The horns of the altar were an important part of the altar’s design and had deep spiritual significance for the ancient Israelites. Altars were used for making sacrifices to God, and the horns were an integral part of many sacrificial rituals. The prophet Amos references the horns of the altar in Amos 3:14, which provides insight into their meaning and purpose.
Background on Altars and Sacrifice
In the Old Testament, altars were built as places to make offerings and sacrifices to God. They were usually made of stone, earth, or bronze (Exodus 20:24-26). God provided instructions for building altars, including details about their size, materials, and design. The Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem had special altars for burnt offerings, grain offerings, and incense (Exodus 27:1-8; 1 Kings 8:22).
Animal sacrifices were a key element of Israelite worship. The sacrifices symbolized the person giving their life to God, allowing for the forgiveness of sins (Leviticus 17:11). Different sacrifices had various purposes, such as consecration, thanksgiving, atonement for unintentional sin, and fellowship offerings (Leviticus 1-5). The horns of the altar played an important role in some of these sacrifices.
Purpose and Symbolism of the Horns
In Exodus 27:2, God commands that the altar for burnt offerings should have horns on each of its four corners. The horns were generally projections extending upward from the top four corners of the altar. They were usually made of the same materials as the altar itself – stone, earth, or bronze.
The horns had several key functions:
- The blood of some sacrifices, such as the sin offering, was to be smeared or sprinkled on the horns of the altar (Leviticus 4:7, 18, 25, 30). This blood was symbolic of atonement for sins.
- The horns provided a place for tying the sacrificed animal to the altar (Psalm 118:27).
- Fugitives seeking asylum could grasp the horns of the altar for protection and to plead for mercy (1 Kings 1:50-51).
In addition to their practical purposes, the horns were rich in symbolic meaning:
- They signified power, strength, and honor, similar to the horns of animals (1 Samuel 2:1; Psalm 75:10).
- They represented the authority and recognition of the altar itself (Amos 3:14).
- They were seen as a place of mercy and forgiveness, as fugitives could grasp them for protection (Exodus 21:13-14).
- Along with the altar, they symbolized access to God and the opportunity for atonement of sins.
Amos and the Horns of the Altar
The prophet Amos delivered messages of judgment and warning to the northern kingdom of Israel in the 8th century BC. In Amos 3:14, he makes this pronouncement from God:
That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground. (Amos 3:14 KJV)
This judgment is directed at the idolatrous altars set up at Bethel and Dan by Jeroboam I, which were illegitimate places of worship (1 Kings 12:28-29). By breaking off the horns of these unauthorized altars, God was symbolically stripping them of their power, authority, and recognition. It was an act of judgment showing God’s disapproval of idolatrous worship.
The prophecy came to pass when King Josiah enacted religious reforms, destroying pagan altars and idols. 2 Kings 23:15 records that Josiah “broke down the altar at Bethel, and the high place he burned, and beat it to dust, and burned the Asherah.” By destroying the horns and the altars themselves, Josiah eliminated these idolatrous places of worship.
Amos’ prophecy reveals an important truth – while the horns provided mercy and protection for those at God’s altar, they would provide no refuge for those worshiping idols at illegitimate altars. The horns were a place of security only when part of a consecrated altar dedicated to the true God.
Other Biblical References to Horns of the Altar
There are several other passages that reference grasping or sprinkling the horns of the altar:
- 1 Kings 1:50-51 – When Adonijah feared punishment after his attempt to become king, he grasped the horns of the altar seeking mercy.
- 1 Kings 2:28-34 – Joab also grasped the altar’s horns for protection, but Solomon ordered him to be killed there for his part in Adonijah’s conspiracy.
- Psalm 118:27 – This psalm depicts binding festival sacrifices to the horns of the altar.
- Exodus 29:12 – Moses was commanded to take blood from a bull and put it on the horns of the altar with his finger as part of the consecration ritual.
These examples confirm the horns’ role as places of mercy and as part of ritual blood applications. Destroying the horns removed these aspects from idolatrous altars.
Significance for Christians
While the sacrificial system was fulfilled in Christ (Hebrews 10:1-10), the horn of the altar still provides valuable symbolism for Christians today:
- It represents the mercy, grace, and forgiveness found in Christ, through his atoning sacrifice on the cross.
- Just as fugitives grasped the horns for protection, Christians can cling to Christ for salvation.
- Sprinkling blood on the horns foreshadowed how Christ’s blood provides cleansing from sin for those who put their faith in him (Hebrews 9:13-14).
- As the only true place of access to God, Christ has displaced the need for physical altars and sacrifices (John 14:6).
While the horns of Old Testament altars are no longer literally relevant, their symbolic meaning can enrich Christian worship and theology today. They provide a beautiful picture of the mercy, salvation, and forgiveness found in Christ alone.
