27:1–8 The description moves immediately from the tent’s entrance screen to the bronzed altar that would stand in the courtyard. It would stand in the middle, halfway between the entrance screen of the tent of meeting and the entrance screen of the larger tabernacle. Worshipers brought whole burnt offerings and sacrifices in which animals were cleanly slaughtered for their meat to this altar. The blood (representing life) and fat (representing abundant provision) of every animal belonged to the Lord (see Gen. 4; Lev. 17:10–16). The people would be acknowledging this reality daily at this altar.

The people were to frame the altar with boards so that the center was hollow from top to bottom and light enough to carry. The wood was from acacia trees (see comment on 25:5). The frame was large …