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Let Ernest L. Martin explain:

These scriptures show that the common designation for the Temple and its holy areas was
"The Place" (i.e. The Topos). There was absolutely nothing strange to the Jews of the first
century in using such a name for the Temple. There are a host of references from the Old
Testament (both in Hebrew AND Greek), and from other Jewish works as well as from
Gentile accounts which show that the expression "The Topos" meant the Temple in Jeru-
salem. The phrase was also used to refer to Gentile sanctuaries throughout the world
(see Kittel's Theological Dictionary, vol.VIII, pp.187-208 for many such references). In
the middle of the fourth century, Athanasius simply called the Temple at Jerusalem "the
Place" (The Topos) without the slightest elaboration. "Aliens had invaded the Temple at
Jerusalem.... Aliens indeed had held THE PLACE, but know not the LORD OF THE
PLACE....What profit then is THE PLACE to them? For behold they that hold THE
PLACE are charged by them that love God with making it [the Place] a den of thieves"
(Letter XXIX, fragment). -- Secrets of Golgotha, p.22.

Christ died EAST OF THE "PLACE," OUTSIDE OF THE CAMP -- in other words, just
below the summit of the Mount of Olives and DIRECTLY EAST of the Temple curtain.

The Altar Outside the Camp

Going back to Hebrews 13 we read again:

We have our own ALTAR FROM WHICH THOSE WHO SERVE THE TABERNACLE
[TEMPLE] HAVE NO RIGHT TO EAT. The bodies of the animals whose blood is
brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for the atonement of sin are burned outside
the camp, and so Jesus too suffered outside the gate to sanctify the people with his own
blood. Let us go to him, then, outside the camp, and share his degradation. -- Verses
10-13.

What is this ALTAR, OUTSIDE THE CAMP, where the animals were burnt for the atone-
ment of sin?

Leviticus 16 shows this was the altar where the sin offerings were burnt on the Day of
Atonement: "The bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was
brought in to make atonement in the HOLY PLACE, shall be carried OUTSIDE THE CAMP. And
they shall BURN IN THE FIRE THEIR SKINS, THEIR FLESH, AND THEIR OFFAL." (Verse
27).

There were THREE TYPES of sin offerings that were killed within the precincts of the
Temple, that had their blood sprinkled BEFORE THE INNER CURTAIN of the Temple and then
had their bodies CARRIED OUT OF THE CAMP TO BE BURNED TO ASHES. The first one, for
the sins of the high priest, was burned IN A CLEAN PLACE OUTSIDE THE CITY, where altar
ashes were put -- see Leviticus 4:11-12. The second type of offering was that of the entire assem-
bly or congregation of Israel; and similarly, as Leviticus 4:21 shows, the offering was carried
"outside the camp" and burnt just like the first type. The third category of offering was that of the

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