H4196. mizbeach

מִזְבֵּחַ‎₄₀₁ noun masculine^{Joshua 22:10} altar (Arabic , place of slaughter, trench made by torrent, Sabean מדֿבח‎ DHM^{Epigr. Denkm. 24}); ׳מ‎ absolute 2 Kings 18:22 223t., הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָה‎ Exodus 29:13 31t.; construct מִזְבַּח‎ 20:24 76t., suffix מִזְבְּחִי‎ 20:26 7t., מִזְבַּחֲךָ‎ 1 Kings 8:31 3t.,מִזְבְּחֶ֑ךָ‎ Deuteronomy 33:10; מִזְבְּחוֺ‎ Judges 6:31 2t.; plural מִזְבְּחֹת‎ Numbers 23:1 5t., מִזְבְּחוֺת‎ 2 Kings 21:3 23t., suffix מִזְבְּחוֺתֶיךָ‎ Psalm 84:4, other suffixes 21 t.; —

1 J E narrate that altars were built by Noah after leaving the ark Genesis 8:20; by Abraham at Shechem 12:7, Bethel 12:8, Hebron 13:18, mountain in land Moriah 22:9; by Issac at Beersheba 26:25; by Jacob at Shechem 33:20 (yet this perhaps mistake for מַצֵּבָה‎, being object of וַיַּצֶּבשָֿׁם‎, not elsewhere with מזבח‎, compare also Di), at Bethel 35:7, by Moses at Rephidim Exodus 17:15, Horeb 24:4, by Balak at Bamoth Baal, Pisgah, & Peor Numbers 23:1, 14, 29; by Joshua on Mt. Ebal Joshua 8:30: the prophetic histories narrate that altars were built by Gideon at Ophra Judges 6:24; by a man of God at Bethel 21:4; by Samuel at Ramah 1 Samuel 7:17; by Saul after Michmash 14:35; by David on the threshing floor of Ornan 2 Samuel 24:25 = 1 Chronicles 21:18; 22:1; that Solomon sacrificed on the altar at Gibeon 1 Kings 3:4 and built altars in the temple at Jerusalem 6:20; 8:64; that Jeroboam built an altar at Bethel 12:32 (which was destroyed by Josiah 2 Kings 23:15); and that Elijah repaired an ancient altar on Carmel 1 Kings 18:30. An altar in Egypt is predicted Isaiah 19:19. All this accords with the law of the Covenant code Exodus 20:24-26 which recognises a plurality of altars and prescribes that they shall be built of אֲדָמָה‎, or of unhewn stones, and without steps. So אֲבָנִים‎ Deuteronomy 27:6 (JE), שְׁלֵמוֺת אֲבָנִים‎ Joshua 8:31, and twelve stones 1 Kings 18:30, 32; compare Isaiah 27:9. The altar was also a place of refuge Exodus 21:24 (JE) 1 Kings 1:50-51, 2:28.

2 D prescribes one central altar Deuteronomy 12:5f. 27; but no attempt to enforce this principle appears before Hezekiah(2 Kings 18:4, 22), and Josiah, whose reform is more effectual, 23:8-20.

3 P limits sacrifices to the altars of the tabernacle. A great altar was built east of the Jordan, but it was according to P only as an עֵד‎ after the pattern of the altar before the Tabernacle Joshua 22:10-34. P describes two altars:

a. the הָעֹלָה מִזְבַּח‎ Exodus 30:28; 31:9; 35:16; 38:1; 40:6, 10, 29; Leviticus 4:7, 10, 25 (twice in verse); 4:30, 34 = ׳מ הַנְּחשֶׁת‎ Exodus 38:30; 39:39, made of acacia wood plated with brass, 5*5*3 cubits in size, with four horns and a network of brass, on which all sacrifices by fire were made 27:1; Exodus 8; 38:1-7;

b. ׳מ קְטֹרֶת מִקְטַר‎ made of acacia wood plated with gold, 1*1*2 cubits in size, with four horns and a crown of gold Exodus 30:1-6 = ׳מ הקטרת‎ 30:27; 31:8; 35:15; 37:25 = ׳מ הזהב‎ 39:38; 40:5, 26; Numbers 4:11 = ׳מ הַסַּמִּים קטרת‎ Leviticus 4:7; these altars are named elsewhere only in Chronicles: 1 Chronicles 6:34; 16:40; 21:29; 2 Chronicles 1:5-6,.

4 Solomon made two altars for the temple at Jerusalem:

a. ׳מ הַנְּחשֶׁת‎ for the court 1 Kings 8:64 (which was laid aside by Ahaz 2 Kings 16:14-15, who made an altar after the model of one he saw in Damascus 16:11); in 16:14 הַנּ ׳הַמִּזְבַּח‎ (construct form with article) is erroneous, read probably מִזְבַּח‎ compare Ges^{§ 127}. 4 a near the end; this altar, according to Chronicles, measured 20*20*10 cubits 2 Chronicles 4:1; this (ה)נחשׁת מזבח‎ also 7:7 & Ezekiel 9:2; = ׳מ העולה‎2 Chronicles 29:18, repaired by Asa 15:8;

b. an altar of cedar, plated with gold, in the temple before the דְּבִיר‎ 1 Kings 6:20, 22; 7:48; = ׳מ הזהב‎2 Chronicles 4:19; = ׳מ הַקְּטֹרֶת‎ 1 Chronicles 28:18; 2 Chronicles 26:16.

5 Ezekiel plans two altars for the new temple:

a. a table of wood 3*2 cubits Ezekiel 41:22;

b. an altar for the court, probably same dimensions as 4a, with stairs Ezekiel 43:13-17.

6 after the return Jeshua built an altar on the ancient site in the court of the temple Ezra 3:2.

7 besides these altars used in the worship of Yahweh, Ahab built an altar to Baal in Samaria 1 Kings 16:32; Ahaz made an altar on the roof of the upper chamber, and other kings of Judah made altars in the two courts, all of which were destroyed by Josiah 2 Kings 23:12.

8 the ancient and most common term for making altars was בָּנָה‎ Genesis 35:7 (E) 8:20 (J) Deuteronomy 27:5-6, Exodus 32:5 (JE) +, implying building material; other verbs are הֵקִים‎ 2 Samuel 24:18; 1 Kings 16:32; 2 Kings 21:3; 1 Chronicles 21:18; 2 Chronicles 33:3; הֵכִין‎ Ezra 3:3 (followed by עַלמְֿכוֺנֹתָו֯‎); שִׂים‎ Jeremiah 11:13; וַיַּצֶּבֿ‎ Genesis 33:20 (but compare

1); Numbers 23:4 (E) has עָרַךְ‎ arrange, prepare; עָשָׂה‎ Genesis 35:1, 3; Exodus 20:24 (E) Genesis 13:4 (J) Judg 22:28; 1 Kings 12:33; 18:26; this becomes usual in P, Exodus 27:1; 30:1; 37:25; 38:1, 30, Songs 2 Chronicles 4:1, 19; 7:7; 28:24.

9 the dedication of the altar was המזבח חֲנֻכַּת‎ Numbers 7:10-11, 84, 88; 2 Chronicles 7:9; it was anointed with oil מָשַׁח‎ Exodus 40:10; Leviticus 8:11; Numbers 7:10 (all P).

10 removal of unlawful altars is expressed by נָתַץ‎ Exodus 34:13 (JE) Deuteronomy 7:5; Judges 2:2; 6:30-31, 32; 2 Kings 11:18; 23:12, 15; נִתַּץ‎ (Pi) Deuteronomy 12:3; 2 Chronicles 31:1; 34:4, 7; נֻתַּץ‎ Judges 6:28; הָרַס‎ 6:25; 1 Kings 19:10, 14; שִׁבַּר‎2 Chronicles 23:17>; הֵסִיר‎ 2 Kings 18:22 = Isaiah 36:7; 2 Chronicles 14:2; 30:14; 32:12; 33:15.

11 ministry at the altar was הַמּ ׳מִשְׁמֶרֶת‎ Numbers 18:5; Ezekiel 40:46, compare Numbers 3:31 (P), מ ׳מְשָֽׁרְתֵי‎ Joel 1:13; עַל עָמַד‎ is said of officiating priest 1 Kings 13:1, עַל עָלָה‎ Exodus 20:26; 1 Samuel 2:28; 1 Kings 12:33 + (compare יָרַד‎ Leviticus 9:22); sacrifices were usually offered עַלהַֿמִּזְבֵּחַ‎ Genesis 22:9; Deuteronomy 12:27 +; see especially the phrases with זָרַק‎ Exodus 29:16, 20 + (see זרק‎); הִקְטִיר‎ Leviticus 4:10 (see קטר‎ Hiph`il); הֶעֱלָה‎ 6:3 + (see עלה‎

Hiph`il) לְבַעֵר‎ Nehemiah 10:35; but בַּמִּזְבֵּחַ‎ Genesis 8:20 (J) Numbers 23:2, 4, 14, 30 (E); one touching the altar is בַּמּ ׳הַנֹּגֵעַ‎ Exodus 29:37 (P); המ ׳לפני‎ of placing, or standing before altar Deuteronomy 26:4; 1 Kings 8:22; as

accusative of location הַמִּזְבֵּ֫חָה‎ in phrases especially with הִקְטִיר‎ Exodus 29:13 +, and הֶעֱלָה‎ Leviticus 14:20.

12 the horns of the altar were especially for the application of the blood of the sin-offering in the ritual; sin is represented as graven מִזְבְּחוֺתֵיכֶם לְקַרְנוֺת‎ Jeremiah 17:1; therefore of blood for cleansing it was said המ קרנות על ׳נָתַן‎ Exodus 29:12; Leviticus 4:7, 18, 25, 30, 34; 8:15; 9:9; 16:18 (all P). An ancient custom is referred to, Psalm 118:27 המזבח עַדקֿרנות בַּעֲבֹתִ֑ים אִסְרוחַֿג‎ bind the festal victim with cords, unto the horns of the altar: Ainsworth paraphrases: 'that is, all the court over, untill you come even to the hornes of the altar, intending hereby many sacrifices,' so De; but Che 'bind the procession with branches, (step on) to the altar-horns,' that is in sacred procession round the altar.

13 the יְסוֺד‎ (q. v.) is also referred to in the ritual of the sin-offerings in the phrases יסוד אל יָצַק‎ Leviticus 8:15; 9:9 & יסוד אל שָׁפַךְ‎ Exodus 29:12; Leviticus 4:7, 18, 25, 30, 34 (all P) יסוד אל יִמָּצֵה‎ 5:9.

14 the altar was קָדָשִׁים קֹדֶשׁ‎ Exodus 29:37; 40:10 (P); but repeated sin-offerings were necessary to keep it pure and cleanse it from the pollution of the people in whose midst it was situated. This is expressed by חִטֵּא‎ Leviticus 8:15 (P) Ezekiel 43:22; כִּמֶּר‎ Leviticus 16:20, 33 (P) Ezekiel 43:26; קִדַּשׁ‎ Exodus 29:44; 40:10; Leviticus 8:15; Numbers 7:1 (P); טִהַר‎2 Chronicles 29:18.

זַבַּי‎ see below זבב‎.