This is an artist's idea of what the Bronze Altar in Herod's temple might have looked like. The altar was 7.5 feet long by 7.5 feet wide. It was 4.5 feet deep. Animal sacrifices were burned on this altar. Notice the "horns" on the corners of the altar. These "horns" were used to tie down the dead animals that were to be burned. The Bible says, "Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar." Psalm 118:27
The horns of the altar were sprinkled with blood from the dead animal. Horns always represent power. The blood of Jesus has the power to wash away our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Jesus is the "horn of our salvation." Luke 1:69
The entire Old Testament Sacrificial system was a type or a "foreshadowing" of the Christ, the Messiah who would come and take away the sins of the world. As the Bible says, (the earthly priests) ... serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, "See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain." Hebrews 8:5 (parenthesis mine)
The bronze altar was set up on a small mound of earth just inside the gate of the tabernacle foreshadowing Jesus' death on a hill, the hill of Calvary. The altar was a place for burning animal sacrifices. For a sin offering, a person had to bring an animal - a male one without blemish or defect from the flock or herd - to the priest at the tabernacle (or temple), gate.
"He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him." Leviticus 1:4
The priest would then slaughter the animal, sprinkle its blood in front of the veil of the Holy Place, sprinkle some more blood on the horns of the altar, and pour the rest of the blood at the bottom of the altar.
"For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life." Leviticus 17:11
"The law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." Hebrews 9:22
But in the Old Testament, the animal sacrifices only "covered" the sins of the people without actually forgiving them, or taking them away. For that the people would have to wait for their Messiah, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
For you know that ... you were redeemed ... with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." I Peter 1:18-19
Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. John 1:29
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