Altar

How Nave’s arranged it

• Built by NoahGenesis 8:2
• Built by AbrahamGenesis 12:7Genesis 12:8Genesis 13:18Genesis 22:9
• Built by IsaacGenesis 26:25
• Built by JacobGenesis 33:20Genesis 35:1–7
• Built by MosesExodus 17:15Exodus 24:4
• Built by BalaamNumbers 23:1Numbers 23:14Numbers 23:29
• Built by JoshuaDeuteronomy 27:4–7Joshua 8:30–32
• Built by the Reubenites and GaditesJoshua 22:10Joshua 22:34
• Built by GideonJudges 6:26Judges 6:27
• Built by Samuel1 Samuel 7:17
• Built by Saul1 Samuel 14:35
• Built by David2 Samuel 24:182 Samuel 24:19

The passages, in Bible order (103)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 16 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Genesis 8:2

   The springs of the deep and the floodgates of the heavens were closed, and the rain from the sky was restrained.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 8:21 voice

   “(Chapter 8, Verse 2) And the water subsided, and the fountains of the deep were revealed, and the floodgates of heaven were opened. The interpreters have translated the phrase 'fountains of the deep were revealed' as 'the closed and sealed fountains were opened'. And regarding the following phrase: 'the water subsided from the earth', it is written that 'the waters returned from the earth, going and coming' (Ecclesiastes 1:7). Note, according to Ecclesiastes, that all waters and torrents return to the hidden veins of the abyss.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 8:2→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Genesis 12:7

   Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.” So Abram built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 12:71 voice

   “The Lord appeared - In what way this appearance was made we know not; it was probably by the great angel of the covenant, Jesus the Christ. The appearance, whatsoever it was, perfectly satisfied Abram, and proved itself to be supernatural and Divine. It is worthy of remark that Abram is the first man to whom God is said to have shown himself or appeared: 1. In Ur of the Chaldees, Act 7:2; and 2. At the oak of Moreh, as in this verse.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 12:7→

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3. Genesis 12:8

   From there Abram moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built an altar to the LORD, and he called on the name of the LORD.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 12:82 voices

   “Where there is Bethel, that is, the house of God, there is also the altar. Where there is the altar, there is also the calling on the name of God. It is not by chance that he made such great progress. He hoped in the help of God. The athlete of God exercised and strengthened himself in adversity. He went into the desert.

   “Beth-el - The place which was afterwards called Beth-el by Jacob, for its first name was Luz. See Gen 28:19. בית אל beith El literally signifies the house of God. And pitched his tent - and - builded an altar unto the Lord - Where Abram has a tent, there God must have an Altar, as he well knows there is no safety but under the Divine protection. How few who build houses ever think on the propriety and necessity of building an altar to their Maker!

   Everything gathered on Genesis 12:8→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Genesis 13:18

   So Abram moved his tent and went to live near the Oaks of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 13:182 voices

   “Moving therefore Abram his tent, he came and dwelt by the valley of Mamre, which is in Hebron. Hebron is a city situated about twenty-two miles south of Jerusalem, which in the times of Moses was called Arbe or Kiriath-Arba, that is, the city of …

   “Abram removed his tent - Continued to travel and pitch in different places, till at last he fixed his tent in the plain, or by the oak, of Mamre, see Gen 12:6, which is in Hebron; i.e., the district in which Mamre was situated was called Hebron. Mamre was an Amorite then living, with whom Abram made a league, Gen 14:13; and the oak probably went by his name, because he was the possessor of the ground.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 13:18→

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5. Genesis 22:9

   When they arrived at the place God had designated, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar, atop the wood.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 22:92 voices

   “Of our duty to God in return of that love we must tread in the steps of this faith of Abraham. God, by his word, calls us to part with all for Christ, all our sins, tho' they have been as a right hand, or a right eye, or an Isaac; all those things that are rivals with Christ for the sovereignity of our heart; and we must cheerfully let them all go.

   “And bound Isaac his son - If the patriarch had not been upheld by the conviction that he was doing the will of God, and had he not felt the most perfect confidence that his son should be restored even from the dead, what agony must his heart have felt at every step of the journey, and through all the circumstances of this extraordinary business? What must his affectionate heart have felt at the questions asked by his innocent and amiable son?

   Everything gathered on Genesis 22:9→

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6. Genesis 26:25

   So Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD, and he pitched his tent there. His servants also dug a well there.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 26:251 voice

   Isaac builds indeed an altar even now in the law and pitches his tent, but in the Gospels he does not pitch a tent but builds a house and establishes a foundation. For hear Wisdom saying of the church: "Wisdom," Scripture says, "has built herself a house and has set up seven columns."

   Everything gathered on Genesis 26:25→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. Genesis 33:20

   There he set up an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 33:201 voice

   “God had lately called him by the name of Israel, and now he calls God the God of Israel; though he is styled a prince with God, God shall still be a prince with him, his Lord and his God. Note, Our honours then become honours indeed to us when they are consecrated to God's honour; Israel's God is Israel's glory.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 33:20→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. Genesis 35:1–7

   Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”

   ›Commentary on Genesis 35:1–71 voice

   “Seven or eight years it was now since he came to Canaan; he had purchased ground there, and had built an altar in remembrance of God's last appearance to him when he called him Israel ( ch. xxxiii. 19, 20 ); but still Beth-el is forgotten. Note, Time is apt to wear out the sense of mercies and the impressions made upon us by them; it should not be so, but so it is.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 35:1–7→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. Exodus 17:15

   And Moses built an altar and named it The LORD Is My Banner.

   ›Commentary on Exodus 17:152 voices

   “Write this for a memorial--If the bloody character of this statute seems to be at variance with the mild and merciful character of God, the reasons are to be sought in the deep and implacable vengeance they meditated against Israel (Ps 83:4).

   “Jehovah-nissi - See the margin, “Jehovah my banner.” As a proper name the Hebrew word is rightly preserved. The meaning is evidently that the name of Yahweh is the true banner under which victory is certain; so to speak, the motto or inscription on the banners of the host. Inscriptions on the royal standard were well known. Each of the Pharaohs on his accession adopted one in addition to his official name.

   Everything gathered on Exodus 17:15→

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10. Exodus 20:24–26

    You are to make for Me an altar of earth, and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats and cattle. In every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you.

    ›Commentary on Exodus 20:24–261 voice

    “Thy burnt-offerings, and thy peace-offerings - The law concerning which was shortly to be given, though sacrifices of this kind were in use from the days of Abel. In all places where I record my name - Wherever I am worshipped, whether in the open wilderness, at the tabernacle, in the temple, the synagogues, or elsewhere, I will come unto thee and bless thee. These words are precisely the same in signification with those of our Lord, Mat 18:20: For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

    Everything gathered on Exodus 20:24–26→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. Exodus 21:14

    But if a man schemes and acts willfully against his neighbor to kill him, you must take him away from My altar to be put to death.

    ›Commentary on Exodus 21:141 voice

    “Thou shalt take him from mine altar - Before the cities of refuge were assigned, the altar of God was the common asylum.

    Everything gathered on Exodus 21:14→

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12. Exodus 24:4

    And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Early the next morning he got up and built an altar at the base of the mountain, along with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.

    ›Commentary on Exodus 24:41 voice

    “Pillars according to the number of the tribes - These were to represent the people, the other party to the covenant; and we may suppose they were set up over against the altar, and that Moses as mediator passed to and fro between them. Probably each tribe set up and knew its own pillar, and their elders stood by it. He then appointed sacrifices to be offered upon the altar.

    Everything gathered on Exodus 24:4→

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13. Exodus 27:1–8

    “You are to build an altar of acacia wood. The altar must be square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high.

    ›Commentary on Exodus 27:1–81 voice

    “And thou shall make an altar of shittim wood,.... This is a different altar from that made of earth before the tabernacle was built, Exo 20:24 and from the altar of incense, Exo 30:1 this was to offer burnt offerings on, and was placed at the door of the tabernacle, in the court of the people, where they brought their sacrifices to the priests to offer for them: it stood in the open air, as it was proper it should, that the smoke or the sacrifices might ascend up and scatter.

    Everything gathered on Exodus 27:1–8→

    Verse page →Original language →

14. Exodus 27:2

    Make a horn on each of its four corners, so that the horns are of one piece, and overlay it with bronze.

    ›Commentary on Exodus 27:21 voice

    “Thou shalt make the horns of it - The horns might have three uses: 1. For ornament. 2. To prevent carcasses, etc., from falling off. 3. To tie the victim to, previously to its being sacrificed. So David: Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar; Psa 118:27. Horns were much used in all ancient altars among the heathen, and some of them were entirely constructed of the horns of the beasts that had been offered in sacrifice; but such altars appear to be erected rather as trophies in honor of their gods.

    Everything gathered on Exodus 27:2→

    Verse page →Original language →

15. Exodus 27:3–7

    Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots for removing ashes, its shovels, its sprinkling bowls, its meat forks, and its firepans.

    ›Commentary on Exodus 27:3–71 voice

    “Thou shalt make his pans - סירתיו sirothaiv, a sort or large brazen dishes, which stood under the altar to receive the ashes that fell through the grating. His shovels - יעיו yaaiv. Some render this besoms; but as these were brazen instruments, it is more natural to suppose that some kind of fire-shovels are intended, or scuttles, which were used to carry off the ashes that fell through the grating into the large pan or siroth.

    Everything gathered on Exodus 27:3–7→

    Verse page →Original language →

16. Exodus 29:36

    Sacrifice a bull as a sin offering each day for atonement. Purify the altar by making atonement for it, and anoint it to consecrate it.

    ›Commentary on Exodus 29:361 voice

    “An atonement was made for the altar. Though that was not a subject capable of sin, nor, having never yet been used, could it be said to be polluted with the sins of the people, yet, since the fall, there can be no sanctification to God but there must first be an atonement for sin, which renders us both unworthy and unfit to be employed for God.

    Everything gathered on Exodus 29:36→

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