Altar

(Gen. 8:20) — a structure intended exclusively for offering sacrifices to God. Although sacrifices existed even before the Flood, the word “altar” is used for the first time in the Bible after Noah came forth from the ark. The building of altars in connection with calling upon the name of God is frequently found in the time of the Patriarchal Church, at places of divine appearances (Gen. 12:7; 13:18; 26:25, and elsewhere). Altars took various forms and in the earliest period were built very simply, without elaboration.

In all likelihood they consisted at that time of a square heap of stones or of a simple mound of earth. The altar on which Jacob offered sacrifice to God at Bethel, pouring oil upon it, was a simple stone that had served him as a pillow during the night (Gen. 28:18). The altar built by Moses at God’s command was made simply of earth. If altars were made of stones, they were not to be hewn stones; for “if thou lift up thy tool upon them,” God said to Moses, “thou hast polluted them” (Exod. 20:25).

No steps were to be used at the altar, and the ascent to it was made by a sloping incline in place of stairs (v. 26). Altars generally had so-called “horns” (Exod. 27:2), to which the sacrificial victim was customarily bound (Ps. 118:27 [117:27]). Altars were also built in commemoration of especially notable events, such as the defeat of the Amalekites (Exod. 17:15). For offering sacrifice to the false gods of the pagans, altars were often set up in groves and on high places, where at various times abominable scenes of debauchery and idolatry took place. At God’s command, Moses built two altars: one for burnt offerings, the other for incense.