The Hebrew word makbêr, represented by H4345, is defined as a grate. It is derived from a root word suggesting the sense of covering. Appearing 6 times in 6 unique verses, its usage is highly specific, consistently referring to a particular piece of equipment within the Tabernacle.
In the biblical narrative, H4345 is exclusively found in the book of Exodus and is always associated with the construction of the Tabernacle's altar. It is identified as the "brasen grate" Exodus 35:16 that belongs to the altar of burnt offering H5930. The instructions given by God are precise, commanding that a "grate of network of brass" Exodus 27:4 be made for the altar. This grate was fitted with four brasen rings H2885 to hold the staves for transport Exodus 38:5, making it an integral and mobile component of the holy altar.
Several related words clarify the context and function of the makbêr:
- H4196 mizbêach (altar): The grate is a key component of the altar, the central structure for sacrifice. The altar was the designated place where Israel was to present burnt offerings to the Lord Exodus 20:24.
- H5178 nᵉchôsheth (copper, brass): This specifies the material of the grate, which is consistently referred to as "brasen" Exodus 39:39. The use of brass for sacred objects highlights its durability and value, as also seen in the brasen serpent made by Moses Numbers 21:9.
- H5930 ʻôlâh (burnt offering): This term defines the primary purpose of the altar and its grate. The grate was designed to hold the burnt offering, a sacrifice that went up in smoke. The Lord desired such offerings to be accepted on His altar Isaiah 56:7.
The theological weight of H4345 is understood through its specific function in the Tabernacle worship system.
- Precision in Worship: The highly detailed commands for making the grate—specifying its material as brass H5178, its design as a network H4639, and its placement on the altar H4196—emphasize the principle of exact obedience to God's instructions for worship Exodus 27:4.
- Instrument of Atonement: As an essential part of the brasen altar, the grate played a direct role in the sacrificial system. The altar was where atonement was made for souls through blood Leviticus 17:11, and the grate physically supported the burnt offering H5930 in this process.
- Symbol of Enduring Service: The construction from brass H5178, a metal associated with strength and defense Jeremiah 1:18, suggests the grate was built for permanence and to endure the constant fires of sacrifice, symbolizing the unending requirements of the sacrificial law.
In summary, H4345 is far more than a simple grate. It is a specialized, divinely specified instrument created for a single, holy purpose: to function as part of the brasen altar in the Tabernacle. Its construction and material underscore the importance of obedience and durability in worship, while its role in holding the burnt offering makes it a critical component in the Old Testament system of sacrifice and atonement.
TRV