The Book of Genesis describes the construction of the earliest altar mentioned in the biblical text. Following the Great Flood, Noah and his family disembarked the Ark and offered burnt offerings to God. This act of worship signifies gratitude for survival and a renewed covenant between humanity and the divine.
This initial act of sacrifice established a pattern of worship that continued throughout biblical history. Altars became central to Israelite religious practice, symbolizing a point of contact between the earthly and the divine. They served as designated spaces for offerings, demonstrating devotion and seeking divine favor or forgiveness. This first instance of altar building sets the precedent for the importance of ritual and designated sacred spaces in the relationship between humanity and God.
