Ezekiel 43:15

15 forsooth that ariel, that is, the higher part of the altar, was of four cubits; and from the altar till to above were four horns. (and the altar was four cubits high; and at the corners all around the altar were four horns, each horn one cubit high.)

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 Forsooth these be the measures of the altar, in a veriest cubit, that had a cubit and a span; in the bosom thereof was a cubit in length, and a cubit in breadth; and the end thereof till to the brink, and one span in compass; also this was the ditch of the altar. (And these be the measurements of the altar, in a true cubit, that is, a cubit and a span; its bottom, or its base, was a cubit in height, and a cubit in breadth, or projecting out; and all around its outside edge was a ditch, one span deep; this was the altar's ditch, or its gutter.)

14 And from the bosom of the earth till to the last height were two cubits, and the breadth of one cubit; and from the less height (of the pedestal), till to the greater height (of the pedestal), were four cubits, and the breadth was of one cubit; (And from the top of the base on the ground, unto the top of the second base, was two cubits, set-in one cubit from the edge; and from the top of the second base, unto the top of the pedestal, was four cubits, set-in one cubit from the edge;)

15 forsooth that ariel, that is, the higher part of the altar, was of four cubits; and from the altar till to above were four horns. (and the altar was four cubits high; and at the corners all around the altar were four horns, each horn one cubit high.)

16 And the altar of twelve cubits in length was four-cornered with even sides, by twelve cubits of breadth. (And the top of the altar was twelve cubits in length, by twelve cubits in breadth, that is, four-cornered with equal sides.)

17 And the height of fourteen cubits of length was by fourteen cubits of breadth, in four corners thereof. And a crown of half a cubit was in the compass thereof, and the bosom thereof was of one cubit by compass; forsooth the degrees thereof were turned to the east. (And so the space for the altar was fourteen cubits in length, by fourteen cubits in breadth, unto its four corners. And a rim of half a cubit was all around it, and its bottom, or its base, was set-in one cubit all around; and its steps were turned toward the east.)