Exodus 27

The Altar for Burnt Offerings

1 "Build an altar out of acacia wood. It must be four feet six inches high and seven feet six inches square.

2 Make a horn stick out from each of its upper four corners. Cover the altar with bronze.

3 "Make all of its tools out of bronze. Make its pots to remove the ashes. Make its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks, and pans for carrying ashes.

4 "Make a bronze grate for the altar. Make a bronze ring for each of the four corners of the grate.

5 Put the grate halfway up the altar on the inside.

6 "Make poles out of acacia wood for the altar. Cover them with bronze.

7 Put the poles through the rings. They will be on two sides of the altar for carrying it.

8 "Make the altar out of boards. Make it hollow. You must make it just as I showed you on the mountain.

The Courtyard

9 "Make a courtyard for the holy tent. The south side must be 150 feet long. It must have curtains that are made out of finely twisted linen.

10 The curtains must be hung on 20 posts and 20 bronze bases. The posts must have silver hooks and bands on them.

11 "The north side must also be 150 feet long. It must have curtains with 20 posts and 20 bronze bases. The posts must have silver hooks and bands on them.

12 "The west end of the courtyard must be 75 feet wide. It must have curtains with ten posts and ten bases.

13 "The east end of the courtyard, toward the sunrise, must also be 75 feet wide.

14 On one side of the entrance you must put curtains that are 22 feet six inches long. Hang them on three posts. Each post must have a base.

15 On the other side you must also put curtains that are 22 feet six inches long. Hang them on three posts. Each post must have a base.

16 "For the entrance to the courtyard, provide a curtain that is 30 feet long. Make it out of blue, purple and bright red yarn and finely twisted linen. Have someone who sews skillfully make it. Hang it on four posts. Each post must have a base.

17 "All of the posts that are around the courtyard must have silver bands and hooks. They must also have bronze bases.

18 The courtyard must be 150 feet long and 75 feet wide. It must have curtains that are made out of finely twisted linen. They must be seven feet six inches high. The posts must have bronze bases.

19 "Make all of the other articles used for any purpose in the holy tent out of bronze. That includes all of the tent stakes for the tent and the courtyard.

Oil for the Lampstand

20 "Command the people of Israel to bring you clear oil that is made from pressed olives. Use it to keep the lamps burning and giving light.

21 "Aaron and his sons must keep the lamps burning in the Tent of Meeting. The lamps will be outside the curtain that is in front of the tablets of the covenant. The lamps must be kept burning in my sight from evening until morning. That is a law for the people of Israel that will last for all time to come.

Exodus 27 Commentary

Chapter 27

The altar of burnt offerings. (1-8) The court of the tabernacle. (9-19) The oil for the lamps. (20,21)

Verses 1-8 In the court before the tabernacle, where the people attended, was an altar, to which they must bring their sacrifices, and on which their priests must offer them to God. It was of wood overlaid with brass. A grate of brass was let into the hollow of the altar, about the middle of which the fire was kept, and the sacrifice burnt. It was made of net-work like a sieve, and hung hollow, that the ashes might fall through. This brazen altar was a type of Christ dying to make atonement for our sins. The wood had been consumed by the fire from heaven, if it had not been secured by the brass: nor could the human nature of Christ have borne the wrath of God, if it had not been supported by Divine power.

Verses 9-19 The tabernacle was enclosed in a court, about sixty yards long and thirty broad, formed by curtains hung upon brazen pillars, fixed in brazen sockets. Within this enclosure the priests and Levites offered the sacrifices, and thither the Jewish people were admitted. These distinctions represented the difference between the visible nominal church, and the true spiritual church, which alone has access to God, and communion with him.

Verses 20-21 The pure oil signified the gifts and graces of the Spirit, which all believers receive from Christ, the good Olive, and without which our light cannot shine before men. The priests were to light the lamps, and tend them. It is the work of ministers, by preaching and expounding the Scriptures, which are as a lamp, to enlighten the church, God's tabernacle upon earth. Blessed be God, this light is not now confined to the Jewish tabernacle, but is a light to lighten the gentiles, and for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 27

This chapter treats of the altar of burnt offering, and of all things relative to it, Ex 27:1-8, of the court of the tabernacle, its hangings on each side, with pillars, sockets, and hooks for them, Ex 27:9-19 and it is concluded with an order to the Israelites to bring oil olive for the lamp of the sanctuary, Ex 27:20,21.