מִזְבֵּחַ

H4196. mizbeach
מִזְבֵּחַ401 noun masculineJos 22:10 altar (Arabic , place of slaughter, trench made by torrent, Sabean מדֿבח DHMEpigr. Denkm. 24); ׳מ absolute 2Ki 18:22 223t., הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָה Exo 29:13 Exo 29:31t.; construct מִזְבַּח Exo 20:24 76t., suffix מִזְבְּחִי Exo 20:26 Exo 20:7t., מִזְבַּחֲךָ 1Ki 8:31 1Ki 8:3t.,מִזְבְּחֶ֑ךָ Deu 33:10; מִזְבְּחוֺ Jdg 6:31 Jdg 6:2t.; plural מִזְבְּחֹת Num 23:1 Num 23:5t., מִזְבְּחוֺת 2Ki 21:3 2Ki 21:23t., suffix מִזְבְּחוֺתֶיךָ Psa 84:4, other suffixes 21 t.; —
1 J E narrate that altars were built by Noah after leaving the ark Gen 8:20; by Abraham at Shechem Gen 12:7, Bethel Gen 12:8, Hebron Gen 13:18, mountain in land Moriah Gen 22:9; by Issac at Beersheba Gen 26:25; by Jacob at Shechem Gen 33:20 (yet this perhaps mistake for מַצֵּבָה, being object of וַיַּצֶּבשָֿׁם, not elsewhere with מזבח, compare also Di), at Bethel Gen 35:7, by Moses at Rephidim Exo 17:15, Horeb Exo 24:4, by Balak at Bamoth Baal, Pisgah, & Peor Num 23:1, Num 23:14, Num 23:29; by Joshua on Mt. Ebal Jos 8:30: the prophetic histories narrate that altars were built by Gideon at Ophra Jdg 6:24; by a man of God at Bethel Jdg 21:4; by Samuel at Ramah 1Sa 7:17; by Saul after Michmash 1Sa 14:35; by David on the threshing floor of Ornan 2Sa 24:25 = 1Ch 21:18; 1Ch 22:1; that Solomon sacrificed on the altar at Gibeon 1Ki 3:4 and built altars in the temple at Jerusalem 1Ki 6:20; 1Ki 8:64; that Jeroboam built an altar at Bethel 1Ki 12:32 (which was destroyed by Josiah 2Ki 23:15); and that Elijah repaired an ancient altar on Carmel 1Ki 18:30. An altar in Egypt is predicted Isa 19:19. All this accords with the law of the Covenant code Exo 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 Deu 27:6 (JE), שְׁלֵמוֺת אֲבָנִים Jos 8:31, and twelve stones 1Ki 18:30, 1Ki 18:32; compare Isa 27:9. The altar was also a place of refuge Exo 21:24 (JE) 1Ki 1:50-51, 1Ki 2:28.
2 D prescribes one central altar Deu 12:5f. 27; but no attempt to enforce this principle appears before Hezekiah(2Ki 18:4, 2Ki 18:22), and Josiah, whose reform is more effectual, 2Ki 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 Jos 22:10-34. P describes two altars:
a. the הָעֹלָה מִזְבַּח Exo 30:28; Exo 31:9; Exo 35:16; Exo 38:1; Exo 40:6, Exo 40:10, Exo 40:29; Lev 4:7, Lev 4:10, Lev 4:25 (twice in verse); Lev 4:30, Lev 4:34 = ׳מ הַנְּחשֶׁת Exo 38:30; Exo 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 Exo 27:1; Exodus 8; Exo 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 Exo 30:1-6 = ׳מ הקטרת Exo 30:27; Exo 31:8; Exo 35:15; Exo 37:25 = ׳מ הזהב Exo 39:38; Exo 40:5, Exo 40:26; Num 4:11 = ׳מ הַסַּמִּים קטרת Lev 4:7; these altars are named elsewhere only in Chronicles: 1Ch 6:34; 1Ch 16:40; 1Ch 21:29; 2Ch 1:5-6,.
4 Solomon made two altars for the temple at Jerusalem:
a. ׳מ הַנְּחשֶׁת for the court 1Ki 8:64 (which was laid aside by Ahaz 2Ki 16:14-15, who made an altar after the model of one he saw in Damascus 2Ki 16:11); in 2Ki 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 2Ch 4:1; this (ה)נחשׁת מזבח also 2Ch 7:7 & Eze 9:2; = ׳מ העולה2Ch 29:18, repaired by Asa 2Ch 15:8;
b. an altar of cedar, plated with gold, in the temple before the דְּבִיר 1Ki 6:20, 1Ki 6:22; 1Ki 7:48; = ׳מ הזהב2Ch 4:19; = ׳מ הַקְּטֹרֶת 1Ch 28:18; 2Ch 26:16.
5 Ezekiel plans two altars for the new temple:
a. a table of wood 3*2 cubits Eze 41:22;
b. an altar for the court, probably same dimensions as 4a, with stairs Eze 43:13-17.
6 after the return Jeshua built an altar on the ancient site in the court of the temple Ezr 3:2.
7 besides these altars used in the worship of Yahweh, Ahab built an altar to Baal in Samaria 1Ki 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 2Ki 23:12.
8 the ancient and most common term for making altars was בָּנָה Gen 35:7 (E) Gen 8:20 (J) Deu 27:5-6, Exo 32:5 (JE) +, implying building material; other verbs are הֵקִים 2Sa 24:18; 1Ki 16:32; 2Ki 21:3; 1Ch 21:18; 2Ch 33:3; הֵכִין Ezr 3:3 (followed by עַלמְֿכוֺנֹתָו֯); שִׂים Jer 11:13; וַיַּצֶּבֿ Gen 33:20 (but compare
1); Num 23:4 (E) has עָרַךְ arrange, prepare; עָשָׂה Gen 35:1, Gen 35:3; Exo 20:24 (E) Gen 13:4 (J) Judg 22:28; 1Ki 12:33; 1Ki 18:26; this becomes usual in P, Exo 27:1; Exo 30:1; Exo 37:25; Exo 38:1, Exo 38:30, Songs 2Ch 4:1, 2Ch 4:19; 2Ch 7:7; 2Ch 28:24.
9 the dedication of the altar was המזבח חֲנֻכַּת Num 7:10-11, Num 7:84, Num 7:88; 2Ch 7:9; it was anointed with oil מָשַׁח Exo 40:10; Lev 8:11; Num 7:10 (all P).
10 removal of unlawful altars is expressed by נָתַץ Exo 34:13 (JE) Deu 7:5; Jdg 2:2; Jdg 6:30-31, Jdg 6:32; 2Ki 11:18; 2Ki 23:12, 2Ki 23:15; נִתַּץ (Pi) Deu 12:3; 2Ch 31:1; 2Ch 34:4, 2Ch 34:7; נֻתַּץ Jdg 6:28; הָרַס Jdg 6:25; 1Ki 19:10, 1Ki 19:14; שִׁבַּר2Ch 23:17>; הֵסִיר 2Ki 18:22 = Isa 36:7; 2Ch 14:2; 2Ch 30:14; 2Ch 32:12; 2Ch 33:15.
11 ministry at the altar was הַמּ ׳מִשְׁמֶרֶת Num 18:5; Eze 40:46, compare Num 3:31 (P), מ ׳מְשָֽׁרְתֵי Joe 1:13; עַל עָמַד is said of officiating priest 1Ki 13:1, עַל עָלָה Exo 20:26; 1Sa 2:28; 1Ki 12:33 + (compare יָרַד Lev 9:22); sacrifices were usually offered עַלהַֿמִּזְבֵּחַ Gen 22:9; Deu 12:27 +; see especially the phrases with זָרַק Exo 29:16, Exo 29:20 + (see זרק); הִקְטִיר Lev 4:10 (see קטר Hiph`il); הֶעֱלָה Lev 6:3 + (see עלה
Hiph`il) לְבַעֵר Neh 10:35; but בַּמִּזְבֵּחַ Gen 8:20 (J) Num 23:2, Num 23:4, Num 23:14, Num 23:30 (E); one touching the altar is בַּמּ ׳הַנֹּגֵעַ Exo 29:37 (P); המ ׳לפני of placing, or standing before altar Deu 26:4; 1Ki 8:22; as
accusative of location הַמִּזְבֵּ֫חָה in phrases especially with הִקְטִיר Exo 29:13 +, and הֶעֱלָה Lev 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 Jer 17:1; therefore of blood for cleansing it was said המ קרנות על ׳נָתַן Exo 29:12; Lev 4:7, Lev 4:18, Lev 4:25, Lev 4:30, Lev 4:34; Lev 8:15; Lev 9:9; Lev 16:18 (all P). An ancient custom is referred to, Psa 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 Lev 8:15; Lev 9:9 & יסוד אל שָׁפַךְ Exo 29:12; Lev 4:7, Lev 4:18, Lev 4:25, Lev 4:30, Lev 4:34 (all P) יסוד אל יִמָּצֵה Lev 5:9.
14 the altar was קָדָשִׁים קֹדֶשׁ Exo 29:37; Exo 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 Lev 8:15 (P) Eze 43:22; כִּמֶּר Lev 16:20, Lev 16:33 (P) Eze 43:26; קִדַּשׁ Exo 29:44; Exo 40:10; Lev 8:15; Num 7:1 (P); טִהַר2Ch 29:18.
זַבַּי see below זבב.