民數記 12
1
摩西娶了古實女子為妻。米利暗和亞倫因他所娶的古實女子，就毀謗他，說：
2
難道耶和華單與摩西說話，不也與我們說話麼？這話耶和華聽見了。
4
耶和華忽然對摩西、亞倫、米利暗說：你們三個人都出來，到會幕這裡。他們三個人就出來了。
5
耶和華在雲柱中降臨，站在會幕門口，召亞倫和米利暗，二人就出來了。
6
耶和華說：你們且聽我的話：你們中間若有先知，我─耶和華必在異象中向他顯現，在夢中與他說話。
8
我要與他面對面說話，乃是明說，不用謎語，並且他必見我的形像。你們毀謗我的僕人摩西，為何不懼怕呢？
10
雲彩從會幕上挪開了，不料，米利暗長了大痲瘋，有雪那樣白，亞倫一看米利暗長了大痲瘋，
11
就對摩西說：我主阿，求你不要因我們愚昧犯罪，便將這罪加在我們身上。
14
耶和華對摩西說：他父親若吐唾沫在他臉上，他豈不蒙羞七天麼？現在要把他在營外關鎖七天，然後才可以領他進來。
Altar
The first altar mentioned in the Word was the one built by Noah after he came out of the ark, after being saved from the great flood. On that altar, he sacrificed clean animals to the Lord.
Mountains represent the Lord because of their height; we need to raise our thoughts above worldly things when "talking" with the Lord. An altar is a small artificial mountain. When it's used in worship, it can call to mind this raising of thought. The fire and smoke that rise from an altar are symbolically being sent to the Lord.
Most altars were made from unhewn stones. Stones represent truths. Unhewn stones - ones that have not been shaped by men - represent truths from the Word, truths that have not been adulterated.
The clean beasts to be sacrificed represent good things, charitable acts done because they are right. The clean birds represent thoughts about doctrine and actions, and about what is right. Presenting these things is an acknowledgment that we have them from the Lord, and a giving thanks to Him for them.
In the Israelitish Tabernacle, the altar of burnt offering represented the acknowledgment of good and the altar of incense that of truth. For this reason this larger altar, which was outside by the door, was made of brass which signifies natural good, while the altar of incense was made of gold, which signifies love to the Lord from whom comes truth.
