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The Altar

13 “These are the measurements of the altar, ·using the measuring stick [L in long cubits, each being a cubit and a handbreadth; 40:5]. The altar’s ·gutter [base] is ·twenty-one inches [L one cubit] high and ·twenty-one inches [L one cubit] wide, and its rim is ·about nine inches [L one span] around its edge. And the altar is this tall: 14 From the base on the ground up to the lower ledge, it measures ·three and one-half feet [L two cubits]. It is ·twenty-one inches [L one cubit] wide. It measures ·seven feet [L four cubits] from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge and is ·twenty-one inches [L one cubit] wide. 15 The ·place where the sacrifice is burned on the altar [altar hearth] is ·seven feet [L four cubits] high, with its four ·corners shaped like horns and reaching up above it [horns projecting upward; Ex. 27:2]. 16 It is square, ·twenty-one feet [L twelve cubits] long and ·twenty-one feet [L twelve cubits] wide. 17 The upper ledge is also square, ·twenty-four and one-half feet [L fourteen cubits] long and ·twenty-four and one-half feet [L fourteen cubits] wide. The rim around the altar is ·ten and one-half inches [L one-half cubit] wide, and its ·gutter [base] is ·twenty-one inches [L one cubit] wide all around. Its steps ·are on the east side [L face east].”

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The Altar of Sacrifice

13 “And these are the measurements of the altar [of burnt offering] in cubits (the cubit being a [long] cubit [the length of a forearm] and a hand width): the [a]base shall be a cubit [long] and a cubit wide, with its border on its edge all around it of a span [in width]. And this shall be the height of the [b]base of the altar. 14 From the base on the ground to the lower ledge shall be two cubits and the width one cubit; and from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge shall be four cubits and the width one cubit. 15 The altar hearth shall be four cubits high, and from the altar hearth shall extend upwards four horns [one from each corner, each one cubit high]. 16 Now the altar hearth shall be twelve cubits long by twelve wide, square in its four sides. 17 The ledge shall be fourteen cubits long by fourteen wide on its four sides, and the border around it shall be half a cubit; and its base shall be a cubit all around, and its steps shall face the east.”(A)

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 43:13 Lit lap. The metric and architectural terminology corresponds to human physiology. While this is natural enough for an ancient culture, it also serves at least three purposes: 1) it ensures that the scale of the structures will be practical for human occupation; 2) it communicates across cultures; and 3) terms like “shoulder” and “lap” indicate something of the shape and/or purpose of the item, such as the task of load-bearing.
  2. Ezekiel 43:13 Lit back.