And it came to pass the next day, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.
Read Chapter 21
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Altar, within the tabernacle, to suffice for the number of victims as Solomon did; (3 Kings viii. 64.; Tirinus) or out of the court, by God's dispensation, as they were defiled with blood; (Numbers xxxi. 24.; Calmet) though this is not certain, as four months elapsed between the battle and the reconciliation of the remaining Israelites with their brethren: (chap. xx. 47.) so that during that interval, they might have committed the massacres in the different cities, and still have had time to be purified seven days, as the law required, before they could be allowed to enter the camp or the tabernacle. (Haydock)
Some think that one altar was prescribed only during the sojournment in the desert. See Serarius. (Menochius)
