23:14; Num 23:30 (E); one touching the altar is ׳הַנֹּגֵעַ בַּמּ Exod 29:37 (P); ׳לפני המ of placing, or standing before altar Deut 26:4; 1Kgs 8:22 as accusative of location הַמִּזְבֵּ֫חָה in phrases especially with הִקְטִיר Exod 29:13 +, and הֶעֱלָה Lev 14:20.

12. the horns of the altar were especially for the application of the blood of the sin-offering in the ritual; sin is represented as graven לְקַרְנוֺת מִזְבְּחוֺתֵיכֶם Jer 17:1 therefore of blood for cleansing it was said ׳נָתַן על קרנות המ Exod 29:12; Lev 4:7; Lev 4:18; Lev 4:25; Lev 4:30; Lev 4:34; Lev 8:15; Lev 9:9; Lev 16:18 (all P). An ancient custom is referred to, Ps 118:27 אִסְרוחַֿג בַּעֲבֹתִ֑ים עַדקֿרנות המזבח bind the festal victim with cords, unto the horns of the altar: Ainsworth paraphrases: 'that is, all the court over, untill you come even to the hornes of the altar, intending hereby many sacrifices,' so De; but Che 'bind the procession with branches, (step on) to the altar-horns,' that is in sacred procession round the altar.

13. the יְסוֺד (q. v.) is also referred to in the ritual of the sin-offerings in the phrases יָצַק אל יסוד Lev 8:15; Lev 9:9 & שָׁפַךְ אל יסוד Exod 29:12; Lev 4:7; Lev 4:18; Lev 4:25; Lev 4:30; Lev 4:34 (all P) יִמָּצֵה אל יסוד Lev 5:9.

14. the altar was קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים Exod 29:37; Exod 40:10 (P); but repeated sin-offerings were necessary to keep it pure and cleanse it from the pollution of the people in whose midst it was situated. This is expressed by חִטֵּא Lev 8:15 (P) Ezek 43:22 כִּפֶּר Lev 16:20; Lev 16:33 (P) Ezek 43:26 קִדַּשׁ Exod 29:44; Exod 40:10; Lev 8:15; Num 7:1 (P); טִהַר 2Chr 29:18.