What is the significance of altars in the Old Testament?

The significance of altars in the Old Testament is profound and multifaceted, reflecting the complex relationship between humanity and the divine. Altars serve as physical manifestations of worship, spaces for offering sacrifices, and symbols of covenantal relationship between God and His people. To fully appreciate their significance, one must delve into the historical, theological, and ritualistic contexts in which they appear throughout the Pentateuch.

In the earliest chapters of the Bible, altars are introduced as places where individuals encounter God. The first mention of an altar is found in Genesis 8:20, where Noah, after the flood, builds an altar to the Lord and offers burnt offerings on it. This act of worship is met with divine approval, as God makes a covenant with Noah, promising never to destroy the earth with a flood again. Here, the altar serves as a site of thanksgiving and covenantal assurance, marking a new beginning for humanity.

The patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—also built altars to signify their encounters with God and to commemorate His promises. For example, in Genesis 12:7-8, Abraham builds an altar at Shechem after God promises to give the land to his descendants. Later, he builds another altar at Bethel. These altars are not merely places of sacrifice but also memorials of divine revelation and promise. They serve as tangible reminders of God's faithfulness and the ongoing relationship between God and His chosen people.

One of the most dramatic and theologically rich episodes involving an altar is the near-sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis 22. God commands Abraham to offer his son Isaac on an altar. This episode tests Abraham's faith and obedience to the extreme. Just as Abraham is about to sacrifice Isaac, God intervenes, providing a ram as a substitute. This event prefigures the concept of substitutionary atonement, which is central to Christian theology. The altar here becomes a place of ultimate trust, obedience, and divine provision.

In the Mosaic Law, the construction and use of altars become more formalized and regulated. The Book of Exodus provides detailed instructions for building the altar of burnt offering (Exodus 27:1-8) and the altar of incense (Exodus 30:1-10). These altars are integral to the worship practices of the Israelites and are central to the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary that accompanied them through the wilderness. The altar of burnt offering, made of acacia wood and overlaid with bronze, is where the Israelites offer their sacrifices to God. The altar of incense, made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, is placed before the veil that separates the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, and it is used for burning fragrant incense, symbolizing the prayers of the people ascending to God.

The sacrificial system associated with these altars is a complex and integral part of Israelite worship. Different types of sacrifices—burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings—are prescribed, each with its own specific rituals and purposes (Leviticus 1-7). These sacrifices serve various functions: atonement for sin, expressions of thanksgiving, and acts of communal fellowship. The blood of the sacrifices, often sprinkled on the altar, symbolizes purification and consecration, underscoring the holiness required to approach God.

The altars also play a crucial role in the covenantal relationship between God and Israel. In Exodus 24, after the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, Moses builds an altar at the foot of the mountain and sets up twelve pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. He then offers burnt offerings and peace offerings, and sprinkles half of the blood on the altar and the other half on the people, saying, "Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words" (Exodus 24:8). This ritual seals the covenant, symbolizing the mutual commitment between God and His people.

Moreover, the altars in the Old Testament are not just places for individual or communal worship; they also serve as focal points for national identity and unity. When the Israelites cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land, Joshua builds an altar at Mount Ebal and inscribes the Law on stones (Joshua 8:30-35). This act reaffirms the covenant and unites the people under the Law of God as they begin their new life in the land promised to their ancestors.

The prophetic literature of the Old Testament also reflects on the significance of altars. The prophets often critique the misuse of altars and the superficiality of sacrifices when they are not accompanied by genuine repentance and ethical behavior. For instance, Isaiah condemns the people for their empty rituals, saying, "What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats" (Isaiah 1:11). Here, the altar becomes a symbol of the people's failure to understand the true nature of worship, which requires a contrite heart and a commitment to justice and righteousness.

In summary, altars in the Old Testament are rich in significance, serving as places of divine encounter, symbols of covenant, and focal points for worship and national identity. They are integral to the sacrificial system, which underscores the holiness of God and the need for atonement and consecration. The altars also remind us of the importance of genuine worship that goes beyond ritual to encompass ethical living and heartfelt devotion. Through the altars, we see the unfolding of God's redemptive plan, which ultimately finds its fulfillment in the New Testament with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the ultimate altar and the perfect sacrifice.