Exodus 38:1-7

The Bronze Altar

1 Bezalel constructed ^[a] the altar of burnt offering from acacia wood. It was square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high. ^{[b] 1}

2 He made a horn at each of its four corners, so that the horns and altar were of one piece, and he overlaid the altar with bronze.

3 He made all the altar’s utensils of bronze—its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks, and firepans.

4 He made a grate of bronze mesh for the altar under its ledge, halfway up from the bottom.

5 At the four corners of the bronze grate he cast four rings as holders for the poles.

6 And he made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with bronze.

7 Then he inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar for carrying it. He made the altar with boards so that it was hollow.

Exodus 38:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 38

This chapter is a continuation of the account of the making of the things belonging to the tabernacle, particularly the altar of burnt offering, Ex 38:1-7 the laver of brass, and the things it was made of, Ex 38:8 the court and its hangings, pillars, sockets, hooks and pins, Ex 38:9-20 then follows an account of the quantities of gold, silver, and brass, expended in the making of the several things appertaining to the sanctuary, Ex 38:21-31.

Bezaleel made it, or it was made by his direction, he having the care and oversight of it, wherefore the making of it is ascribed to him, 2Ch 1:5 the account of this, its horns, vessels, rings, and staves, is carried on to Ex 38:2-7 of which \\see Gill on "Ex 27:1"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:2"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:3"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:4"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:5"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:6"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:7"\\ \\see Gill on "Ex 27:8"\\. 10593-941108-1338-Ex38.2

Cross References

• 1. (Exodus 27:1–8)

Footnotes

• [a] Literally He constructed
• [b] The altar was approximately 7.5 feet in length and width, and 4.5 feet high (2.3 meters in length and width, and 1.4 meters high).