In the old Testament, an altar was mobile fireplace or BBQ grill.
The Laws (10 Commandments) were posted by the Judges/Priests (All from the Tribe of Levi), and fines and gifts (sacrafices) were overseen at the sacraficial altar (center of camp). In this way a 12th of the population of a camp would be occupied collecting taxes, on behalf of the local king who gave them their power,from the work of the other tribes. This is the foundation of the very system we live in today.
It's a racket for organizing power and consolidating wealth. Especially when you own the cops.