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.

5049. 'And whatever he did, Jehovah made it prosper' means that the Divine Providence began in Himself. This is clear from the meaning of 'causing to prosper' as providence, dealt with in 4972, 4975. The Divine nature of this providence is meant by 'Jehovah', and its beginning in Himself by 'whatever he did'. The reason why in the highest sense 'causing to prosper' means providence is that all prosperity witnessed in the outermost things forming the natural dimension owes its origin to the Lord's Divine Providence. The truth of this, and also that everything which people call fortune owes its origin to the same, will in the Lord's Divine mercy be demonstrated elsewhere from experiences in the spiritual world.