What was the brazen altar in the tabernacle made of?
The brazen altar was constructed from acacia wood, also called desert wood, and covered with brass rather than gold. This brass covering gives it the name brazen altar. Throughout Scripture, brass symbolizes judgment, which fits the altar where sacrifices were committed.
Les explains that the brazen altar in the tabernacle was made of acacia wood, the desert wood, covered with brass instead of gold. He notes that brass throughout Scripture speaks of judgment. He illustrates this with the brazen serpent Moses erected when Israel was dying from snakebites, and with the cross where sin was judged. Thus the altar where sacrifices were committed was a brazen altar, wood covered with brass. He also mentions the laver of cleansing made of brass from the women's looking glasses, but that was separate furniture.