Lance Carson
The altar of incense, introduced in Exodus 30:1-6, was a piece of furniture in the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The altar was made of acia wood and overlaid with gold, with four horns, one at each corner, and two gold rings attached to its sides. The horns of the altar of incense were sprinkled with the blood of the sin offering, representing atonement and the strength of the Divine Lord. The smoke rising from the burning incense symbolized the prayers of God's people.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number | Four |
| Material | Gold |
| Position | One on each corner of the top |
| Symbolism | Power |
| Use | Sprinkled with the blood of the sin-offering |
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What You'll Learn
The horns were sprinkled with the blood of the sin-offering
The altar of incense is mentioned in Exodus chapter 30 as one of the items inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The altar was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, with four horns, one at each corner. The horns were sprinkled with the blood of the sin-offering. This act of sprinkling blood was a common ritual in the Holy Place, with the blood being seen everywhere. The blood symbolised the atoning sacrifice in its reference to God.
The Bible states that the priest shall "dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle the blood seven times before the Lord, before the veil of the sanctuary". This act was followed by sprinkling blood on the horns of the altar of incense, and then pouring the rest of the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering. The blood was used to cleanse the altar of incense, and the high priest was to perform this ritual once a year on the Day of Atonement.
The horns of the altar of incense were smeared with blood, and this act is believed to symbolise the influence of the blood upon the offering of intercessory prayer. In Scripture, incense is often associated with prayer. For example, in Psalm 141:2, David prayed, "May my prayer be set before you like incense". The smoke rising from the burning incense is seen as a symbol of the prayers and intercession of the people.
The horns of the altar also represent power and authority. In Daniel's dream about four beasts, the last beast had ten horns, and a little horn rose out of the ten. This dream is interpreted as representing kings and kingdoms, with the ten horns symbolising ten kings. The destruction of the horns of the altar, as mentioned in Amos 3:14, represents the downfall of idolatry and the removal of safe havens for those who refuse to heed God's Word.
The sprinkling of blood on the horns of the altar is meant to encourage and assure people when they come to God in prayer. It symbolises the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who shed his blood for the sins of humanity, and it is through faith in him that Christians find atonement.
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The horns represent the strength of the Divine Lord
The altar of incense is mentioned in the Bible in Exodus chapter 30 as one of the items inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The altar was square, with each side measuring one cubit, and it stood two cubits high. It was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, and had four horns, one at each corner. The horns were made of the same material as the altar itself and were overlaid with gold. The altar of incense was placed before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Testimony was located, representing the presence of God.
Aaron was instructed to burn incense on the altar each morning and at twilight as a regular offering to the Lord. The incense was made according to a recipe given by God, and only this incense was to be burned on the altar. The fire used to burn the incense was taken from the altar of the burnt offering outside the sanctuary. The smoke rising from the burning incense represented the prayers and intercession of the people, symbolising their constant ascension before the Lord.
The altar of incense was also connected with the sacrificial rituals of Israel. When a sin offering was required due to a failure on the part of the high priest or the congregation, the blood of the offering was smeared on the horns of the altar and poured out at its base. This act of atonement symbolised the strength of the Divine Lord, representing His power to prevail as the Intercessor and Offerer of His people's worship.
The horns of the altar, therefore, may be seen as a representation of the strength and power of the Divine Lord. The number four is significant, as it represents the earth, and the four horns symbolise the power of God to meet the needs of sinners everywhere. The altar of incense stood as a reminder of God's strength and His desire for His people to be holy in heart and deed.
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The smoke rising from the incense symbolized the prayers of God's people
The altar of incense is mentioned in the Bible, in Exodus chapter 30, as one of the items inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The altar was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, with four horns, one at each corner, and gold rings built into it so that it could be carried with poles of acacia wood.
The smoke rising from the incense on the altar symbolized the prayers of God's people. In the Bible, incense is often associated with prayer. For example, in Psalm 141:2, David prays: "May my prayer be set before you like incense". In Revelation 5:8, John describes the elders around the throne as "holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people".
The altar of incense was connected with the sacrificial rituals of Israel. When a sin offering was required, the blood of the offering was smeared on the horns of the altar and poured out at its base. This symbolized atonement and the strength of the Divine Lord. The smoke from the incense, constantly rising, symbolized the prayers of God's people constantly ascending before the Lord. The priests served as mediators between the people and God, bringing their prayers into His presence.
The altar of incense stood before the Ark of the Covenant or throne of God, with only a veil separating them. The four horns of the altar may also have represented power, as in the Bible, horns often symbolize power and authority.
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The four horns represent power
The altar of incense is first mentioned in Exodus 30 as one of the items inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The top of the altar was square, with each side measuring one cubit, and the whole altar was two cubits high. The altar was made of acia wood and overlaid with gold, and it had four horns, one at each corner. These horns were an important part of the altar's design and symbolism.
The four horns on the altar of incense represent power. In the Bible, horns often symbolise power and strength, and this interpretation is supported by the description of the altar in Exodus 30. The altar is said to be made of acia wood overlaid with gold, conveying a sense of richness and value. The horns, being made of the same material, would have added to the overall impression of power and majesty.
The number four itself also carries significance in the Bible. In Hebrew, four is the number of the earth, and the four sides of the altar indicate that it was a place of intercession for every believer worldwide. The four horns, therefore, could symbolise God's power and authority over the earth and His ability to hear and answer the prayers of His people from all directions.
Furthermore, the horns of the altar were also associated with sacrificial rituals. In the case of a sin offering, the blood of the sacrifice was smeared on the horns of the altar, symbolising atonement and cleansing. This act of sprinkling the horns with blood could be seen as a recognition of God's power to forgive and purify His people from their sins.
The altar of incense, with its four horns, thus served as a powerful symbol of God's presence, power, and willingness to hear and answer the prayers of His people. The smoke rising from the burning incense represented the prayers and intercession of the believers, ascending to God in heaven. The altar stood before the veil separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, emphasising the importance and sacredness of the altar and the power it symbolised.
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The destruction of the horns represents the downfall of idolatry
The altar of incense is mentioned in the Bible, in Exodus chapter 30, as one of the items inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The altar was square, with each side measuring one cubit, and it was two cubits high. It was made of acia wood and overlaid with gold. Notably, the altar of incense had four "horns," one at each corner, similar to the altar of sacrifice in the courtyard. The horns of the altar represented a holy place and were a symbol of divine presence, power, and protection.
The destruction of the horns on the altar of incense is mentioned in Amos 3:14, which states, "the horns of the altar shall be cut off and fall to the ground." This prophecy foretells the downfall of idolatry and the removal of safe havens for those who refuse to heed God's Word. The prophet Amos lived during a time when the people of Israel were disobedient to God but maintained their temple rites. God, through Amos, proclaimed that their incense offerings were meaningless and detestable to Him, emphasizing the importance of having the right intentions and a pure heart.
The horns of the altar served as a sacred refuge and a place where mercy could be sought and divine justice awaited. In Exodus, they were part of the consecration of priests, and God promised to meet with His people at this holy place. Adonijah and Joab sought safety by clinging to the horns of the altar, although Joab was not spared due to his sins. The destruction of the horns, therefore, symbolizes the removal of idolatry and false refuges, bringing God's discipline upon those who turn away from Him.
Additionally, the altar of incense, with its horns, can be seen as a symbol of the prayers of God's people. The smoke rising from the burning incense represented their prayers and intercession. The Bible also associates incense with prayer, such as in Psalm 141:2, where David prays, "May my prayer be set before you like incense." Thus, the destruction of the horns could also signify the end of prayers reaching God due to the prevalence of idolatry.
In conclusion, the destruction of the horns on the altar of incense represents the downfall of idolatry, the removal of safe havens, and the need for genuine repentance and a pure heart before God. The horns, though once a symbol of divine presence and protection, were destroyed to bring about God's just discipline and to turn His people back to true worship and obedience.
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Frequently asked questions
The horns on the altar of incense were often associated with power. In the Bible, Daniel has a dream about four beasts, the last one with ten horns, and a little horn that rose out of the ten. The ten horns were interpreted as ten kings who shall rise and rule over the earth.
The horns on the altar of incense were made of acia wood overlaid with brass or bronze. They were covered with gold.
The altar of incense was used to burn incense. The smoke rising from the incense symbolized the prayers of God’s people constantly ascending before the Lord.
