Description
07-Design of the Altar of Sacrifice
Please refer to the fourth picture titled “Median Plane of Altar of Sacrifice” to help understand the following discussion. The Altar has a base or lap that is 1 x 1 (L x W, 43:13, 17) cubit (21 inches) as it enters the floor of the Inner Court (see the first footnote to 43:13 1995 NASB). It is the yellow structure that is seen in the fourth picture. The height of the base or lap is 1-cubit (43:13). The base has a 1 x 1 x .5-cubit back (L x W x H, see the second footnote of 43:13 1995 NASB ) upon which sets a border of width .5-cubit (10.5 inches) and height .5-cubit (43:13).
The back and the border are continuous with each other and solid metal and create the lap or base, the upper half of which is 2 x 2 x .5 cubits (L x W x H, 3.5 x 3.5 feet x 10.5 inches). The remainder of the Altar sets upon this extremely solid and sturdy lap. Next there is an inferred solid metal structure of 4 x 4 x 1 (L x W x H, 7 x 7 x 1.75 feet) cubits that creates the bottom of the lower ledge (43:14). It is the orange structure that is seen in the fourth picture. Next there is an inferred hollow metal structure of 6 x 6 x 4 (L x W x H, 10.5 x 10.5 x 7 feet) cubits that creates the top of the lower ledge of 43:14. The width of the lower ledge is 1-cubit (21 inches). The height of the lower or smaller ledge of this verse is 2-cubits from the floor of the Inner Court (43:14). There is another width of 1-cubit found in 43:14 that must be accounted for.
Let’s try to explain in more detail. The 1-cubit in height and 4 x 4 cubits (7 x 7 feet) in length and width orange structure of the fourth picture is inferred because the difference in the height of the base (height is 1-cubit) and the height of the lower ledge (height is 2-cubits) leaves 1-cubit of height unaccounted for. This solid metal structure sets atop the 2-cubits (3.5 feet) in length and width lap of the Altar and thus creates the unaccounted for 1-cubit (21 inches) width of this verse and the unaccounted-for height of 1-cubit.
The fourth picture clearly shows this arrangement. The hollow metal green structure is an ashbin. The 12 x 12 x 4 cubits (21 x 21 x 7 feet, L x W x D) altar hearth (43:15-16) sets above this hollow structure (ashbin) to create the top of the 3-cubits (5.25 feet) wide larger ledge of 43:14. The altar hearth is the red structure seen in the fourth picture. The square ledge of 43:17 is the brown structure that surrounds the altar hearth. Its depth is deduced to be 2-cubits (3.5 feet) or half the depth of the altar hearth. Its dimensions are defined on each of its sides by the length and width of its corners which are 14 x 14 cubits (24.5 x 24.5 feet). Thus, the four corners of the ledge of 43:20 and 45:19 are the corner of the corners on each side of the ledge and are 7 x 7 cubits (L x W, 12.25 x 12.25 feet) on each of the four sides of the ledge.
The steps of the Altar attach to the ledge on its eastern side. The steps are a massive structure solidly attached to the ledge. They act to stabilize the ledge which forms a suspended floor 40 x 40 x 10 cubits (L x W x H, 70 x 70 x 17.5 feet) above the floor of the Inner Court. There is a .5-cubit (10.5 inches) border that is kept painted with blood that surrounds this floor (43:17-20). The width of the steps is 12 cubits (21 feet). The length is 20 cubits (35 feet); the height is 10 cubits (17.5 feet). The tread of each step is 1-cubit and the height .5-cubit. The steps face east (43:17). The sons of Zadok will have exclusive control over the Altar (Ezekiel 43:18-27, 44:10-16, 46:1-12).
The question of whether a structure like this could be built using modern materials was answered by Dr. P.K. Basu in 2013 and below is his reply:
“I have assumed 1 cubits = 18” (In Judaic practice it represented 17.5”). I am attaching sketches of a possible structural system, which can be used as a starting point in the ultimate design of the structure as per local standards, which I am not familiar with. I have suggested that the main structural elements will be of steel. The other structural systems can be of extruded aluminum alloy shapes or glass fiber reinforced extruded plastic shapes (see Strongwell Corporation for more information concerning materials—auth. note). Aluminum weighs about 1/3rd of steel weight and plastic shapes are even lighter. The deck can be made of plywood. I hope that the provided information will serve your immediate purpose. If you have any questions about the sketch please feel free to contact me. Thanking you for your understanding and patience.”
P.K. Basu
Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Director of Graduate Studies in Civil Engineering
Vanderbilt University
e-mail: [email protected]
Desk: (615) 322-7477
We have his design on file and the design that is seen in these three pictures is based on his design. Dr. Basu also indicated that using the 21-inch cubit would not require a redesign or significantly change, alter, or modify our design. While we believe that it is important to demonstrate that the Altar of Sacrifice could be constructed using modern day materials, we also believe that Jesus will not be limited by the use of these materials when He builds His Altar.
The second picture is a straight down view of our structural design. The structural design of the ledge’s four corners can be seen here. In our design, which is based on Dr. Basu’s design, each square corner (14 x 14 cubits or 24.5 x 24.5 feet, L x W) is composed of four smaller 7 x 7 cubits (12.25 x 12.25 feet, L x W) squares, so that each corner of the ledge has within it, its own 7 x 7 cubits corner, which is clearly seen in the second picture. It is this corner that is referred to in 43:20 and 45:19 that must be easily painted with blood for the initial consecration of the Altar of 43:20 and to make atonement for the House for its physical defilement as prescribed in 45:18-20.
There are numerous 3-dimensional pictures of the Altar of Sacrifice in our 3-D Gallery section. The picture with the most explanation is picture 51. Also, please take the “Temple Tour” in our Millennial Temple Expedition to learn more about the Altar of Sacrifice.
The next and final topic for discussion concerns the placement of the Altar of Sacrifice within the Temple. Ezekiel 40:47 places the Altar within the Inner Court but does not specify its exact location nor does he specify the location of the Inner Court within the overall Temple. The verse simply says that the Altar is located in front of the Inner Temple and that the court was a perfect square of 100 x 100 cubits (175 feet).
If we have learned anything about these amazing chapters (chapters 40-48 of Ezekiel), it is that Ezekiel always supplies us with the necessary information by which to determine the exact location and dimension of every structure no matter how minute or insignificant. An example of this are the four tables of hewn stone of 40:42. They are 1.5 x 1.5 x 1 cubits (2.625 x 2.625 x 1.75 feet, L x W x H). Now the Altar of Sacrifice is arguably the most important and one of the largest structures in the Temple other than the Inner Temple itself. The dimensions of the hewn stone tables of 40:42 are insignificant in importance to the importance of knowing the exact location of the Altar within the Temple. And it would have been so easy for Ezekiel to tell us that it was located in the center of the Inner Court in front of the Inner Temple. But he doesn’t.
So, using the power of the Geometric Principle, let’s see if we can discover the true location of the Altar of Sacrifice within the overall Temple and then determine its location within the Inner Court. Please refer back to 04-Temple Principles and Layout of the Temple. The Geometric Principle resolves the four squares of picture 4 to picture 5 which we have subsequently designated to be “The Modular Temple”. It is this picture that correctly places the Inner Court of 40:47 within the overall Temple. But it doesn’t tell us where inside the Inner Court is the exact location of the Altar.
In order to discover the exact location of the Altar within the Inner Court we must employ the concept of Temple modularity again. The Inner Court may be considered to be an independent architectural module that contains the structures seen in the third picture titled “Inner Court” of this section of schematics. On the east, the east wall of the Inner Court can be seen to be 6-cubits (10.5feet) in width. Next, the base of the steps of the Altar of Sacrifice begins 8-cubits (14 feet) from the inside of the east wall as shown in the third picture. The length of the steps of the Altar is 20 cubits (35 feet), and the length of the ledge is 40 cubits (70 feet), as shown in the third picture. The width between base of the steps of the Inner Temple threshold and the west side of the ledge of the Altar is 8-cubits (14 feet) as shown in the third picture. Thus, we have correctly set the Altar as equidistant between the inside wall of the east wall of the Inner Court and the base of the steps of the Inner Temple threshold as shown in the third picture. The base of the Altar is considered to be the center of the Altar. This arrangement places the center of the 1 x 1 cubit base (21 x 21 inches) of the Altar exactly 46 cubits (80.5 feet) from the Temple platform and 54 cubits (94.5 feet) from the exterior wall of the east wall of the Inner Court, as is clearly shown in the third picture. The exact center of the base is 50 cubits (87.5 feet) from either the south or north walls of the Inner Court as seen in the third picture.
There are numerous 3-dimensional pictures of the Inner Court located in our 3-D Gallery section. The best might be pictures 30, 31, 53, 54, and 55.
Finally, we need to mention a historical point that will become evident on the purchase of this section of schematics. In the caption of the picture titled “Inner Court”, the millennial sacrifices are referred to as commemorative. The schematics were completed in July of 2016 and have not been changed or modified since. At that time, we were just coming to the realization that there could be a much better interpretation and understanding of the true meaning and necessity of these sacrifices. Since our better understanding was in the rudimentary stages, we felt it best to leave the caption, which was written years before 2016, unchanged.