An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.
An altar of earth. This regulation was applicable to special or temporary occasions; but even when a permanent altar was constructed under the immediate direction of God (see the note at Exodus 27:1-8), the basis was earthen. That natural element, as it came from the hands of the Creator, was most suited to the simplicity of divine worship, and easily procurable in the frequent migrations of the Israelites. Besides, at the introduction of a ritual so eminently symbolical, the use of the crude material in the erection of sacrificial altars had a deep significance, inasmuch as the soil or the native rook typified the scene of the great propitiatory sacrifice (Kurtz, 'Mosaic Offering,' div. 2:, ch. 4:)
Sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings (see the note at Exodus 18:12), and thy peace offerings, х wª'et (H853) shªlaameykaa (H8002)] - victims of peace. This is the first mention of peace offerings, which, being federal in their nature, were not in use until the establishment of the national covenant. It is of importance to bear in mind that these instructions respecting an altar and sacrifices refer to the ritual not of a personal but a national worship, (Lowman's 'Ritual of the Hebrew Worship,' part 2:, ch. 4:)
In all places where I record my name, х 'azkiyr (H2142)] - I shall cause you to remember my name; i:e., by establishing the symbols of my presence. The connection of this clause with the preceding seems to be, that the promise of the divine presence and blessing will be secured, not by the altar, whether of earth or stone, but by a careful adherence to the place which the Lord shall choose for the establishment of His worship, and the obedience of faith that shall characterize the people.