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And the settle - The ledge on which the priests walked round the altar, see Ezekiel 43:14. By these settles or ledges the altar was narrowed towards the top. "The ascent shall look toward the east;" this ascent was an inclined plane. But these settles, or more properly ledges, as Bp. Newcome translates, may be thus computed. The altar itself was ten feet high and twenty broad; the same as that of Solomon, 2 Chronicles 4:1.
Height Cubits For the base, Ezekiel 43:13, is in height 1 From the surface of the base to the first ledge, Ezekiel 43:14; 1 From the lower ledge to the upper, Ezekiel 43:14; 4 From the upper ledge to the ariel or hearth, Ezekiel 43:15; 4 In all 10 Breadth Cubits And as to the breadth, the upper ledge, Ezekiel 43:17, was 14 Add a cubit on each side for the higher ledge, Ezekiel 43:14, latter part 2 Add a cubit on each side for the lower ledge, Ezekiel 43:14, former part 2 Add a cubit on each side for the base, Ezekiel 43:13; 2 In all 20
The altar of burnt-offerings, described Exodus 27:1; Exodus 38:1, was smaller than this, because it was to be removed from place to place with the tabernacle. This was designed for a permanent temple. See Bp. Newcome on this chapter.
The settle - The “lower settle” (L), projecting beyond the “upper settle” (M) one cubit on every side.
His stairs - Jewish tradition says that the approach to the altar was by an inclined plane, because to go up “by steps” was forbidden Exodus 20:26.
The number “twelve” was symbolic of the twelve tribes, “four,” of the earth; “sixteen” is the square of “four,” and “fourteen” the double of “seven,” the number of the covenant, as being composed of “three,” the number of God, and of “four,” the number of the world. Thus we have in the altar a special instance of Hebrew symbolism.