Exodus 27: Summary and Commentary

Verse 1

27:1-19 These plans for the altar of burnt offering and the courtyard continue the movement outward from the center. As with the sanctuary, the plans for the furniture of the courtyard are given (27:1-8) before the plans for the courtyard itself (27:9-19).

27:1-8 Like the frames of the Tabernacle, the square altar of burnt offerings was made of acacia wood overlaid with metal. However, in keeping with the other features outside the sanctuary, it was overlaid with bronze (27:2-3; see 27:10, 17, 19).

Verse 2

27:2 Archaeology has shown that the horns of the altar were protrusions sticking up from the corners of the structure. Perhaps they kept wood and offerings from falling off (see Ps 118:27). They also seem to have had a theological significance, representing God’s gracious care. A person who held onto the horns of the altar was requesting leniency in judgment (see 1 Kgs 1:50-51; 2:28). The horns were anointed with blood in atonement and purification ceremonies (Exod 29:12; Lev 4:7).

Verse 5

27:5 The altar was evidently a hollow square (27:1, 8), with the grating placed inside it to allow ashes to fall to the ground underneath.

Verse 9

27:9-19 The plans for the courtyard called for walls of curtains made of finely woven linen hanging on posts with bronze bases. The posts seem to have been 7½ feet apart and 7½ feet high. The curtains formed a rectangle 150 feet long and 75 feet wide, with a 30-foot opening centered in the east

Verse 16

27:16 The curtain shielding the entry to the courtyard was similar in color and workmanship to the entry curtain and the dividing curtain of the Tabernacle (26:31, 36).

Verse 19

27:19 The use of tent pegs suggests that the courtyard posts were not freestanding but were stabilized with guy wires.

Verse 20

27:20–30:38 Following the instructions for Tabernacle structure, instructions are now given for those who would serve in the Tabernacle and for the elements involved in that service. Included are priestly functions (27:20-21; 29:38-46), clothing (ch 28), dedication ceremonies (29:1-37), furnishings (30:1-10, 17-21), and supplies (30:11-16, 22-38).

27:20-21 The first thing said about the function of the priests, Aaron and his sons, is that they were to keep the lamps burning continually through the night (see 30:8). As the lamps burned in the Lord’s presence, they would indicate the continuity of his presence.

Verse 21

27:21 the Tabernacle (literally the Tent of Meeting): The expression Tent of Meeting sometimes refers to the Tabernacle tent; in these cases the expression is essentially synonymous with Tabernacle, and the NLT consistently renders it Tabernacle. In addition, a temporary tent also called the “Tent of Meeting” is mentioned in 33:7-11. See study note on 40:2.

Verse 1

As God intended in the tabernacle to manifest his presence among his people, so there they were to pay their devotions to him, not in the tabernacle itself (into that only the priests entered as God's domestic servants), but in the court before the tabernacle, where, as common subjects, they attended. There an altar was ordered to be set up, to which they must bring their sacrifices, and on which their priests must offer them to God: and this altar was to sanctify their gifts. Here they were to present their services to God, as from the mercy-seat he gave his oracles to them; and thus a communion was settled between God and Israel. Moses is here directed about, 1. The dimensions of it; it was square, Exo 27:1. 2. The horns of it (Exo 27:2), which were for ornament and for use; the sacrifices were bound with cords to the horns of the altar, and to them malefactors fled for refuge. 3. The materials; it was of wood overlaid with brass, Exo 27:1, Exo 27:2. 4. The appurtenances of it (Exo 27:3), which were all of brass. 5. The grate, which was let into the hollow of the altar, about the middle of it, in which the fire was kept, and the sacrifice burnt; it was made of network like a sieve, and hung hollow, that the fire might burn the better, and that the ashes might fall through into the hollow of the altar, Exo 27:4, Exo 27:5. 6. The staves with which it must be carried, Exo 27:6, Exo 27:7. And, lastly, he is referred to the pattern shown him, Exo 27:8.

Now this brazen altar was a type of Christ dying to make atonement for our sins: the wood would have been consumed by the fire from heaven if it had not been secured by the brass; nor could the human nature of Christ have borne the wrath of God if it had not been supported by a divine power. Christ sanctified himself for his church, as their altar (Joh 17:19), and by his mediation sanctifies the daily services of his people, who have also a right to eat of this altar (Heb 13:10), for they serve at it as spiritual priests. To the horns of this altar poor sinners fly for refuge when justice pursues them, and they are safe in virtue of the sacrifice there offered.

Verse 9

Before the tabernacle there was to be a court or yard, enclosed with hangings of the finest linen that was used for tents. This court, according to the common computation of cubits, was fifty yards long, and twenty-five broad. Pillars were set up at convenient distances, in sockets of brass, the pillars filleted with silver, and silver tenter-hooks in them, on which the linen hangings were fastened: the hanging which served for the gate was finer than the rest, Exo 27:16. This court was a type of the church, enclosed and distinguished from the rest of the world, the enclosure supported by pillars, denoting the stability of the church, hung with the clean linen, which is said to be the righteousness of saints, Rev 19:8. These were the courts David longed for and coveted to reside in (Psa 84:2, Psa 84:10), and into which the people of God entered with praise and thanksgiving (Psa 100:4); yet this court would contain but a few worshippers. Thanks be to God, now, under the gospel, the enclosure is taken down. God's will is that men pray every where; and there is room for all that in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ.

Verse 20

We read of the candlestick in the twenty-fifth chapter; here is an order given for the keeping of the lamps constantly burning in it, else it was useless; in every candlestick there should be a burning and shining light; candlesticks without candles are as wells without water or as clouds without rain. Now, 1. The people were to provide the oil; from them the Lord's ministers must have their maintenance. Or, rather, the pure oil signified the gifts and graces of the Spirit, which are communicated to all believers from Christ the good olive, of whose fulness we receive (Zac 4:11, Zac 4:12), and without which our light cannot shine before men. 2. The priests were to light the lamps, and to tend them; it was part of their daily service to cause the lamp to burn always, night and day; thus it is the work of ministers, by the preaching and expounding of the scriptures (which are as a lamp), to enlighten the church, God's tabernacle upon the earth, and to direct the spiritual priests in his service. This is to be a statute for ever, that the lamps of the word be lighted as duly as the incense of prayer and praise is offered.

Verse 3

shovels—fire shovels for scraping together any of the scattered ashes.

basons—for receiving the blood of the sacrifice to be sprinkled on the people.

fleshhooks—curved, three-pronged forks (Sa1 2:13-14).

fire-pans—A large sort of vessel, wherein the sacred fire which came down from heaven (Lev 9:24) was kept burning, while they cleaned the altar and the grate from the coals and ashes, and while the altar was carried from one place to another in the wilderness [PATRICK, SPENCER, LE CLERC].

Verse 4

a grate of network of brass—sunk latticework to support the fire.

four brazen rings—by which the grating might be lifted and taken away as occasion required from the body of the altar.

Verse 5

put it under the compass of the altar beneath—that is, the grating in which they were carried to a clean place (Lev 4:12).

Verse 6

staves . . . rings—Those rings were placed at the side through which the poles were inserted on occasions of removal.

Verse 9

the court of the tabernacle—The enclosure in which the edifice stood was a rectangular court, extending rather more than fifty yards in length and half that space in breadth, and the enclosing parapet was about three yards or half the height of the tabernacle. That parapet consisted of a connected series of curtains, made of fine twined linen yarn, woven into a kind of network, so that the people could see through; but that large curtain which overhung the entrance was of a different texture, being embroidered and dyed with variegated colors, and it was furnished with cords for pulling it up or drawing it aside when the priests had occasion to enter. The curtains of this enclosure were supported on sixty brazen pillars which stood on pedestals of the same metal, but their capitals and fillets were of silver, and the hooks on which they were suspended were of silver also.

Verse 19

pins—were designed to hold down the curtains at the bottom, lest the wind should waft them aside.

Verse 20

pure oil olive beaten—that is, such as runs from the olives when bruised and without the application of fire.

for the light . . . Aaron and his sons—were to take charge of lighting it in all time coming.

Verse 21

shall order it from evening to morning—The tabernacle having no windows, the lamps required to be lighted during the day. JOSEPHUS says that in his time only three were lighted; but his were degenerate times, and there is no Scripture authority for this limitation. But although the priests were obliged from necessity to light them by day, they might have let them go out at night had it not been for this express ordinance.

Next: Exodus Chapter 28