---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse Exodus 27:1. Thou shalt make an altar — מזבח mizbeach, from זבח zabach, to slay: Septuagint, θυσιαστηριον, from θυσιαζω, to sacrifice or from θυω to"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/exodus/27"
---

Verse [Exodus 27:1](../../../kjv/exodus/27/1). ***Thou shalt make an altar*** —**מזבח mizbeach, from זבח *zabach*, to *slay*: Septuagint, θυσιαστηριον, from θυσιαζω, to *sacrifice* or from θυω to *kill*, &c. [Genesis 8:20](../../../kjv/genesis/8/20).
***Four square*** — As this altar was five cubits long and five broad, and the cubit is reckoned to be *twenty-one* inches, hence it must have been *eight feet nine inches* square, and about *five feet three* *inches* in height, the amount of *three cubits*, taken at the same ratio.

Verse [Exodus 27:2](../../../kjv/exodus/27/2). ***Thou shalt make the horns of it*** — The horns might have three uses:
1. For ornament.
2. To prevent carcasses, c., 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* [Psalms 118:27](../../../kjv/psalms/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 honour of their gods. On the *reverses* of several medals we find *altars* represented with *horns* at the corners. There is a medal of *Antoninus* on the reverse of which is an altar, on which a fire burns, consecrated *Divi Pio*, where the *horns* appear on each of the corners.
There is one of *Faustina*, on which the *altar* and its *horns* are very distinct, the legend *Pietas Augusta*. All the following have *altars* with *horns*. One of *Valerian*, legend *Consecratio*; one of *Claudius Gothicus*, same legend; one of *Quintillus*, same legend; one of *Crispina*, with the legend *Diis Genitalibus*; and several others. See *Numismatica Antiq*., a MUSELLIO, under *Consecratio*, in the index.
*Callimachus*, in his Hymn to Apollo, line 60 introduces him constructing an altar of the *horns* of the animals slain by Diana: -
- πηξε δε βωμον
Εκ κεραων κ. τ. λ.

Martial has these words: *Cornibus ara frequens*.

Verse [Exodus 27:3](../../../kjv/exodus/27/3). ***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*.
***His basins*** — מזרקתיו *mizrekothaiv*, from זרק *zarak*, to *sprinkle* or *disperse*; bowls or basins to receive the blood of the sacrifices, in order that it might be sprinkled on the people before the altar, c.
***His flesh-hooks*** — מזלגתיו *mizlegothaiu*. That this word is rightly translated *flesh-hooks* is fully evident from [1 Samuel 2:13](../../../kjv/1-samuel/2/13), where the same word is used in such a connection as demonstrates its meaning: *And the priest's custom with the people* was, that *when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while* *the flesh was in the seething, with* a FLESH-HOOK (מזלג *mazleg*) *of three teeth* (prongs) *in his hand, and he struck it into the* *pan*, c. *all that the* FLESH-HOOK (מזלג *mazleg*) *brought up,* *the priest took for himself*. It was probably a kind of *trident*, or *fork* with *three* prongs, and these bent to a right angle at the middle, as the ideal meaning of the Hebrew seems to imply *crookedness* or *curvature* in general.
***His fire-pans*** — מחתתיו *machtothaiu*. Bishop Patrick and others suppose that "this was a larger sort of vessel, wherein, probably, the *sacred fire* which came down from heaven ([Leviticus 9:24](../../../kjv/leviticus/9/24)) was kept burning, whilst they cleansed the altar and the grate from the coals and the ashes and while the altar was carried from one place to another, as it often was in the wilderness.

Verse [Exodus 27:4](../../../kjv/exodus/27/4). ***Thou shalt make for it a grate*** — Calmet supposes this altar to have been a sort of box, covered with brass plates, on the top of which was a grating to supply the fire with air, and permit the ashes to fall through into the *siroth* or pan that was placed below. At the four corners of the grating were four rings and four chains, by which it was attached to the four horns; and at the sides were rings for the poles of shittim wood with which it was carried. Even on this there is a great variety of opinions.

Verse [Exodus 27:8](../../../kjv/exodus/27/8). ***Hollow with boards*** — It seems to have been a kind of *frame-work*, and to have had nothing solid in the inside, and only covered with the grating at the top. This rendered it more light and portable.

Verse [Exodus 27:9](../../../kjv/exodus/27/9). ***The court of the tabernacle*** — The tabernacle stood in an enclosure or court, open at the top. This court was made with pillars or posts, and hangings. It was *one hundred cubits*, or about *fifty-eight* yards and a half, in length; the breadth we learn from [Exodus 27:12](../../../kjv/exodus/27/12); [Exodus 27:18](../../../kjv/exodus/27/18); and *five cubits*, or nearly *three yards*, high, [Exodus 27:18](../../../kjv/exodus/27/18). And as this was but half the height of the tabernacle, [Exodus 26:16](../../../kjv/exodus/26/16), that sacred building might easily be seen by the people from without.

Verse [Exodus 27:16](../../../kjv/exodus/27/16). ***And for the gate of the court*** — It appears that the hangings of this gate were of the same materials and workmanship with that of the inner covering of the tabernacle, and the outer and inner veil. See [Exodus 26:36](../../../kjv/exodus/26/36).

Verse [Exodus 27:19](../../../kjv/exodus/27/19). ***All the vessels*****- shall be of*****brass.*** — It would have been improper to have used instruments made of the more precious metals about this altar, as they must have been soon worn out by the severity of the service.

Verse [Exodus 27:20](../../../kjv/exodus/27/20). ***Pure oil olive beaten*** — That is, such oil as could easily be expressed from the olives after they had been bruised in a mortar; the *mother drop*, as it is called, which drops out of itself as soon as the olives are a little broken, and which is much purer than that which is obtained after the olives are put under the *press*.
*Columella*, who is a legitimate evidence in all such matters, says that the oil which flowed out of the fruit either spontaneously, or with little application of the force of the press, was of a much finer flavour than that which was obtained otherwise. *Quoniam longe melioris saporis est*, *quod minore vi* *preli, quasi luxurians, defluxerit*. - COLUM., lib. xii., c. 50.
***To cause the lamp to burn always*** — They were to be kept burning through the whole of the night, and some think all the day besides; but there is a difference of sentiment upon this subject. See the note on the following verse.
This oil and continual flame were not only emblematical of the unction and influences of the Holy Ghost, but also of that pure spirit of devotion which ever animates the hearts and minds of the genuine worshippers of the true God. The temple of VESTA, where a fire was kept perpetually burning, seems to have been formed on the model of the tabernacle; and from this the followers of Zeratusht, commonly called *Zoroaster*, appear to have derived their doctrine of the *perpetual fire*, which they still worship as an emblem of the Deity.

Verse [Exodus 27:21](../../../kjv/exodus/27/21). ***The tabernacle of the congregation*** — The place where all the assembly of the people were to worship, where the God of that assembly was pleased to reside, and to which, as the habitation of their king and protector, they were ever to turn their faces in all their adorations.
***Before the testimony*** — That is, the ark where the tables of the covenant were deposited. See [Exodus 25:16](../../../kjv/exodus/25/16).
***Aaron and his sons*** — These and their descendants being the only legitimate priests, God having established the priesthood in this family.
***Shall order it from evening to morning*** — Josephus says the whole of the seven lamps burned all the night; in the morning *four* were extinguished, and *three* kept burning through the whole day. Others assert that the whole seven were kept lighted both day and night continually; but it appears sufficiently evident, from [1 Samuel 3:3](../../../kjv/1-samuel/3/3), that these lamps were extinguished in the morning: *And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord,* *where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep*, c. See also [Exodus 30:8](../../../kjv/exodus/30/8): *And when Aaron* LIGHTETH THE LAMPS AT EVEN. It appears therefore that the business of the priests was to light the lamps in the evening and either to extinguish them in the morning, or permit them to burn out, having put in the night before as much oil as was necessary to last till daylight.
***A statute for ever*** — This ordering of the lamps night and morning, and attendance on the service of the tabernacle, was a statute that was to be in full force while the tabernacle and temple stood, and should have its spiritual accomplishment in the Christian Church to the end of time. Reader, the tabernacle and temple are both destroyed; the Church of Christ is established in their place. The *seven golden candlesticks* were typical of this Church and the glorious light it possesses, [Revelation 1:12-20](../../../kjv/revelation/1/12-20); and Jesus Christ, the Fountain and Dispenser of this true light, walks in the midst of them. Reader, hast thou that celestial flame to enlighten and animate thy heart in all those acts of devotion which thou professest to pay to him as thy Maker, Redeemer, and Preserver? What is thy profession, and what thy religious acts and services, without this? A sounding brass, a tinkling cymbal.
TERTULLIAN asserts that all the ancient heathens borrowed their best notions from the sacred writings: "Which," says he, "of your poets, which of your sophists, have not drunk from the fountain of the prophets? It is from those sacred springs that your philosophers have refreshed their thirsty spirits; and if they found any thing in the Holy Scriptures which hit their fancy, or which served their hypothesis, they took and turned it to a compliance with their own curiosity, not considering those writings to be sacred and unalterable, nor understanding their true sense, every one altering them according to his own fancy." - *Apologet*.
The reader's attention has already been called to this point several times in the preceding parts of this work, and the subject will frequently recur. At the conclusion of [Exodus 25:31](../../../kjv/exodus/25/31) ([Exodus 25:31](../../../kjv/exodus/25/31)) we had occasion to observe that the heathens had imitated many things in that Divine worship prescribed by Moses; but in application to their own corrupt system every thing was in a certain measure falsified and distorted, yet not so far as to prevent the grand *outlines* of primitive truth from being discerned. One of the most complete imitations of the tabernacle and its whole service is found in the very ancient temple of Hercules, founded probably by the Phoenicians, at *Gades*, now Cadiz, in Spain, so minutely described by Silius Italicus from actual observation. He observes that though the temple was at that time very ancient, yet the *beams* were the same that had been placed there by the founders, and that they were generally supposed to be *incorruptible*; a quality ascribed to the shittim wood, termed ξυλον ασηπτον, *incorruptible* *wood*, by the Septuagint. That *women were not permitted to enter* *this temple*, and that *no swine* were ever suffered to come near it. That the priests did not wear *party-coloured* vestments, but were always clothed in *fine linen*, and their *bonnets* made of the *same*. That they *offered incense* to their god, their clothes being *ungirded*; for the same reason doubtless given [Exodus 20:26](../../../kjv/exodus/20/26), that in going up to the altar nothing unseemly might appear, and therefore they permitted their long robes to fall down to their feet. He adds, that by the *laws of their forefathers* they bore on their *sacerdotal vestments* the *latus clavus*, which was a round knob or stud of *purple* with which the robes of the Roman knights and senators were adorned, which these priests seem to have copied from the *breastplate of judgment* made of cunning work, embroidered with *purple, blue*, c. See [Exodus 28:15](../../../kjv/exodus/28/15). They also ministered *barefooted*, their hair was trimmed or cut off, and they observed the *strictest continency*, and kept a *perpetual fire* burning on their *altars*. And he farther adds that there was no *image* or *similitude* of the gods to be seen in that sacred place. This is the substance of his description but as some of my readers may wish to see the original, I shall here subjoin it.
*Anguibus Hydra jacet*, &c., &c.

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