Ezekiel 43:15

15 The altar hearth is four cubits high, with four horns extending upward from the hearth.

Ezekiel 43:15 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 43:15

So the altar shall be four cubits
That is, from the greater settle; so that in the whole it was ten cubits high, the same with Solomon's, ( 2 Chronicles 4:1 ) some make this to be eleven cubits high, one higher than Solomon's; it is here called "Harel", the mountain of God, because it looked like a mountain in the court, for its size: it was on a mountain our Lord was offered up a sacrifice for the sins of his people; and which was far superior to all other sacrifices, and for more persons than those sacrifices offered up on the altar of burnt offerings. And from the altar and upward shall be four horns;
or, "from Ariel" {x}; which was the focus or hearth where the wood was laid, and the fire kindled, called "Ariel"; which some render the lion of God, because, as the Jewish Rabbins ^F25 say, the fire of the altar lay upon it in the form of a lion; or rather, because like a lion it devoured the sacrifices: this name of the altar agrees well with Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah; who was strong to bear the sins of men, and the wrath of God for them, whereby they are no more; though it rather signifies the fire of God, which consumed the sacrifice, and denoted the wrath of God on Christ, and also the divine acceptance of his sacrifice: now from hence and upwards were four horns at the four corners of the altar; which denote the strength of Christ, to save all that come unto God by him, and his being a refuge to them that by faith lay hold upon him; and that he is accessible to persons that come from all parts, from the four corners of the earth.

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FOOTNOTES:

F24 (lyarahm) "ab Hareil", Starckius.
F25 Misn. Middot, c. 4. sect. 7.

Ezekiel 43:15 In-Context

13 "These are the measurements of the altar in cubits (the cubit is one cubit and a handbreadth): the base one cubit high and one cubit wide, with a rim all around its edge of one span. This is the height of the altar:

14 from the base on the ground to the lower ledge, two cubits; the width of the ledge, one cubit; from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge, four cubits; and the width of the ledge, one cubit.

15 The altar hearth is four cubits high, with four horns extending upward from the hearth.

16 The altar hearth is twelve cubits long, twelve wide, square at its four corners;

17 the ledge, fourteen cubits long and fourteen wide on its four sides, with a rim of half a cubit around it; its base, one cubit all around; and its steps face toward the east."