Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 27:2
And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass.
2. the horns of it ] these were an indispensable part of an altar (cf. Exo 30:2-3), and were regarded as its most sacred part: the blood of the sin-offering was applied to them (Exo 29:12 [|| Lev 8:15 ]; Lev 4:25; Lev 4:30; Lev 4:34; Lev 9:9; Lev 16:18; Eze 43:20; and on the horns of the altar of incense, Exo 30:10, Lev 4:7; Lev 4:18); a criminal seeking asylum seized
The Altar of Burnt-offering.
From Hastings’ Dict. of the Bible, iv. 658.
hold of them (1Ki 1:50; 1Ki 2:28); see also Amo 3:14, Jer 17:1, Psa 118:27. The length of the horns is not specified: in the great altar of Ezekiel’s vision (Eze 43:13-17), which however was 12 cubits (=18 ft.) square, and, with its bases, rose to a height of 11 cubits (16 ft.) from the ground, they were, according to v. 15 LXX., a cubit (1 ft.) long: in the altar of burnt-offering they would, if of the same proportion, be about 7 in. long. Horns are occasionally found similarly on Greek altars: A. J. Evans, also, in Mycenan Tree and Pillar Cult (1901), pp. 37 40, mentions several bas-reliefs representing them found at Mycenae and in Crete; and there is a good Semitic example on the stel from Teima, about 250 miles S.E. of Edom (see Perrot and Chipiez, Art in Sardinia, Juda, &c. i. 304; and for the inscription Cooke, N.-Sem. Inscriptions, p. 195 ff.). The origin of the symbolism is uncertain; and different theories have been propounded (see DB. i. 77 a , iv. 658 a ; EB. i. 124; Benz. 2 321): perhaps the most probable is that of Evans (cf. Rel. Sem. 2 [204] 436; and B.), that they are conventionalized representatives of the horns of sacrificed oxen: ‘the setting of the horns of slaughtered animals before the cult-image or upon the altar is a very familiar usage of primitive worship’ (Evans, op. cit. p. 39).
[204] W. R. Smith, The Religion of the Semites, ed. 2, 1894.
brass ] copper or bronze. So in the sequel.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 2. Thou shalt make the horns of it] The horns might have three uses:
1. For ornament.
2. To prevent carcasses, c., from falling off.
3. To tie the victim to, previously to its being sacrificed.
So David: Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar Ps 118:27. Horns were much used in all ancient altars among the heathen, and some of them were entirely constructed of the horns of the beasts that had been offered in sacrifice; but such altars appear to be erected rather as trophies in honour of their gods. On the reverses of several medals we find altars represented with horns at the corners. There is a medal of Antoninus on the reverse of which is an altar, on which a fire burns, consecrated Divi Pio, where the horns appear on each of the corners.
There is one of Faustina, on which the altar and its horns are very distinct, the legend Pietas Augusta. All the following have altars with horns. One of Valerian, legend Consecratio; one of Claudius Gothicus, same legend; one of Quintillus, same legend; one of Crispina, with the legend Diis Genitalibus; and several others. See Numismatica Antiq., a MUSELLIO, under Consecratio, in the index.
Callimachus, in his Hymn to Apollo, line 60 introduces him constructing an altar of the horns of the animals slain by Diana: –
–
. . .
Martial has these words: Cornibus ara frequens.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The horns were elevated above the body of the altar, in form either of pyramids or spires, or rather of horns, as the word signifies; nor is there any necessity; of departing from the proper signification. These were not only for ornament, but for use also, either to keep things put upon it from falling, or that beasts to be offered might be bound to them. See Psa 118:27.
His horns shall be of the same, of the same piece with the altar, for its use required strength. With brass; With plates of brass of competent thickness, both above the wood and under it, that the fire might not take hold of the wood.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Ver. 2 And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof,…. Which were either for ornament, or for keeping what was laid upon the altar from falling off, or for the fastening of the sacrifice to them, and were what criminals fled to for refuge, and laid hold on; and may denote the power of Christ, who is the horn of salvation to preserve his people from a final falling away, and from ruin and destruction, and his protection of those that fly to him for refuge; and these horns being at the corners of the altar may respect the four parts of the world, from whence souls come to Christ for everlasting salvation:
his horns shall be of the same; that is, made of the same wood as the altar itself and so may lead to observe the like things: or “upwards out of it” b, the altar; prominent from it, as the Arabic version, and so the sacrifices could be bound to them, Ps 118:27:
and thou shalt overlay it with brass; with plates of brass, that it may endure the fire, and preserve the wood from being burnt with it; this may denote not only the brightness, lustre, and glory of Christ, like the shining brass, but his great strength in bearing the sins of his people, and all the punishment due unto them, even the fire of divine wrath, without being consumed by it. Jarchi observes, that it was overlaid with brass, because it was to make atonement for the impudence of the forehead, which is as brass, Isa 48:4.
b “sursum exeo”, Noldius, p. 615.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(2) The horns of it.It is not true to say, as Kalisch does, that the altars of almost all ancient nations were frequently provided with horns. On the contrary, horns were, so far as is known, peculiar to Israelite altars. Originally, they would seem to have been mere ornaments at the four upper corners, but ultimately they came to be regarded as essential to an altar, and the virtue of the altar was thought to lie especially in them. The victims were bound to them (Psa. 118:27); criminals clung to them (1Ki. 1:50; 1Ki. 2:28); and the blood of sin offerings was smeared upon them for purposes of expiation (Exo. 29:12; Lev. 8:15; Lev. 9:9, &c.).
His horns shall be of the samei.e., of one piece with the rest of the altar, not separate portions attached by nails or soldering. (Comp. Exo. 25:19.)
Thou shalt overlay it with brassi.e., with bronze. All the woodwork of the tabernacle was overlaid with one metal or another. Here a metallic coating was especially necessary, to prevent the wood from being burnt.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Horns Probably resembling the horns of cattle . These were so set into the four corners of the acacia framework as to appear to be of the same as if growing out of it .
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The horns of the altar had the sacrifice fastened to them.; See Psa 118:27 . And was not Christ bound and fastened to the cross? Some have thought that the brass covering implied the Deity of Jesus covering the manhood. The horns of the altar was the place of refuge for offenders – see 1Ki 1:50 . Could anything be more expressive of the refuge in Jesus? Psa 18:1-2 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 27:2 And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass.
Ver. 2. Horns of it. ] To bind the beasts unto, that were to be slain in sacrifice. Psa 118:27 And to signify the power of Christ’s priesthood. Hab 3:4
Thou shalt overlay it with brass.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
brass, or copper. Perhaps bronze. See Exo 25:3.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
brass
Cf. Num 21:9; Joh 3:14; Joh 12:31-33 thus fixing the symbolic meaning of brass as divine manifestation in judgment.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
horns of it upon the four corners thereof: The horns might have been designed not only for ornament, but to prevent the sacrifices from falling off, and to tie the victim to, previous to its being sacrificed. Exo 29:12, Lev 4:7, Lev 4:18, Lev 4:25, Lev 8:15, Lev 16:18, 1Ki 1:50, 1Ki 2:28, Psa 118:27, Heb 6:18
overlay it with brass: Num 16:38, Num 16:39, 1Ki 8:64
Reciprocal: Exo 30:2 – the horns Exo 38:2 – he made Eze 43:15 – four horns Zec 9:15 – the corners
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Exo 27:2. Thou shalt make the horns of it Pinnacles or spires, rising up at the corners, wrought out of the same wood; which was partly for ornament, and partly for use. To them the animals were bound, and part of the blood was applied, and to them malefactors fled for refuge.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
27:2 And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of {b} the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass.
(b) Of the same wood and matter not fastened to it.