Exodus 27:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The altar was constructed as a hollow box, lacking both bottom and top, made of wood and overlaid with brass sheets. It featured rings on the sides for transportation using poles and had corners adorned with horns, upon which a net was secured. This altar was positioned at the division of the tabernacle within the courtyard and was filled to about half capacity with either stones or earth. It is likely that a mound of earth was situated on either the east or south side. The latter idea is supported by the indication in Leviticus 1:16 that ashes were disposed of on the east side; the western side faced the tabernacle, and sacrifices were conducted on the north side of the altar (Leviticus 1:11).