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זבחים 59:2
Soncino English Talmud · Berean Standard Bible
But surely it is said, A thousand burnt-offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar, while of the Eternal House it is said, And Solomon offered for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, which he offered unto the Lord, two and twenty thousand oxen, and when you calculate the number of burnt-offerings and the number of cubits, the latter was larger than the former? Rather, what does ‘was too little to receive’ mean? As one says to his neighbours. ‘So-and-so is a dwarf’, when he is unfit for [sacrificial] service. But R. Jose says well to R. Judah? — R. Judah is consistent with his view, for he maintained that the altar made by Moses was large. For it was taught: [And thou shalt make the altar of acacia wood.] five cubits long, and five cubits broad; [the altar shall be square]: this is meant literally: these are the words of R. Jose. R. Judah said: ‘Square’ is stated here, and ‘square’ is stated elsewhere: as there it was measured from the centre, so here it was measured from the centre. And how do we know [that it was so] there? — Because it is written, And the hearth shall be twelve cubits long by twelve cubits broad, square. You might think that it was only twelve cubits square; when, however, it says, to the four sides thereof, it teaches that the measurement was taken from the middle. And R. Jose? — The gezerah shawah refers to the height [of the altar]. For it was taught: And the height thereof shall be three cubits: this is meant literally: these are the words of R. Judah. R. Jose said: ‘Square’ is stated here, and ‘square’ is stated elsewhere: as there its height was twice its length, so here too [its height was] twice its length. Said R. Judah to him: Is it possible that the priest stood on the altar, performing the service, whilst all the people saw him from without? Said R. Jose to him: But surely it is stated, And the hangings of the court, and the screen for the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle and by the altar roundabout, [which teaches that] as the tabernacle was ten cubits [high], so was the altar ten cubits [high]; and it says. The hangings for the one side were fifteen cubits.18
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