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.

284. The details just quoted about the proclamation of the law, its holiness and power, are to be found in the following passages of the Word. Jehovah came down on Mount Sinai in fire, and the mountain then smoked and shook, there was thunder and lightning, an oppressive cloud and the sound of a trumpet: Exodus 19:16-18; Deuteronomy 4:11; 5:22-26. The people prepared and sanctified themselves for three days before Jehovah came down: Exodus 19:10-11, 15. The mountain was hedged about to prevent anyone approaching its foot and coming near and being killed; not even the priests approached, only Moses: Exodus 19:12-13, 20-23; 24:1-2. The law was proclaimed from Mount Sinai: Exodus 20:2-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21. The law was inscribed on two stone tablets, and written by the finger of God: Exodus 31:18; 32:15-16; Deuteronomy 9:10. When Moses carried the tablets down from the mountain the second time, his face shone so that he had to cover his face with a veil when talking with the people: Exodus 34:29-35. The tablets were laid up in the Ark: Exodus 25:16, 40:20; Deuteronomy 10:5; 1 Kings 8:9. The mercy-seat was mounted upon the Ark, and over it were placed cherubim made of gold: Exodus 25:17-21. The Ark together with the mercy-seat and the cherubim was put into the Tabernacle, constituting its first and thus most inward part; the table overlaid with gold, upon which was the bread of the Presence, the incense-altar of gold, and the lamp-stand and lamps of gold, made up the external part of the Tabernacle; the ten curtains of fine linen, purple and scarlet were its outermost part: Exodus 25:1-end; Exodus 26:1-end; Exodus 40:17-28. The place, where the Ark was, was called the Holy of Holies: Exodus 26:33. The whole people of Israel camped around the Tabernacle in the order of their tribes, and set out in order after it: Numbers 2:1-end. There was then a cloud over the Tabernacle by day and fire by night: Exodus 40:38; Numbers 9:15-end; Numbers 14:14; Deuteronomy 1:33. Jehovah spoke with Moses above the Ark, between the cherubim: Exodus 25:22; Numbers 7:89. The Ark was called from the law in it 'Jehovah-is-here'; for Moses said when the Ark set out 'Arise, Jehovah', and when it rested 'Return, Jehovah': Numbers 10:35-36; and further 2 Samuel 6:2 ¹ ; Psalms 132:7-8. On account of the holiness of the law Aaron was not allowed to go inside the veil, except with sacrifices and incense: Leviticus 16:2-14ff. By the presence of the Lord's power in the law contained in the Ark the waters of Jordan were parted, and the people crossed over on dry land, so long as it rested in the midst: ; 4:5-20. When the Ark was carried round them, the walls of Jericho fell down: Joshua 6:1-20. Dagon, the god of the Philistines, fell to the ground in the presence of the Ark, and afterwards was found lying on the threshold of the shrine with his head torn off and the palms of his hands cut off: 1 Samuel 5. The men of Bethshemesh were smitten because of the Ark to the number of many thousands: 1 Samuel 5, 6. Uzzah was killed by touching the Ark: 2 Samuel 6:7. The Ark was brought into Zion by David with sacrifices and jubilation: 2 Samuel 6:1-19. The Ark was brought by Solomon into the Temple at Jerusalem, where he made its inner shrine: 1 Kings 6:19ff; 1 Kings 8:3-9.

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