Laws About Altars (Exodus 20:22-26)

22 And the Lord said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the people of Israel: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have talked with you from heaven. 23 You shall not make gods of silver to be with me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold. [God reinforces the prohibition against idols.] 24 An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool on it you profane it. 26 And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness [lack of underwear] be not exposed on it.’ [God gave the Israelites a brief overview of altar construction in anticipation of their need to worship him properly. As their covenant God, it was important that they be able to respond fully and properly to him in worship.]