Bible Dictionary
HORNS OF THE ALTAR
The horns of the altar were four projections at the altar’s corners. They were touched with sacrificial blood and could serve as a place of refuge for fugitives seeking asylum.
Definition
The horns of the altar were four projections, one at each corner of an altar. On the bronze altar they were made of acacia wood overlaid with bronze; on the golden altar of incense they were covered with gold.
Biblical Usage
The horns were touched with sacrificial blood during certain consecration and sin offerings. Fugitives could cling to the altar horns seeking asylum, as Adonijah did. The horns of the incense altar were touched with blood when a high priest or the whole congregation had sinned unwittingly.
Historical Background
The horns were part of the altar itself. In Ezekiel’s altar specifications, their position is described as being level with the altar hearth.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>(qare-noth ha-mizbeach):</p><p>1. The Brazen Altar:</p><p>These projections at the four corners of the altar of burnt offering were of one piece with the altar, and were made of acacia wood overlaid with brass (Ex 27:2, "bronze"). In Ezekiel's altar-specifications their position is described as being on a level with the altar hearth (Eze 43:15). Fugitives seeking asylum might cling to the horns of the altar, as did Adonijah (1Ki 1:50), which is one proof among many that worshippers had at all times access to the neighborhood of the altar. On certain occasions, as at the consecration of Aaron and his sons (Ex 29:12), and a sin offering for one of the people of the land (Le 4:30), the horns were touched with sacrificial blood.</p><p>2. The Golden Altar:</p><p>The altar of incense, standing in the outer chamber of the sanctuary, had also four horns, which were covered with gold (Ex 37:25). These were touched with blood in the case of a sin offering for a high priest, or for the whole congregation, if they had sinned unwittingly (Le 4:7,18).</p><p>See ALTAR; HORN.</p><p>W. Shaw Caldecott</p>