In the biblical context, altars hold significant importance as places of worship, sacrifice, and communion with God. Within the Temple, altars were central to the religious life of Israel, serving as the focal point for offerings and rituals prescribed by the Mosaic Law.

The Altar of Burnt Offering

The Altar of Burnt Offering, also known as the Bronze Altar, was located in the courtyard of the Tabernacle and later in the Temple. This altar was used for offering burnt sacrifices, which were a key component of Israelite worship. Constructed of acacia wood and overlaid with bronze, it was designed with specific dimensions and features as detailed in Exodus 27:1-8. The altar had horns on its four corners, which were used in various rites, including the application of blood from sacrifices (Exodus 29:12).

The primary function of the Altar of Burnt Offering was to facilitate atonement for sin through the sacrificial system. Leviticus 1:9 states, "The priest is to burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD." This altar symbolized the need for atonement and the means by which the Israelites could maintain a covenant relationship with God.

The Altar of Incense

The Altar of Incense, located inside the Holy Place of the Tabernacle and later the Temple, was used for burning incense, a practice that symbolized the prayers of the people ascending to God. Made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, this altar was smaller and more ornate than the Altar of Burnt Offering (Exodus 30:1-10). The incense was to be burned every morning and evening by the priest, as described in Exodus 30:7-8: "Aaron must burn fragrant incense on it every morning when he tends the lamps. When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he must burn the incense again. There is to be incense burned regularly before the LORD for the generations to come."

The Altar of Incense was closely associated with the presence of God, as it stood before the veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. The fragrant smoke represented the prayers and intercessions of the priests and the people, rising to God as a pleasing aroma.

The Temple of Solomon

When Solomon built the First Temple in Jerusalem, the altars were integral to its design and function. The Altar of Burnt Offering was significantly larger than its predecessor in the Tabernacle, reflecting the grandeur and permanence of the Temple structure (2 Chronicles 4:1). The Temple served as the central place of worship for the nation, and the altars were essential for the daily sacrifices and annual feasts that defined Israel's religious calendar.

The Second Temple

Following the Babylonian exile, the Second Temple was constructed, and the altars continued to play a vital role in Jewish worship. The Altar of Burnt Offering was rebuilt, and sacrifices resumed as described in Ezra 3:2-3: "Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests, along with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates, began to build the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God."

Symbolism and Fulfillment

In the New Testament, the concept of the altar takes on a deeper spiritual significance. The sacrifices offered on the altars of the Temple are seen as foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 13:10-12 speaks of a new altar, emphasizing the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice: "We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat. The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to sanctify the people by His own blood."

Thus, while the physical altars of the Temple were central to the worship practices of ancient Israel, they pointed forward to the redemptive work of Christ, who fulfilled the sacrificial system and established a new covenant between God and humanity.