Saints Peter And Paul Sermons

Hebrew mizbēaḥ, from zbḥ “to slaughter” (and subsequently “to sacrifice”), designates a place where various types of sacrifices and offerings (e.g., animal, grain, incense) were presented. (Originally the term may have indicated that animals were placed on the altar and then slaughtered, but in general practice the killing took place in front of the altar [Lev. 1–7; cf. Gen. 22:9].) The altar was the focus of the Israelite sanctuary, hence the phrase “to build an altar” connotes “to establish a sanctuary” (cf. Gen. 12:7–8; 26:25). The earliest altars mentioned in the Old Testament were erected in commemoration of a divine theophany (e.g., Gen. 8:20; 12:7–8; 13:18; 22:19). Others were set up as a witness to God and frequently were given a commemorative name (e.g., Exod. 17:15 [RSV “Yahweh is my banner”]; Josh. 22:9–10, 26–27). Such “lay” altars were common even after the centralized cult had been established at Jerusalem under David and Solomon and despite the later reforms of Hezekiah and Josiah (cf. Josh. 8