The Altar of Burnt Offering

1. Two pieces? I think there’s good cause to think the Altar was actually two pieces. The description appears to be split on purpose: the altar and its horns of acacia overlaid with bronze “of one piece” (Exodus 27:1–2), then a separate “network of bronze” with the four rings for carrying. The Altar also appears to have been cleaned out for travel (Numbers 4:13–14), which would have been logistically difficult without removing the frame.
2. How do you overlay wood with bronze? I have doubts that a thin foil of metal would have been able to protect the wood from the fire, or from the rigors of the constant work performed on the sacrifice. Exodus 27:8 says the construction is “hollow with boards.” My suggestion: the sides and posts were cast as hollow bronze “sleeves” large enough for wooden board inserts, then sealed with a small amount of molten metal.
3. One fire, a hearth grate. It’s been suggested the Altar had three sections of fire. That might have been the case for the enormous altar of Solomon’s Temple, but I would suggest all three were incorporated within a single fire on this much smaller mobile altar. The bronze grate held wood much like a grate in a modern fireplace, with the sacrifice placed directly on the wood (see 1 Kings 18:33), and an open underside to draw air and remove ash.
4. A ramp, not a ladder. I agree with others that perhaps an earthen ramp was built on site. Some reject this, citing Exodus 20:26. My suggestion is that the “steps” might better pertain to a ladder or step ladder. Priests wore long garments and would not have been in danger of exposing their nakedness on a ramp or stairway, but they would be if they had to climb a ladder.
5. The horns. I’ve presented two possibilities: the traditional “horn” and an alternate form suggested by archaeological finds in Israel. Psalm 118:27 speaks of binding sacrifices to the horns, but this appears to be poetic symbol.
6. Altar tools. Ash pots to carry ash outside the camp; long-handled shovels; basins for the blood; long-handled forks for the potentially hazardous duty of placing offerings precisely; and fire pans to scoop and carry hot coals (Exodus 27:3).
7. Update: Korah’s censers. The 250 bronze censers were hammered out to overlay the altar (Numbers 16:36–40). The Altar was already in use and would remain lit, which would make direct work on it extremely difficult. My guess is that the hammered panels were linked together and hung over the sides, visually distinct and easy to remove and set up whether the altar was lit or not.

“Again, much of this is my own assumption and should not be taken as absolute! Perhaps with further study and research better alternatives will present themselves.”

See also Solomon’s Altar of Burnt Offering, the Bronze Laver, and my class on the sacrifices and offerings.