Exodus 27

Ex 27:1-21.

ALTAR FOR

BURNT

OFFERING.

1, 2. altar of shittim wood--The dimensions of this altar which

was placed at the entrance of the sanctuary were nearly three yards

square, and a yard and a half in height. Under the wooden frame of this

chest-like altar the inside was hollow, and each corner was to be

terminated by "horns"--angular projections, perpendicular or oblique,

in the form of horns. The animals to be sacrificed were bound to these

(Ps 118:27),

and part of the blood was applied to them.

3. shovels--fire shovels for scraping together any of the

scattered ashes.

basons--for receiving the blood of the sacrifice to be sprinkled

on the people.

fleshhooks--curved, three-pronged forks

(1Sa 2:13, 14).

fire-pans--A large sort of vessel, wherein the sacred fire which

came down from heaven

(Le 9:24)

was kept burning, while they cleaned the altar and the grate from the

coals and ashes, and while the altar was carried from one place to

another in the wilderness [PATRICK, SPENCER, LE CLERC].

4. a grate of network of brass--sunk latticework to support the

fire.

four brazen rings--by which the grating might be lifted and

taken away as occasion required from the body of the altar.

5. put it under the compass of the altar beneath--that is, the

grating in which they were carried to a clean place

(Le 4:12).

6, 7. staves . . . rings--Those rings were placed at

the side through which the poles were inserted on occasions of

removal.

9-19. the court of the tabernacle--The enclosure in which the

edifice stood was a rectangular court, extending rather more than fifty

yards in length and half that space in breadth, and the enclosing

parapet was about three yards or half the height of the tabernacle.

That parapet consisted of a connected series of curtains, made of fine

twined linen yarn, woven into a kind of network, so that the people

could see through; but that large curtain which overhung the entrance

was of a different texture, being embroidered and dyed with variegated

colors, and it was furnished with cords for pulling it up or drawing it

aside when the priests had occasion to enter. The curtains of this

enclosure were supported on sixty brazen pillars which stood on

pedestals of the same metal, but their capitals and fillets were of

silver, and the hooks on which they were suspended were of silver

also.

19. pins--were designed to hold down the curtains at the bottom,

lest the wind should waft them aside.

20, 21. pure oil olive beaten--that is, such as runs from the

olives when bruised and without the application of fire.

for the light . . . Aaron and his sons--were to take

charge of lighting it in all time coming.

21. shall order it from evening to morning--The tabernacle

having no windows, the lamps required to be lighted during the day.

JOSEPHUS says that in his time only three were

lighted; but his were degenerate times, and there is no Scripture

authority for this limitation. But although the priests were obliged

from necessity to light them by day, they might have let them go out at

night had it not been for this express ordinance.