Exodus 20:24

“An altar of earth thou shall make unto me, etc.] This was a temporary precept, and only in force until the tabernacle was built, and respects occasional altars, erected while on their travels, and were to be made of turfs of earth, and so easily and quickly thrown up, as their case and circumstances required, and as easily thrown down, as it was proper they should, after they had no more use for them, lest they should be abused to superstitious uses; for afterwards the altar for burnt offerings was made of Shittim wood covered with brass, and that in the temple was wholly a brazen one, (<022701>Exodus 27:1,2 <140401>2 Chronicles 4:1) this precept seems to suggest the plainness and simplicity…”

“An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me--a regulation applicable to special or temporary occasions.”

“Nothing could be more appropriate as the commencement of the book of the covenant than these regulations for public worship. The rules for the building of altars must have been old and accepted, and are not inconsistent with the directions for the construction of the altar of the court of the tabernacle, Exodus 27:1-8 (compare Joshua 22:26-28). return to 'Top of Page' Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliographical Information Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on Exodus 20". "Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnb/exodus-20.html. 1870. StudyLight.org &copy;&#160;2001-2026 Powered by Lightspeed Technology”

“An altar of earth - It is meant of occasional altars, such as they reared in the wilderness before the tabernacle was erected, and afterwards upon special emergencies, for present use. They are appointed to make these very plain, either of earth or of unhewn stones. That they might not be tempted to think of a graven image, they must not so much as hew the stones into shape, that they made their altars of, but pile them up as they were in the rough. In all places where I record my name - Or where my name is recorded, that is, where I am worshipped in sincerity, I will come unto thee, and will bless thee. Exodus 20:26”

“altar: Joh 4:24 burnt: Lev. 1:1-17, 3:1-17 in all places: Deu 12:5, Deu 12:11, Deu 12:21, Deu 14:23, Deu 16:5, Deu 16:6, Deu 16:11, Deu 26:2; Kg1 8:29, Kg1 8:43, Kg1 9:3; Ch2 6:6; Ch2 7:16, Ch2 12:13; Ezr 6:12; Neh 1:9; Psa 74:7, Psa 76:2, Psa 78:68, Psa 132:13, Psa 132:14; Jer 7:10-12; Mal 1:11; Mat 18:20, Mat 28:20; Joh 4:20-23; Ti1 2:8 will bless thee: Gen 12:2; Num 6:24-27; Deu 7:13; Sa2 6:12; Psa 128:5, Psa 134:3 Exodus 20:25”

“For the worship of Jehovah, the God of heaven, Israel needed only an altar, on which to cause its sacrifices to ascend to God. The altar, as an elevation built up of earth or rough stones, was a symbol of the elevation of man to God, who is enthroned on high in the heaven; and because man was to raise himself to God in his sacrifices, Israel also was to make an altar, though only of earth, or if of stones, not of hewn stones. "For if thou swingest thy tool (חרב lit., sharpness, then any edge tool) over it (over the stone), thou defilest it" ( Exo 20:25). "Of earth:" i.e., not "of comparatively simple materials, such as befitted a representation of the creature" (Schultz on Deut 12); for the…”