d.

What ideas would be suggested by this edifice to the worshipper will
better be examined when we have examined also the external court.

CHAPTER XXVII.

_THE OUTER COURT._

xxvii.

Before describing the tabernacle, its furniture was specified. And so,
when giving instructions for the court of the tabernacle, the altar has
to be described: "Thou shalt make the altar of acacia wood." The
definite article either implies that an altar was taken for granted, a
thing of course; or else it points back to chap. xx. 24, which said "An
altar of earth shalt thou make." Nor is the acacia wood of this altar at
all inconsistent with that precept, it being really not an altar but an
altar-case, and "hollow" (ver. 8)--an arrangement for holding the earth
together, and preventing the feet of the priests from desecrating it. At
each corner was a horn, of one piece with the framework, typical of the
power which was there invoked, and practically useful, both to bind the
sacrifice with cords, and also for the grasp of the fugitive, seeking
sanctuary (Ps. cxviii. 27; 1 Kings i. 50). This arrangement is said to
have been peculiar to Judaism. And as the altar was outside the
tabernacle, and both symbolism and art prescribed simpler materials, it
was overlaid with brass (vers. 1, 2). Of the same material were the
vessels necessary for the treatment of the fire and blood (ver. 3). A
network of brass protected the lower part of the altar; and at half the
height a ledge projected, supported by this network, and probably wide
enough to allow the priests to stand upon it when they ministered (vers.
4, 5). Hence we read that Aaron "came down from offering" (Lev. ix. 22).
Lastly, there was the same arrangement of rings and staves to carry it
as for the ark and the table (vers. 6, 7).

It will be noticed that the laver in this court, like the altar of
incense within, is reserved for mention in a later chapter (xxx. 18) as
being a subordinate feature in the arrangements.

The enclosure was a quadrangle of one hundred cubits by fifty; it was
five cubits high, and each cubit may be taken as a foot and a half. The
linen which enclosed it was upheld by pillars with sockets of brass; and
one of the few additional facts to be gleaned from the detailed
statement that all these directions were accurately carried out is that
the heads of all the pillars were overlaid with silver (xxxviii. 17).
The pillars were connected by rods (fillets) of s