- the lower settle:
- These settles were ledges by which the altar was narrowed towards the top. Hence the upper part of the altar was only twelve cubits square ("And the altarª [shall be] twelveªª [cubits] long,ª twelveªª broad,ª squareª° in¹ the fourª squaresª thereof." {Ezk 43:16}), the upper settle, or ledge, being in all fourteen cubits ("And the settleª [shall be] fourteenªª [cubits] longª and fourteenªª broadª in¹ the fourª squaresª thereof; and the borderª aboutª it [shall be] halfª a cubit;ª and the bottomª thereof [shall be] a cubitª about;ª and his stairsª shall lookª° toward the east.ª" {Ezk 43:17}), deducting two cubits from its dimensions. Though this altar was the same in height, and breadth with that of Solomon, yet it differed materially from it in having settles or ledges; on which the priests walked round the altar, to officiate in offering sacrifices.
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