THE
BRASS ALTAR
The
brass altar, which was used for burnt offerings to GOD, in the First Temple,
was set squarely within the middle of the inner courtyard. The lamb or
goat was killed at the north gate where tables were prepared. Some of
the blood of the sacrifice was captured in a dish and then splashed on
the base and 4 horns on the corners of the altar. The meat was then roasted
and once finished eaten in the dining areas.
As this model of the First Temple shows the altar was built directly in
front of the door of the Temple. Around the altar there were 10 mobile
wash basins on wheels.
The altar in the Second Temple was built on the same foundation as the
first altar. However because the Second Temple was moved farther to the
north for the first time the high priest on Yom Kippur could see directly
into the Sanctuary from the east on the Mount of Olives. It is a well
established fact the altar in the Second Temple was built off centered
to the south in the inner courtyard.
Such was not the case of the First Temple altar. That altar was built
squarely in front of the Temple door and also set directly in front of
the doors of the three gates. That altar was placed in the inner courtyard
directly between the porch and the eastern gate as depicted here. This
means that a person looking from the Mount of Olives at the First Temple
through the two eastern gates was not able to see into the Sanctuary because
the location of the first altar blocked his view. However in the Second
Temple the Mishna records that someone standing on the Mt. of Olives could
see directly into the Holy Chamber of the Temple.
So that all three sets of scripture match the ascending ramp also had
to have a set of stairs to descend. The priests would deliver the sacrifice
up the ramp and descend down the stairs.
(Picture of altar location here) (Picture of altar location here)
First
Temple altar. North -----> Second Temple altar. North ------->
As a matter of fact at the dedication services of the First Temple, King
Solomon had built a platform in the inner courtyard between the altar
and the porch. This elevated scaffolding was where he gave his public
address and his dedication prayer. From his elevated position and those
standing behind him on the altar they alone could see directly into the
First Chamber. From this perched position King Solomon while looking West
could see directly to the Holy Rock inside the Temple. Afterwards he turned
East and blessed the people.
The stairs and ramp for the First Temple altar faced east. The ramp for
the Second Temple faced South. The second altar was built in the exact
same spot as the first altar even though the Temples were in different
locations. This also verifies why the Second Temple is not centered in
the middle of the inner courtyard.
"Moreover
Shelomo hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of
the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings."
DIVRE HAYYAMIM 7:7 JB
"So
he measured the court, a hundred cubits long, and a hundred cubits broad,
foursquare; and the altar was in front of the house."
YEHEZQEL 40:47 JB
"So
they offered up the daily sacrifices; but for the brazen altar, Solomon
set it before the temple, over against the door, that when the door was
opened, it might be expose to sight, and the sacred solemnities, and the
richness of the sacrifices, might be thence seen.."
Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, B-VIII, C-IV, V-1.
"Then stood up Yeshua the son of Yozadaq, and his brethren the priests,
and Zerubbavel the son of She'altie'el, and his brethren, and they built
the altar of the God of Yisra'el, to offer burnt offerings upon it, as
it is written in the Tora of Moshe the man of GOD. And they set the altar
upon its bases."
'EZRA 3:2-3 JB
"Jeshua
the high priest ..... then built the altar on the same place it had formerly
been built, that they might offer the appointed sacrifices upon it to
God, according to the laws of Moses."
Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, B-XI, C-IV, V-1.
"All the walls there were high, save only the eastern wall, because
the (High) Priest that burns the (Red) Heifer and stands on the top of
the Mount of Olives should be able to look directly into the entrance
of the Sanctuary when the blood is sprinkled." Mishna Middoth, 2.4
"And
he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation
of Yisra'el, and spread out his hands: For Shelomo had made a
bronze scaffold of five cubits long, and five cubits broad and three cubits
high, and had it set in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood,
and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Yisra'el,
and spread forth his hands toward heaven." DIVRE HAYYAMIM 6:12-13
JB
"And King Shelomo, and all the congregation of Yisra'el, that were
assembled to him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and
oxen .... And the priests brought in the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD
to its place, into the Sanctuary of the house, to the most holy place,
under the wings of the keruvim .....
And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place,
that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, So that the priests could
not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD
had filled the house of the LORD. Then spake Shelomo, the LORD said that
he would dwell in the thick darkness. I have surely built thee a house
to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in forever.
And the King turned his face about, and blessed all the congregation of
Yisra'el: (and all the congregation of Yisra'el stood)."
MELAKHIM 8:5-14 JB
There
appear to be some changes in the brass altar between Solomon's measurements
and Ezekiel's measurements, but all of these extra details are just further
explanations, which give a complete and total picture of the altar in
the First Temple. In this model of the altar the cubits from all three
measurements fit.
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