Exodus 27:8

8 The altar must be hollow, made from planks. Build it just as you were shown on the mountain.

Exodus 27:8 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 27:8

Hollow with boards shalt thou make it
The frame of it being made of boards of shittim wood, there was nothing within side but the grate, which was put within the square, down into the middle of it, and so was light of carriage; though the Targum of Jonathan, and other Jewish writers, represent this hollow as filled up with dust and earth, to answer to the altar of earth Moses was before bid to make; but this seems quite contrary to the present direction: the hollowness of the altar may denote the emptiness of Christ when he became a sacrifice: he emptied himself, as it were, when he became incarnate, of all his greatness, glory, and riches, and became mean and poor for the sake of his people, that they through his poverty might be made rich, ( Philippians 2:7 Philippians 2:8 ) ( 2 Corinthians 8:9 )

as it was showed thee in the mount, so shall they make it;
or, "as he showed thee" ^F7, that is, God. Moses had a model of this altar showed him, and he was to be careful to instruct the workmen, and see to it, that they built it exactly according to the model.

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FOOTNOTES:

F7 (harh) "fecit videre", Pagninus, Montanus; "ostendit Dominus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius; so Ainsworth.

Exodus 27:8 In-Context

6 For carrying the altar, make poles from acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze.

7 Insert the poles through the rings on the two sides of the altar.

8 The altar must be hollow, made from planks. Build it just as you were shown on the mountain.

9 “Then make the courtyard for the Tabernacle, enclosed with curtains made of finely woven linen. On the south side, make the curtains 150 feet long.

10 They will be held up by twenty posts set securely in twenty bronze bases. Hang the curtains with silver hooks and rings.