Brazen Altar – מזבח העלה

The brazen altar is associated with the repentance from dead works. Fire was made in a firepan and put underneath the altar. We added boards to place underneath to ensure a steady airflow to keep the fire going, but it is possible that they used sand to lift the altar up a bit. The animals were then sacrificed on top of the grate and taken out with the flesh hooks. The shovels were used to remove the ashes and bury them outside of the camp. Firepans were used to take the live coals from the altar to start the new fire, because the fire had to burn continually. The live coals were also used for the altar of incense.

The basins were used to catch the blood when the animals were slaughtered so that the blood could be buried outside. The meat was then cut up into pieces and carried to the altar in the basins. After the meat was cooked, some of it was eaten by the priest and some was given to the family head to eat with his family. The cooked meat was also carried in basins

The Brazen Altar was made of Acacia wood (shittim Wood) and overlain with brass. It was in a squared shape with 4 horns on the 4 corners. We added a ramp for the priests to work without burning themselves, because they were only between 1,65m to 1,70m tall. We used shittim wood covered in brass. We made it in such a way, that it can be dismantled into 10 pieces for easy transportation.

Components

• • Pans for the ashes
  • Shovels
  • Basins
  • Flesh hooks (Hebrew: mazleg מַזְלֵג which in modern Hebrew is used for a fork)
  • Firepans
  • A grate of network made from brass with four rings on the four corners. It is specified that the great needs to be placed under the altar, so that it reaches up to the middle of the altar.
  • 2 Staves made of shittim wood and overlain with brass to be put through the rings to carry the altar. We opted that each staff should have 15 cubits in length to make it possible for 12 people to carry it. The staves remained in the altar to remind the priests of the responsibility they carry.

Measurements

5 x 5 x 3 cubits (2.10m x 2.10m x 1.26m)
Hollow on the inside
4 sides
The Bible does not tell us, how thick the boards of shittim wood must be. We decided on half a cubit to ensure that the altar can still be carried. (8-12 people are needed to carry the brazen altar.)

Meaning of the numbers

(4) Yeshua has become a door for me (foursquare and 4 sides) so that I can became His bride

(5) A continual spirit of repentance in us is (3) the vehicle

(3) which brings us from the place we are now to a place where we will be the bride of the Messiah

(5)  God wants to restore our authority ( horns)

He can only do that if we are willing to change in our way of thinking and through repentance. I bow down to His will when I bring my sacrifice and worship Him alone.

Material

Acacia wood (shittim wood) overlain with brass

The Process

An Israelite would meet with a priest, confess that he has sinned and bring an animal sacrifice to hand over the priest. He is someone, who already has a relationship with God and has realized that he has sinned and needs to repent. He sees how the animal gets slaughtered and sacrificed! Afterwards he eats the meat (with his family) to experience that he has received immediate forgiveness through his sacrifice. The priest had to bow down to work with the meat on the grid, which means that he worshipped God through his work. Through that which happens at the brazen altar, a change of thinking and a renewal of the mind happens through first acknowledging a sin and then asking for forgiveness, accepting forgiveness and deciding to not sin again.

Scriptures

Exodus 27:1-8

1 And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits.
2 And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass.
3 And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basons, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass.
4 And thou shalt make for it a grate of network of brass; and upon the net shalt thou make four brasen rings in the four corners thereof.
5 And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath, that the net may be even to the midst of the altar.
6 And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass.
7 And the staves shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it.

Applied Spiritual value to our lives

Represents Yeshua, who is incorruptible and has been scourged (shittim wood). He brought a sacrifice (brass) and through that, He has the authority (horns) to forgive and redeem us and to restore our authority on earth. The brazen altar is inside the confines of the tabernacle in the outer court, which means, we have already entered into a relationship with the Father through Yeshua our Messiah. An unbeliever cannot enter the outer court of the tabernacle, so this altar cannot represent being born again. The brazen altar is connected to “repentance of dead works”, which is the first of six aspects called the foundation of our faith in Hebrews 6:1. What are dead works? Anything that is not done by faith, but by knowledge alone, because anything done by faith brings life, but anything done by knowledge alone brings death. In dealing with sin, I bring a sacrifice (brass): I lay down my life and my fleshly desire, allow God’s fire to consume that which is not of Him and take up His life and His will and I do it every day. I bow down before Him and live a lifestyle of worship.