John Calvin Commentary Exodus 20:24

"An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt-offerings, and thy peace-offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in every place where I record my name I will come unto thee and I will bless thee." — Exodus 20:24 (ASV)

An altar of earth you shall make. This precept differs from the other, which I have just explained, because although it refers to the choice of a place,¹¹¹ yet the mention of a place is omitted, and it only touches upon the material and form of the altar. God, therefore, commands that an altar should be built to Him, either of earth or of a heap of stones, which had not been artificially polished.

But I understand this of the altars, which either in the desert or elsewhere should be built, before the choice of the perpetual place had been manifested to them. God would have them built of earth, so that they might fall down of themselves, and that no trace of them might remain after the departure of the people. But if stones were used, He forbade their being fitted together in a permanent structure; He would have them thrown rough and unpolished into a heap, lest their appearance should entice posterity to superstition.

I am surprised that commentators¹¹² should here take the trouble to invent allegories, since God had no other object than to remove stumbling blocks by which the Israelites might be turned away from the sanctuary. For we know how antiquity and the example of our forefathers tend to attract the minds of common people.

If anything in the shape of an altar had remained, religious notions would have immediately been associated with it—namely, that God could be worshipped nowhere more solemnly or better than in the place already dedicated long ago by their fathers. Thus, degenerate modes of worship would have sprung up, and the dignity of the sanctuary would have been brought into contempt.

Therefore, this evil is anticipated when He forbids altars to be built which might exist for any length of time, and only allows them to be adapted for present use, being made of earth or of an unfashioned heap of stones.

As to “the sacrifices of prosperities,” I have elsewhere stated why I so translate the word שלומים, shelumim,¹¹³ which signifies all prosperous and happy results; for the rendering of others, namely, peaceful things (pacifica), is very unsuitable.

The latter part of the verse, in all places where I record my name, I will come to you, has been ignorantly perverted by commentators and so has given rise to error. For they have read it in connection with the former part, as if God had forbidden such an altar to be made in Mount Sion also. Whereas He rather anticipates a doubt which might have otherwise perplexed the minds of the people: Will not God be favorable to us where He heard the prayers of our fathers?

He replies to this, I say, with the promise that they will pray to Him properly and fittingly, if they only obey His command and seek no other place except that which He shall choose. For this reason, it is said that wherever God is pleased that sacrifices should be offered, there He will descend to you, to be favorable to you.

¹¹¹ “D’autant qu’il ne traitte pas expressement du lieu mais de la matiere, et forme de l’autel;” because it does not treat expressly of the place, but of the matter and form of the altar. — ;” because it does not treat expressly of the place, but of the matter and form of the altar. — Fr..

¹¹² In the Gloss. Ord, there is an exposition from , there is an exposition from Gregory, that “to that “to make an altar of earth is to found our hopes upon the Incarnation of Christ; for our offering is then accepted by God, when our humility bases our works upon faith in the incarnation of our Lord;” and from is to found our hopes upon the Incarnation of Christ; for our offering is then accepted by God, when our humility bases our works upon faith in the incarnation of our Lord;” and from Isidore, that “that “hewn stones are those who break the unity of the Church, and sever themselves from the society of their brethren. These Christ does not receive into His body, which the construction of the altar represents," etc.are those who break the unity of the Church, and sever themselves from the society of their brethren. These Christ does not receive into His body, which the construction of the altar represents," etc.

¹¹³ שלמיך A.V., peace-offerings. C. says rightly that the word says rightly that the word שלומים comprehends every kind of prosperity and happy result; but the word in the text is the pl. of comprehends every kind of prosperity and happy result; but the word in the text is the pl. of שלם. — . — W. See See Note on on Numbers 10:10, , ante, p. 105.p. 105.