The Slaughtering Place

Genesis 13:18: Then Abraham moved his tent and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an alter there to the LORD.

“And built there an alter.”  Words similar to these have already been said concerning Abraham several times before this point in the narrative of his life and travels.  At each step along his way to the land that God promised, Abraham would erect an alter for the worship and service of God. 

But let us be very careful to understand that the idea of “alter” had in the days of Abraham a very different connotation than our own.  When we think of an alter, we envision a place in the front of a building where the church gathers; it is that place upon which stands the pastor to preach.  Or we may think of a table where candles are burnt, or even a kneeling rail where we can go to pray.  But the idea that Abraham had about the alter is much different than that.  The definition of alter is actually “The Slaughtering Place.”

In the Old Testament, sacrifices were brought to the alter and be put to death and offered to God.  In Abrahams time, the father of the family would serve as priest and make such offerings.  Later a priesthood would be set aside by God to accomplish this service.

The general idea was that prayer and worship were to be accompanied by sacrifice, offerings and gifts.  This is true yet even today.  In order that our worship be acceptable to the LORD, our sins must be atoned for by an offering.  Thankfully for the Christian, that offering has been made by sacrifice of the perfect Lamb of God – Jesus Christ – The LORDS own son.  The Bible says in Hebrews 10:19-23:  “Therefore, brothers,  since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”