Teks -- Exodus 38:1-2 (NET)

The Making of the Altar for the Burnt Offering

38:1 He made the altar for the burnt offering of acacia wood seven feet six inches long and seven feet six inches wide– it was square– and its height was four feet six inches. 38:2 He made its horns on its four corners; its horns were part of it, and he overlaid it with bronze.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Exo 38:1 - The altar of burnt-offering

On this all their sacrifices were offered. Christ was himself the altar to his own sacrifice of atonement, and so he is to all our sacrifices of acknowledgment. We must have an eye to him in offering them, as God hath in accepting them.

JFB: Exo 38:1 - the altar of burnt offering

The repetitions are continued, in which may be traced the exact conformity of the execution to the order.

Clarke: Exo 38:1 - The altar of burnt-offering

The altar of burnt-offering - See Clarke’ s note on Exo 27:1; and for its horns, pots, shovels, basins, etc., see the meaning of the Hebrew terms explained, Exo 27:3-5 (note).

Calvin: Exo 38:1 - And he made the altar of burnt-offering

1.And he made the altar of burnt-offering. The purport of this chapter is the same as that of the last, except that the order of some parts of it is transposed, though not a word is changed. He begins with the altar of burnt-offering, which he states to have been made of the materials and the form prescribed by God, in order that the people might there offer with surer confidence their sacrifices for the expiation of sin, and for thanksgiving. One thing which had not been mentioned before, is here added respecting the laver of brass, or cauldron ( concha,) from whence they took the water of sprinkling for expiation, viz., that this laver was ornamented with the mirrors of the women. Some explain this, ²⁹⁸ that the vessel was so bright that it might be easily discovered on every side whether there was any scandalous, or wanton, or indelicate act committed; for we know that impure and ungodly men sometimes conceal their iniquities under the cover of religion, even as it; is written that the women who frequented the tabernacle for religious exercises were defiled by the sons of Eli, the priests. ( 1Sa 2:22.) But there is another conjecture equally probable, that these mirrors were dedicated by holy women for the ornament of the Temple, and for sacred purposes; for, whereas women are only too much given to outward adornment and finery, they have been always very fond of mirrors, both for the purpose of painting their cheeks and arranging their hair, so that not a single hair should be out of place. Isaiah, therefore, ( Isa 3:23,) enumerates mirrors amongst the luxuries ²⁹⁹ of the female world. Some, then, think that women, being devoted to God’s service, laid aside this vanity, and consecrated their mirrors in testimony of their repentance. It might, however, have been that, amongst the other gifts before spoken of, they offered mirrors also, which were mounted as embossments in this brasen laver. Others suppose that they were carvings, by which the portraits of females were depicted, as if seen in mirrors. The simple notion is most approved by me, that they were votive offerings, wherewith pious women had desired to decorate the sanctuary, and that they had been applied to this use by the advice of the artificers; for he does not speak generally of all the women, but of those who warred or assembled by troops at the door of the tabernacle; for translators ³⁰⁰ variously explain this word צבא , tzaba, both in this passage and that from Samuel which I have just quoted. It is also applied to the Levites, who are said ³⁰¹ “to war the warfare” of the sanctuary, whilst performing their appointed work. ( Num 4:3.) Indeed this metaphor is by no means unsuitable to watchings and long-continued prayers. The sum is, that the laver was cast of their materials, or, as I rather suppose, embossed with these mirrors, in order that it might be more splendid.

TSK: Exo 38:1 - the altar // foursquare; and three cubits the height thereof

the altar : This altar consisted of four boards of shittim (acacia) wood, covered with brass, and hollow in the middle; but it is supposed to have been filled up with earth when used, for it is expressly said (Exo 20:24) that the altar is to be of earth. As it was five cubits long and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, if the cubit be reckoned at 21 inches, it must have been eight feet nine inches square, and about five feet three inches in height. Exo 27:1-8, Exo 40:6, Exo 40:29; 2Ch 4:1; Eze 43:13-17; Rom 8:3, Rom 8:4, Rom 12:1; Heb 3:1; Heb 9:14, Heb 13:10; 1Pe 2:5

foursquare; and three cubits the height thereof : Eze 43:16; Joh 6:37; Heb 13:8; Rev 21:16

TSK: Exo 38:2 - he made // brass

he made : Exo 27:2

brass : Job 6:12

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Gill: Exo 38:1-7 - And he made the altar of burnt offering

And he made the altar of burnt offering,.... That is, Bezaleel made it, or it was made by his direction, he having the care and oversight of it, wherefore the making of it is ascribed to him, 2Ch 1:5 the account of this, its horns, vessels, rings, and staves, is carried on to Exo 38:2 of which See Gill on Exo 27:1, Exo 27:2, Exo 27:3, Exo 27:4, Exo 27:5, Exo 27:6, Exo 27:7, Exo 27:8.