# Exodus 27 š: The Altar and the Courtyard
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#š Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#š Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#š§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#āļø Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#š Key Principles / š Life Application]]
> [[#š¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#āļø Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#š Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#š Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#š Internal Notes]]
## š Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
## The Altar
[[#Verse 01.]] āYou are to make theĀ altar of acacia wood, 7½ feet long,Ā and 7½ feet wide; the altar is to be square,Ā and its height is to be 4½ feetĀ .Ā
[[#Verse 02.]]Ā You are to make its four hornsĀ on its four corners; its horns will be part of it,Ā and you are to overlay it with bronze.Ā
[[#Verse 03.]]Ā You are to make its pots for the ashes,Ā its shovels, its tossing bowls,Ā its meat hooks, and its fire pansāyou are to make allĀ its utensils of bronze.Ā
[[#Verse 04.]]Ā You are to make a gratingĀ for it, a network of bronze, and you are to make on the network four bronze rings on its four corners.Ā
[[#Verse 05.]]Ā You are to put it under the ledge of the altar below, so that the network will comeĀ halfway up the altar.Ā
[[#Verse 06.]]Ā You are to make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and you are to overlay them with bronze.Ā
[[#Verse 07.]]Ā The poles are to be putĀ into the rings so that the poles will be on two sides of the altar when carrying it.Ā
[[#Verse 08.]]Ā You are to make the altar hollow, out of boards. Just as it was shown youĀ on the mountain, so they must make it.
## The Courtyard
[[#Verse 09.]]Ā āYou are to make the courtyardĀ of the tabernacle. For the south sideĀ there are to be hangingsĀ for the courtyard of fine twisted linen, 150 feet long for one side,Ā
[[#Verse 10.]]Ā withĀ twenty posts and their twenty bronze bases, with the hooks of the posts and their bands of silver.Ā
[[#Verse 11.]]Ā LikewiseĀ for its length on the north side, there are to beĀ hangings for 150 feet, with twenty posts and their twenty bronze bases, with silver hooks and bandsĀ on the posts.Ā
[[#Verse 12.]]Ā The width of the court on the west side is to be 75 feet with hangings, with their ten posts and their ten bases.Ā
[[#Verse 13.]]Ā The width of the court on the east side, toward the sunrise, is to be 75 feet.Ā
[[#Verse 14.]]Ā The hangings on one sideĀ of the gate are to beĀ 22½ feet long, with their three posts and their three bases.Ā
[[#Verse 15.]]Ā On the second sideĀ there are to beĀ hangings 22½ feet long, with their three posts and their three bases.Ā
[[#Verse 16.]]Ā For the gate of the courtyard there is to be a curtain of 30 feet, of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twisted linen, the work of an embroiderer, with four posts and their four bases.Ā
[[#Verse 17.]]Ā All the posts around the courtyard are to have silver bands;Ā their hooks are to beĀ silver, and their bases bronze.Ā
[[#Verse 18.]]Ā The length of the courtyard is to be 150 feetĀ and the width 75 feet,Ā and the height of the fine twisted linen hangingsĀ is to beĀ 7½ feet, with their bronze bases.Ā
[[#Verse 19.]]Ā AllĀ the utensils of the tabernacle usedĀ in all its service, all its tent pegs, and all the tent pegs of the courtyard are to be made of bronze.
## Offering the Oil
[[#Verse 20.]]Ā āYou are to command the Israelites that they bringĀ to you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, so that the lampsĀ will burnĀ regularly.Ā
[[#Verse 21.]]Ā In the tent of meetingĀ outside the curtain that is before the testimony,Ā Aaron and his sons are to arrange it from eveningĀ to morning before theĀ Lord. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for generations to come.
## š Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
## š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. The altar was five cubits square and three cubits high (27:1), about 7.5 feet square and 4.5 feet high.
2. The altar had a horn on each corner (27:2). People seeking mercy sometimes grabbed the horns of the altar (1 Kings 1:50).
3. The altar was overlaid with bronze, while the furniture inside the tent was overlaid with gold. Materials grew more precious closer to the Most Holy Place.
4. The altar's utensils included pails, shovels, basins, meat forks, and fire pans (27:3).
5. The courtyard measured 100 by 50 cubits (27:18), about 150 by 75 feet.
6. The courtyard hangings were fine twisted linen, five cubits high (27:18).
7. The courtyard had only one gate, on the east side, twenty cubits wide (27:13-16).
8. The lamp oil was pure oil from pressed olives (27:20), the finest quality.
9. The phrase "tent of meeting" first appears in 27:21.
10. Keeping the lamp burning was a lasting statute for the generations of Israel (27:21).
## š§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## āļø Christ in This Chapter
Christ is our once-for-all sacrifice. The bronze altar stood in the courtyard, where sacrifices were offered before anyone approached the tent (27:1-8), and Jesus offered Himself once for all for our sins (Hebrews 10:10-12).
## š Key Principles / š Life Application
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## š¬ Discussion Questions
1. The altar of sacrifice was the first thing a worshiper encountered (27:1-8). Why must sacrifice come before access to God?
2. The courtyard had only one gate (27:16). How does that point to Jesus' words in John 14:6?
3. The lamp was to burn continually before the Lord (27:20-21). What helps keep your love for God burning?
## āļø Key Verses to Remember
- š verses 1-2: The altar is made of acacia wood overlaid with bronze, with horns on its four corners.
- š verse 16: The gate of the courtyard is a single embroidered screen.
- š verses 20-21: Pure olive oil keeps the lamp burning from evening until morning.
## š Related Passages/Cross Reference
- š [[Hebrews 10#Verse 10.|Hebrews 10:10-12]] - Christ offered one sacrifice for sins for all time.
- š [[Hebrews 13#Verse 10.|Hebrews 13:10-12]] - We have an altar.
- š [[John 14#Verse 06.|John 14:6]] - Jesus is the way.
- š [[John 10#Verse 09.|John 10:9]] - I am the door.
- š [[Matthew 05#Verse 14.|Matthew 5:14-16]] - You are the light of the world.
## š Devotional Reflection
š SOAP: [[Exodus 27- SOAP|The Light Of Godās Word is Always Shining]]
## š Internal Notes