The Altars in Ezekiel

Narrator: Chris Genthree
 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 7
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Question: "Eze. 40:4747So he measured the court, an hundred cubits long, and an hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the altar that was before the house. (Ezekiel 40:47); 'And the altar... was before the house.' Is this the same altar as is described in chapter 43:13-17?"
Answer: Yes, it is the burnt offering altar of Eze. 43:1313And these are the measures of the altar after the cubits: The cubit is a cubit and an hand breadth; even the bottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about shall be a span: and this shall be the higher place of the altar. (Ezekiel 43:13). This is shown by the expression, "before the house." The "house" is the "Holy Square, called especially the House (chap. 41:13-15), 100 cubits by 100 cubits. The Holy Square is intersected at the center by the square of the inner court, the Throne of Glory the center of it." Before this house was the altar of burnt offering, placed geometrically in the center of the Altar Square, 100 cubits by 100 cubits. Chap. 40:47.
Question: "Eze. 41:2222The altar of wood was three cubits high, and the length thereof two cubits; and the corners thereof, and the length thereof, and the walls thereof, were of wood: and he said unto me, This is the table that is before the Lord. (Ezekiel 41:22); 'The altar of wood,' etc. 'This is the table that is before the Loan.' What altar-table is this? (Table of Showbread or Altar of Incense) or is it something new altogether, and where exactly would it be located—'before the LORD.' To what use might it be put?... If the Altar-Table is in the inner sanctuary it seems to be all that is in there -if not what else is within the Holiest of All—apart from 'the glory of the Loan'? Chap. 43:4."
Answer: This is the Altar-Table that answers to the altar of incense in the tabernacle. Note the difference in expression: The burnt offering altar was "before the house"; this altar is "before the Lord." It is in the approximate position of the altar of incense in the tabernacle. We cannot be sure as to what use it is to be put, as it was said to be made of wood, with no mention of any metal. But when the time comes, all will be made clear to those who shall use it. In the most holy place was only the "glory of the LORD."
Question: "Eze. 44:1616They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge. (Ezekiel 44:16); 'They shall come near to My table.' Is this the altar of chapter 43:13-17, or the Altar-Table of chapter 41:22?" T.M.
Answer: This is the altar of chapter 43:13-17, as is evidenced by the fact that the priests are to "offer unto Me the fat and the blood" (v. 15). This could only be on the altar of burnt offering.