Exodus 40:10
You shall also anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and consecrate the altar, so that the altar may become most holy.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights that the altar of burnt offering, unlike other holy items, required ongoing anointing and consecration because it was the most exposed place to the people's presence. This constant process of sanctification emphasizes that access to God demands perpetual holiness.
Moses is meticulously following God's detailed instructions for setting up the Tabernacle and consecrating its various components. This verse specifically focuses on the altar of burnt offering, which is central to the sacrificial system that will allow for Israel's relationship with God. After this anointing and consecration, the Tabernacle is finally erected, covered by a cloud, and filled with God's glory, marking the divine presence among His people.
Why was it so crucial to anoint the altar and its utensils?
The anointing of the altar of burnt offering and its vessels wasn't just a ritual; it was a declaration of ultimate holiness. This act set the altar apart, signifying that it was consecrated for God's exclusive use.
A Holy Space for Holy Work
This altar was where the people's offerings were made. By anointing it, Moses was designating it as the specific place where sins would be atoned for and where God's presence would be mediated. It was the focal point for reconciliation between God and His people.
More Than Just Ritual
This wasn't simply a ceremonial cleaning. The anointing oil, representing the Holy Spirit, imbued the altar with a sacred status. It proclaimed that everything connected to it was now set apart, most holy, demanding reverence and careful approach.
What makes this specific altar so central to the Tabernacle's function?
The altar of burnt offering, situated at the threshold of the Tabernacle, served as the primary point of contact between God and the people. It was here that the covenant promises were enacted through sacrifice.
God's Dwelling, Humanity's Access
While the entire Tabernacle was holy, the altar was the gateway. It was the place where sin was dealt with through the shedding of blood, making it possible for God's glory to dwell within the sanctuary and for His people to approach Him.
A Symbol of Ongoing Relationship
The continuous sacrifices offered on this altar represented the ongoing relationship God desired with His people. The anointing of this altar underscored its critical role in maintaining that sacred connection.
Understand the original words
qodesh qodashim · Hebrew Noun Phrase
A superlative expression denoting the highest degree of holiness, indicating that something or someone is exclusively and uniquely dedicated to the service of the Lord.
This passage highlights the sanctity of things offered to the Lord, just as the altar itself is declared 'most holy' after anointing, emphasizing its special purpose in connecting humanity to God.
Hebrews 9:22The New Testament echoes the Old Testament principle that almost everything is cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. This connects to the altar's role in sacrificial atonement, which requires consecration and holiness.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20Just as our bodies are called 'temples of the Holy Spirit' and are to be consecrated to God, the anointing of the altar signifies its complete dedication to God's service and holiness.
Matthew 23:18-19Jesus contrasts the Pharisees' focus on the oath sworn by the altar itself, rather than God, with the true holiness of the altar. This emphasizes that the altar's sacredness comes from its divine purpose, not from itself.
1 Kings 8:64Solomon consecrates not only the altar but the entire house of the Lord, extending the concept of 'most holy' from the physical altar to the place of worship and its functions, showing a continuation of this principle.
pooleExodus 40:10: "And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy."
No text from Poole on this verse.
calvinExodus 40:1-35: "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.
Ungesque filius, quemadmodum unxeris patrem eorum: et sacerdotio fungentur mihi, eritque unctio eorum ut sit els in sacerdotium perpetuum per generationes suas.
Thus did Moses: according to all that the Lord commanded…
This verse highlights that the altar of burnt offering, unlike other holy items, required ongoing anointing and consecration because it was the most exposed place to the people's presence. This constant process of sanctification emphasizes that access to God demands perpetual holiness.
Moses is meticulously following God's detailed instructions for setting up the Tabernacle and consecrating its various components. This verse specifically focuses on the altar of burnt offering, which is central to the sacrificial system that will allow for Israel's relationship with God. After this anointing and consecration, the Tabernacle is finally erected, covered by a cloud, and filled with God's glory, marking the divine presence among His people.
Moses is meticulously following God's detailed instructions for setting up the Tabernacle and consecrating its various components. This verse specifically focuses on the altar of burnt offering, which is central to the sacrificial system that will allow for Israel's relationship with God. After this anointing and consecration, the Tabernacle is finally erected, covered by a cloud, and filled with God's glory, marking the divine presence among His people.
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"You shall also anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and consecrate the altar, so that the altar may become most holy." — This verse highlights that the altar of burnt offering, unlike other holy items, required ongoing anointing and consecration because it was the most exposed place to the people's presence. This const…
