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.

93. Since the angel Gabriel said to Mary, 'The holy thing that shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God,' passages will be quoted from the Word to prove that the Lord in His Human is called the Holy One of Israel.

I was seeing in visions; and behold, a watcher, a Holy One, coming down from heaven, Daniel 4:13, 23.

God shall come from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran, Habakkuk 3:3.

I am Jehovah the Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your Holy One, Isaiah 43:14-15.

Thus spoke Jehovah, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, Isaiah 49:7.

I am Jehovah your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour, Isaiah 43:1, 3.

As for our Redeemer, Jehovah Zebaoth is His name, the Holy One of Israel, Isaiah 47:4.

Jehovah your Redeemer said, the Holy One of Israel, Isaiah 43:14; 48:17.

Jehovah Zebaoth is His name, and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Isaiah 54:5.

They tested God and the Holy One of Israel, Psalms 78:41.

They have abandoned Jehovah, and provoked the Holy One of Israel, Isaiah 1:4.

They said, Make the Holy One of Israel depart from our faces; therefore thus spoke the Holy One of Israel, Isaiah 30:11-12.

Who say, Let Him hasten His work that we may see it, and let the purpose of the Holy One of Israel come near and be present, Isaiah 5:19.

On that day they shall lean upon Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, in truth, Isaiah 10:20.

Cry out and triumph, inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel, Isaiah 12:6.

The word of the God of Israel, On that day his eyes shall look towards the Holy One of Israel, Isaiah 17:6-7.

The needy among men shall exult in the Holy One of Israel, Isaiah 29:19; 41:16.

The earth is full of guilt against the Holy One of Israel, Jeremiah 51:5.

See also Isaiah 55:5; 60:9 and elsewhere.

[2] By 'the Holy One of Israel' is meant the Lord as to His Divine Human, for the angel said to Mary:

The holy thing that shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God, Luke 1:35.

Although Jehovah and the Holy One of Israel are mentioned separately, it is clear that they are one and the same, as is shown also by the passages quoted here, which prove that the Holy One of Israel is Jehovah. There are numerous passages to show that the Lord is called the God of Israel: for example, Isaiah 17:6; 21:10, 17; 24:15; 29:23; Jeremiah 7:3; 9:15; 11:3; 13:12; 16:9; 19:3, 15; 23:2; 24:5; 25:15, 27; 29:4, 8, 21, 25; 30:2; 31:23; 32:14-15, 36; 33:4; 34:2, 13; 35:13, 17-19; 37:7; 38:17; 39:16; 42:9, 15, 18; 43:10; 44:2, 7, 11, 25; 48:1; 50:18; 51:33; Ezekiel 8:4; 9:3; 10:19-20; 11:22; 43:2; 44:2; Zephaniah 2:9; Psalms 41:13; 59:5; 68:8.