Exodus 27:1

An altar. Hebrew, “the altar.” It was about 7 ft. 4 in. (2.22 m.) square by 4 ft. 5 in. (1.33 m.) high. Ancient temples were usually surrounded by open areas where sacrifices were offered and where the smoke might readily escape. As in the account of the tabernacle itself the furniture was first described, so the altar is now described before the court. It was more an altar frame than an altar (verse 8). Ancient altars were generally either square, as here (see 2 Chronicles 4:1), or round.

The altar of burnt offering, with its shed blood, represents the great gospel truth of atonement for sin through the vicarious sacrifice of Christ (Isaiah 53:4-7, 10; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 1:5-7; Hebrews 13:10-12; 1 Peter 1:18, 19; Revelation 5:9). The very position of this altar, near the door of the court, indicates that the sinner’s first need is to have his sins washed away by the blood of Christ (see Hebrews 9:13, 14; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 7:14), and that until this is done he must not presume to worship God or even enter into His presence (Hebrews 9:22). The altar witnessed to man’s guilt and his need of atonement and reconciliation, and then assured him that these had been made (John 1:29; Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:18, 19; Colossians 1:20).