The Courtyard

The Sacrificial Altar
Exodus 27:1-8

“And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits.  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.” (Exodus 27:1-2) 

The Altar was to be a wooden box seven and a half feet square and four and a half feet high.  There were to be horns at each corner and the entire box was to be overlain with sheets of brass to protect it from the heat and elements.   There was no top or bottom.

“And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basins, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass.” (Exodus 27:3)

Since the altar was to be used for burning sacrifices, various pokers and hooks would be needed to stir the fire and arrange the meat.  In addition shovels and ash buckets would be needed for removal of ashes and containers for carrying the meat and blood were needed.  All these objects were to be made of brass.

“And thou shalt make for it a grate of network of brass; and upon the net shalt thou make four brazen rings in the four corners thereof.  And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath, that the net may be even to the midst of the altar.” (Exodus 27:4-5)

A grate of interwoven brass rods was to be made and suspended with brass rings half way down inside the altar to support and facilitate burning the sacrifice.  There should never be any contact of flame with the altar, and with the wood protected by brass plates, charring would be minimized.  

“And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass.  And the staves shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it.  Hollow with boards shalt thou make it: as it was showed thee in the mount, so shall they make it.” (Exodus 27”6-8)

Like the Ark of the Covenant,  the Brazen Altar was to have poles for carrying held in rings on each side.  The poles were to be overlaid with brass , and go through brass rings.  The hollow design would be relatively easy to transport.

The altar represents Christ satisfying the judgment for our sin by meeting the penalty of death.

The Courtyard Fencing
Exodus 27:9-15

“And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long for one side: And the twenty pillars thereof and their twenty sockets shall be of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver.  And likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings of an hundred cubits long, and his twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver.” (Exodus 27:9-11) 

An area around the Tabernacle was to be enclosed with a linen fence.  The north and south sides were to be a hundred fifty feet long each.  They were to be hung on brass poles supported with brass sockets or bases.  Silver hooks with enlarged areas for attaching them and anchor ropes were to be applied to the brass poles.  The enlarged fillets would provide sufficient area for silver soldering the hooks on.   Twenty poles on each side would space them about seven and a half feet apart.

“And for the breadth of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits: their pillars ten, and their sockets ten.  And the breadth of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits.” (Exodus 27:12-13) 

The west wall or fence was to be seventy five feet long. And supported on ten posts at the same spacing as the north and south sides.  The east side was to be the same size but it would hold an opening or gate.

“The hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.  And on the other side shall be hangings fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.” (Exodus 27:14-15) 

The east or front wall was to have a short section about twenty two and a half feet long on each side of the opening.  There were to be three poles on each side to support them.  This would leave an opening about thirty feet wide.

The white linen of the fence again represents the righteousness which one must attain to please God.  Supported by judgment it serves to shut out those who do not qualify, and to keep those in who do.


The Gate
Exodus 27:16

“And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework: and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four.” (Exodus 27:16) 

A thirty foot long piece similar to the door of the Tabernacle was to be woven and embroidered for the gate of the courtyard.  It was to be hung on four pillars with brass bases.  The gate represents Christ just as the door does.

Courtyard Accessories
Exodus 27:17-19

“All the pillars round about the court shall be filleted with silver; their hooks shall be of silver, and their sockets of brass.  The length of the court shall be an hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty every where, and the height five cubits of fine twined linen, and their sockets of brass.” (Exodus 27:17-18)

When set up the fence was to be straight and square.   It was not to be adjusted to fit around some obstacle.  Being seven and a half feet tall it would provide a lot of privacy and serve as a wind break.

“All the vessels of the tabernacle in all the service thereof, and all the pins thereof, and all the pins of the court, shall be of brass.” (Exodus 27:19)

All the tent pegs and vessels used outside the Tabernacle were to be made of brass, again representing judgment.

Oil For The Lamp
Exodus 27:20-21

“And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.  In the tabernacle of the congregation without the veil, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.” (Exodus 27:20-21)

Pure olive oil was to be provided and the lamps refilled so there would be light in the Tabernacle at all times.  They were never to permit all the lamps to go out at once.  It was the priest’s job to keep them filled.