<P> According to the Bible, the fire on the altar was lit directly by the hand of God and was not permitted to go out (Leviticus 6: 12 - 13). No strange fire could be placed upon the altar . The burnt offerings would remain on the altar throughout the night before they could be removed (Leviticus 6: 9). </P> <P> The first altar of this type was made to be moved with the Children of Israel as they wandered through the wilderness . Its construction is described in Exodus 27: 1 - 8 . It was square, 5 cubits in length and in breadth, and 3 cubits in height . It was made of shittim wood, and was overlaid with brass . In each of its four corners projections, called "horns" (keranot), rose up . The altar was hollow, except for a mesh grate which was placed inside halfway down, on which the wood sat for the burning of the sacrifices . The area under the grate was filled with earth . There were rings set on two opposite sides of the altar, through which poles could be placed for carrying it . These poles were also made of shittim wood and covered with brass . </P> <P> When Moses consecrated the Tabernacle in the wilderness, he sprinkled the Altar of Burnt Offering with the anointing oil seven times (Leviticus 8: 10 - 11), and purified it by anointing its four horns with the blood of a bullock offered as a sin - offering, "and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar and sanctified it, to make reconciliation upon it" (8: 14 - 15). </P> <P> The Kohathites were the Levites who were responsible for moving and setting up the altar . When it was time for the Israelites to move, they removed the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth over it, placed all of the instruments and vessels used in the sacrifices on it, covered it with a blanket of badger skin, and put the carrying poles in place (Numbers 4: 13 - 14). After the rebellion of Korah, the bronze censers that were used by the rebels were converted by Eleazar into broad plates used to cover the altar, as a warning that only priests of the seed of Aaron may offer incense before the Lord (Numbers 16: 36 - 40). </P>

What was the altar used for in the old testament