(d) In Herod's Temple. The altar of burnt offering erected by Herod is thus described by Josephus: 'Before this temple stood the altar, fifteen cubits high, and equal both in length and breadth, each of which dimensions was fifty cubits. The figure it was built in was a square, and it had corners like horns, and the passage up to it was by an insensible acclivity from the south. It was formed without any iron tool, nor did any iron tool so much as touch it at any time.' The dimensions of this altar, however, are differently stated in the Mishna. On the south side was an inclined plane, 32 cubits long and 16 cubits broad, made likewise of unhewn stones. A pipe was connected with the southwest horn, through which the blood of the victims was discharged by a subterraneous passage into the brook Ked ron. Under the altar was a cavity to receive the drink offerings, which was covered with a mar ble slab, and cleansed from time to time. On the north side of the altar several iron rings were fixed to fasten the victims. Lastly, a red line was drawn round the middle of the altar to dis tinguish between the blood that was to be sprin kled above and below it.
(5) Altar of Incense (Heb. n't4T1'P miz-bakh' kel-o'relh, altar of offering of incense, Exod. xxx:1; called also the golden altar, :MO ri.;r?,miz-bakh' haz-zaw-hawb', Exod. xxxix: 38; Num. iv :1 t).
It was placed between the table of shew-bread and the golden candlestick, in the most holy place.
(a) Altar of Shittim-wood. This altar was made of Shittim-wood, overlaid with gold plates, one cubit in length and breadth and two cubits in height. It had horns (Lev. iv :7) of the same materials, and round the flat surface was a bor der of gold. underneath which were the rings to receive 'the staves made of Shittim-wood. overlaid with gold to bear it withal' (Exod. .xxx :1-5).
(b) Cedar. The altar in Solomon's tempt: was similar, but made of cedar (1 Kings vi :2o; vii; 48: t Chron. xxviii :18), overlaid with gold.
The altar in the second temple was taken away by Antiochus Epiphanes (t 14lacc. i :23), and re stored by Judas Maccabmus t Alacc. iv :49). On the arch of Titus there appears no altar of in cense; it is not 'mentioned in Heb. ix, nor by Joseph. Antiq. xiv :4. 4.