מִזְבֵּחַ

1. J E narrate that altars were built by Noah after leaving the ark 1 Mos 8,20 by Abraham at Shechem 1 Mos 12,7, Bethel 1 Mos 12,8, Hebron 1 Mos 13,18, mountain in land Moriah 1 Mos 22,9 by Issac at Beersheba 1 Mos 26,25 by Jacob at Shechem 1 Mos 33,20 (yet this perhaps mistake for מַצֵּבָה, being object of וַיַּצֶּבשָֿׁם, not elsewhere with מזבח, compare also Di), at Bethel 1 Mos 35,7, by Moses at Rephidim 2 Mos 17,15, Horeb 2 Mos 24,4, by Balak at Bamoth Baal, Pisgah, & Peor 4 Mos 23,1; 4 Mos 23,14; 4 Mos 23,29 by Joshua on Mt. Ebal Jos 8,30: the prophetic histories narrate that altars were built by Gideon at Ophra Dom 6,24 by a man of God at Bethel Dom 21,4 by Samuel at Ramah 1 Sam 7,17 by Saul after Michmash 1 Sam 14,35 by David on the threshing floor of Ornan 2 Sam 24,25 = 1 Kron 21,18; 1 Kron 22,1 that Solomon sacrificed on the altar at Gibeon 1 Kong 3,4 and built altars in the temple at Jerusalem 1 Kong 6,20; 1 Kong 8,64 that Jeroboam built an altar at Bethel 1 Kong 12,32 (which was destroyed by Josiah 2 Kong 23,15); and that Elijah repaired an ancient altar on Carmel 1 Kong 18,30. An altar in Egypt is predicted Es 19,19. All this accords with the law of the Covenant code 2 Mos 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 5 Mos 27,6 (JE), אֲבָנִים שְׁלֵמוֺת Jos 8,31, and twelve stones 1 Kong 18,30; 1 Kong 18,32 compare Es 27,9. The altar was also a place of refuge 2 Mos 21,24 (JE) 1 Kong 1,50; 1 Kong 1,51; 1 Kong 2,28.

2. D prescribes one central altar 5 Mos 12,5f. 27; but no attempt to enforce this principle appears before Hezekiah(2 Kong 18,4; 2 Kong 18,22), and Josiah, whose reform is more effectual, 2 Kong 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 Jos 22,10–34. P describes two altars:
\ \ a. the מִזְבַּח הָעֹלָה 2 Mos 30,28; 2 Mos 31,9; 2 Mos 35,16; 2 Mos 38,1; 2 Mos 40,6; 2 Mos 40,10; 2 Mos 40,29; 3 Mos 4,7; 3 Mos 4,10; 3 Mos 4,25 (twice in verse); 3 Mos 4,30; 3 Mos 4,34 = הַנְּחשֶׁת ׳מ 2 Mos 38,30; 2 Mos 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 2 Mos 27,1-; 8; 2 Mos 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 2 Mos 30,1–6 = הקטרת ׳מ 2 Mos 30,27; 2 Mos 31,8; 2 Mos 35,15; 2 Mos 37,25 = הזהב ׳מ 2 Mos 39,38; 2 Mos 40,5; 2 Mos 40,26; 4 Mos 4,11 = קטרת הַסַּמִּים ׳מ 3 Mos 4,7 these altars are named elsewhere only in Chronicles: 1 Kron 6,34; 1 Kron 16,40; 1 Kron 21,29; 1 Kron 2,5; 1 Kron 2,6.

4. Solomon made two altars for the temple at Jerusalem:
\ \ a. הַנְּחשֶׁת ׳מ for the court 1 Kong 8,64 (which was laid aside by Ahaz 2 Kong 16,14; 2 Kong 16,15, who made an altar after the model of one he saw in Damascus 2 Kong 16,11); in v2 Kong 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 2 Kron 4,1 this מזבח (ה)נחשׁת also 2 Kron 7,7 & Ezk 9,2 = העולה ׳מ 2 Kron 29,18, repaired by Asa 2 Kron 15,8
\ \ b. an altar of cedar, plated with gold, in the temple before the דְּבִיר 1 Kong 6,20; 1 Kong 6,22; 1 Kong 7,48 = הזהב ׳מ 2 Kron 4,19 = הַקְּטֹרֶת ׳מ 1 Kron 28,18; 2 Kron 26,16.

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

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

7. besides these altars used in the worship of Yahweh, Ahab built an altar to Baal in Samaria 1 Kong 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 2 Kong 23,12.

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

1.); 4 Mos 23,4 (E) has עָרַךְ arrange, prepare; עָשָׂה 1 Mos 35,1; 1 Mos 35,3; 2 Mos 20,24 (E) 1 Mos 13,4 (J) Dom 22,28; 1 Kong 12,33; 1 Kong 18,26 this becomes usual in P, 2 Mos 27,1; 2 Mos 30,1; 2 Mos 37,25; 2 Mos 38,1; 2 Mos 38,30, so 2 Kron 4,1; 2 Kron 4,19; 2 Kron 7,7; 2 Kron 28,24.

9. the dedication of the altar was חֲנֻכַּת המזבח 4 Mos 7,10; 4 Mos 7,11; 4 Mos 7,84; 4 Mos 7,88; 2 Kron 7,9 it was anointed with oil מָשַׁח 2 Mos 40,10; 3 Mos 8,11; 4 Mos 7,10 (all P).

10. removal of unlawful altars is expressed by נָתַץ 2 Mos 34,13 (JE) 5 Mos 7,5; Dom 2,2; Dom 6,30; Dom 6,31; Dom 6,32; 2 Kong 11,18; 2 Kong 23,12; 2 Kong 23,15 נִתַּץ (Pi) 5 Mos 12,3; 2 Kron 31,1; 2 Kron 34,4; 2 Kron 34,7 נֻתַּץ Dom 6,28 הָרַס Dom 6,25; 1 Kong 19,10; 1 Kong 19,14 שִׁבַּר 2 Kron 23,17>; הֵסִיר 2 Kong 18,22 = Es 36,7; 2 Kron 14,2; 2 Kron 30,14; 2 Kron 32,12; 2 Kron 33,15.

11. ministry at the altar was ׳מִשְׁמֶרֶת הַמּ 4 Mos 18,5; Ezk 40,46, compare 4 Mos 3,31 (P), ׳מְשָֽׁרְתֵי מ Joel 1,13 עָמַד עַל is said of officiating priest 1 Kong 13,1, עָלָה עַל 2 Mos 20,26; 1 Sam 2,28; 1 Kong 12,33 + (compare יָרַד 3 Mos 9,22); sacrifices were usually offered עַלהַֿמִּזְבֵּחַ 1 Mos 22,9; 5 Mos 12,27 +; see especially the phrases with זָרַק 2 Mos 29,16; 2 Mos 29,20 + (see זרק); הִקְטִיר 3 Mos 4,10 (see קטר Hiph`il); הֶעֱלָה 3 Mos 6,3 + (see עלה Hiph`il) לְבַעֵר Neh 10,35 but בַּמִּזְבֵּחַ 1 Mos 8,20 (J) 4 Mos 23,2; 4 Mos 23,4; 4 Mos 23,14; 4 Mos 23,30 (E); one touching the altar is ׳הַנֹּגֵעַ בַּמּ 2 Mos 29,37 (P); ׳לפני המ of placing, or standing before altar 5 Mos 26,4; 1 Kong 8,22 as accusative of location הַמִּזְבֵּ֫חָה in phrases especially with הִקְטִיר 2 Mos 29,13 +, and הֶעֱלָה 3 Mos 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 2 Mos 29,12; 3 Mos 4,7; 3 Mos 4,18; 3 Mos 4,25; 3 Mos 4,30; 3 Mos 4,34; 3 Mos 8,15; 3 Mos 9,9; 3 Mos 16,18 (all P). An ancient custom is referred to, Sl 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 3 Mos 8,15; 3 Mos 9,9 & שָׁפַךְ אל יסוד 2 Mos 29,12; 3 Mos 4,7; 3 Mos 4,18; 3 Mos 4,25; 3 Mos 4,30; 3 Mos 4,34 (all P) יִמָּצֵה אל יסוד 3 Mos 5,9.

14. the altar was קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים 2 Mos 29,37; 2 Mos 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 3 Mos 8,15 (P) Ezk 43,22 כִּפֶּר 3 Mos 16,20; 3 Mos 16,33 (P) Ezk 43,26 קִדַּשׁ 2 Mos 29,44; 2 Mos 40,10; 3 Mos 8,15; 4 Mos 7,1 (P); טִהַר 2 Kron 29,18.