Albert Barnes Commentary Exodus 27

(Compare to Exodus 38:1-7.) The great altar that stood in the court immediately in front of the tabernacle was commonly called the altar of burnt offering, because on it were burned the whole burnt offerings and all those parts of the other animal sacrifices that were offered to the Lord. It was also called the brazen altar because it was covered with bronze, in distinction from the golden altar, or altar of incense (Exodus 39:38–39; Exodus 40:5–6).

His horns shall be of the same (Exodus 27:2) – These horns were projections pointing upward, in the form of either a small obelisk or an ox’s horn. They were to be actual parts of the altar, not merely added to it. On them the blood of the sin offering was smeared (Exodus 29:12; Leviticus 4:7; Leviticus 8:15; Leviticus 9:9; Leviticus 16:18). To take hold of them seems to have been regarded as an emphatic way of claiming the supposed right of sanctuary (Exodus 21:14 note; 1 Kings 1:50).

Pans (Exodus 27:3) – Rather, these were pots, as in Exodus 38:3 and 1 Kings 7:45. Regarding the use of these pots for disposing of the altar’s ashes, see Leviticus 1:16.

Basins – These were vessels used for receiving the blood of the victims and casting it on the altar (Leviticus 1:5; etc.).

Fleshhooks – These were used for adjusting the pieces of the victims on the altar (compare 1 Samuel 2:13).

Firepans – The same word is rendered “snuffdishes” (Exodus 25:38; Exodus 37:23) or “censers” (Leviticus 10:1; Leviticus 16:12; Numbers 4:14; Numbers 16:6; etc.). These utensils appear to have been shallow metal vessels used only to carry burning embers from the brazen altar to the altar of incense.

The compass of the altar (Exodus 27:5) – This was a shelf or projecting ledge, of convenient width, running around the altar halfway between the top and the base. It was supported all around its outer edge by a vertical, net-like bronze grating that rested on the ground.

Hollow with boards (Exodus 27:8) – This means slabs or planks, rather than boards. The word is the one used for the stone tables of the law (Exodus 24:12; Exodus 31:18), not the word applied to the boards of the tabernacle (Exodus 26:15).

The brazen altar was a hollow casing, formed of stout acacia planks covered with bronze plates, seven feet six inches in length and width, and four feet six inches in height. Jewish, as well as Christian, authorities have supposed that when it was set up for use, it was filled with earth or rough stones.

If we connect this suggestion with the ancient rule regarding the altar of earth and the altar of stone , the woodwork might, in fact, be regarded merely as the casing of the altar on which the victims were actually burned. The shelf around the sides (Exodus 27:5) was required as a platform for the priests to enable them to carry out their work conveniently on top of the altar. Hence, it is said of Aaron that he came down from the altar (Leviticus 9:22).

According to rabbinical tradition, there was a slope of earth at the south side, banked up for the priest to ascend to the platform .

The court of the tabernacle - .

Exodus 27:9. The south side southward - The south side on the right. See Exodus 26:18.

Exodus 27:10. Sockets - Bases. See Exodus 26:19.

Fillets - Rather, Connecting rods; curtain-rods of silver connecting the heads of the pillars. The hangings were attached to the pillars by the silver hooks; but the length of the space between the pillars would render it most probable that they were also in some way fastened to these rods.

Exodus 27:13. The east side eastward - On the front side eastward.

Exodus 27:16. An hanging - An entrance curtain, which, unlike the hangings at the sides and back of the court, could be drawn up, or aside, at pleasure. The words are rightly distinguished in our Bible in Numbers 3:26.

Wrought with needlework - The work of the embroiderer. See Exodus 26:36; Exodus 35:35. On the materials, see Exodus 25:4.

Exodus 27:17. Filleted with silver - Connected with silver rods. See Exodus 27:10.

Exodus 27:19. All the vessels ... - All the tools of the tabernacle used in all its workmanship, and all its tent-pins, and all the tent-pins of the court, shall be of bronze. The working tools of the sanctuary were most probably such things as axes, knives, hammers, etc. that were employed in making, repairing, setting up and taking down the structure. Compare to Numbers 3:36.

The tabernacle - The word is here to be taken as including both the משׁכן mı̂shkân and the tent, as in Numbers 1:51, Numbers 1:53, etc. (see Exodus 26:1 note).

The pins - tent-pins.

Pure oil olive beaten - The oil was to be of the best kind. It is called beaten because it was obtained by merely bruising the olives in a mortar or mill, without the application of heat. The finest oil is now thus obtained from young fruit freshly gathered. The inferior kind is pressed from unselected fruit under stronger pressure, and with the application of heat.

The lamp - That is, the lamps of the golden candlestick. (See Exodus 25:37.)

To burn - See the margin: “to ascend up.” It should be observed that the word does not properly mean to burn in the sense of to consume, but is the word regularly used to express the action of fire upon what was offered to Yahweh .

Always - That is, every night from evening until morning. Compare Exodus 30:8.

The tabernacle of the congregation - More literally, the tent of meeting. This is the first occurrence of this designation of the tabernacle, and the idea connected with it is that of Yahweh meeting with either Moses, or the priests, or (in a few cases) with the people gathered into a congregation at the entrance of the tent.

Without the rail, which is before the testimony - that is, the holy place .