מִזְבֵּחַ 401 noun masculineJoshua 22:10 altar (Arabic 

, 
place of slaughter, trench made by torrent, Sabean 
מדֿבח DHM
Epigr. Denkm. 24); 
מ׳ absolute 
2 Kings 18:22 223 times, 
הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָה Exodus 29:13 31 times; construct 
מִזְבַּח Exodus 20:24 76 times, suffix 
מִזְבְּחִי Exodus 20:26 7 times, 
מִזְבַּחֲךָ 1 Kings 8:31 3 times,
מִזְבְּחֶ֑ךָ Deuteronomy 33:10; 
מִזְבְּחוֺ Judges 6:31 2 times; plural 
מִזְבְּחֹת Numbers 23:1 5 times, 
מִזְבְּחוֺת 2 Kings 21:3 23 times, suffix 
מִזְבְּחוֺתֶיךָ Psalm 84:4, other suffixes 
21 times; — 
    1. J E narrate that altars were built by Noah after leaving the ark 
Genesis 8:20; by Abraham at Shechem 
Genesis 12:7, Bethel 
Genesis 12:8, Hebron 
Genesis 13:18, mountain in land Moriah 
Genesis 22:9; by Issac at Beersheba 
Genesis 26:25; by Jacob at Shechem 
Genesis 33:20 (yet this perhaps mistake for 
מַצֵּבָה, being object of 
וַיַּצֶּבשָֿׁם, not elsewhere with 
מזבח, compare also Di), at Bethel 
Genesis 35:7, by Moses at Rephidim 
Exodus 17:15, Horeb 
Exodus 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 
Judges 21:4; by Samuel at Ramah 
1 Samuel 7:17; by Saul after Michmash 
1 Samuel 14:35; by David on the threshing floor of Ornan 
2 Samuel 24:25 = 
1 Chronicles 21:18; 
1 Chronicles 22:1; that Solomon sacrificed on the altar at Gibeon 
1 Kings 3:4 and built altars in the temple at Jerusalem 
1 Kings 6:20; 
1 Kings 8:64; that Jeroboam built an altar at Bethel 
1 Kings 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), 
אֲבָנִים שְׁלֵמוֺת 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; 
1 Kings 2:28.
 
    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:
 
    4. Solomon made two altars for the temple at Jerusalem:
    5. Ezekiel plans two altars for the new temple:
    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.
 
    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 
לְקַרְנוֺת מִזְבְּחוֺתֵיכֶם Jeremiah 17:1; therefore of blood for cleansing it was said 
נָתַן על קרנות המ׳ Exodus 29:12; 
Leviticus 4:7,
18,
25,
30,
34; 
Leviticus 8:15; 
Leviticus 9:9; 
Leviticus 16:18 (all P). An ancient custom is referred to, 
Psalm 118:27 אִסְרוחַֿג בַּעֲבֹתִ֑ים עַדקֿרנות המזבח 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.
 
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