Menachot

the bottom shall be a cubit, and a cubit the breadth, and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about a span;1 and this shall be the base of the altar.2 ‘The bottom shall be a cubit’ refers to the base [of the altar]; ‘and a cubit the breadth’ refers to the sobeb; ‘and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about a span refers to the horns;3 ‘and this shall be the base of the altar’ refers to the golden altar.4 Now R. Meir maintained that [only] this5 was measured by a cubit of five handbreadths but all the other vessels [in the Temple] were measured by a cubit of six handbreadths; whereas R. Judah maintained that like this [cubit] shall be all the cubits for the vessels. It was assumed that it was the height from the base to the sobeb that was measured by a cubit of five handbreadths;6 and the verse, ‘The bottom shall be a cubit and a cubit the breadth,’ meant to say that [the height]7 from the base [which rose up] one cubit to [the sobeb which was] one cubit wide was measured by a cubit of five handbreadths. [Let us now consider:] The height of the altar was in all ten cubits, six [cubits] being of five handbreadths each and four of six handbreadths each. Thus the height of the altar was fifty-four handbreadths, and the half thereof was twenty-seven handbreadths. [The distance] from the [top of the] horns down to the sobeb was twenty-four handbreadths, that is, three handbreadths less than half the height of the altar.8 And we have learnt:9 A red line went around the altar in the middle10 to separate between blood that must be sprinkled above and blood that must be sprinkled below. How then could it have taught in connection with the burnt-offering of a bird that [the priest] went up the ascent, passed on to the sobeb and came to the south-eastern horn, nipped off the head close by its neck and divided it asunder, and drained out the blood on the altar wall, and that if he did it even one cubit's distance below his feet,11 it was valid? He has then applied below, to the extent of two handbreadths, blood that must be applied above!12 — It must be said, therefore, that ‘the bottom shall be a cubit’ refers to the rebatement13 [of the base], ‘a cubit the breadth’ to the rebatement [of the sobeb], and ‘the border thereof by the edge thereof round about’ to the rebatement [of the horns].14 Accordingly the height of the altar was sixty handbreadths,15 and the half thereof was thirty handbreadths.16 [The distance] from the [top of the] horns down to the sobeb was twenty-four handbreadths, that is, six handbreadths17 less than half the height of the altar. And therefore we have learnt: If he did it even one cubit's distance below his feet, it was valid.18 How have you explained it? As referring to the rebatements. But how can you explain it as referring to the rebatements? Behold we have learnt: The altar was [at its base] thirty-two cubits long and thirty-two cubits wide. It rose up one cubit and receded one cubit:19 this formed the base; thus there were left thirty cubits by thirty.20 According to you, however, it should be thirty cubits and two handbreadths by thirty cubits and two handbreadths!21 And further we have learnt: It rose up five cubits and receded one cubit: this formed the sobeb; thus there were left twenty-eight cubits by twenty-eight.20 According to you, however, it should be twenty-eight cubits and four handbreadths by twenty-eight cubits and four handbreadths! And should you say that since they22 were less than one cubit [the Tanna] purposely omitted them, but we have learnt further: The place of the horns was one cubit on every side; thus there were left twenty-six cubits by twenty-six;20 and according to you it should be twenty-seven by twenty-seven!23 — He was not exact [in his reckoning]. But we have learnt further: The place24 on which the feet of the priests trod was one cubit on every side; thus there were left twenty-four cubits by twenty-four, the place for the altar fire.20 According to you, however, it should be twenty-five by twenty-five! Should you say also here that he was not exact, but it is written, And the altar hearth shall be twelve cubits long by twelve broad, square.25 Now you might say that it was only twelve cubits by twelve; but when it also says, In the four quarters thereof,25 it teaches that one must measure from the middle twelve cubits in every direction!26 And should you say that originally27 six [of the thirty-two cubits] were cubits of five handbreadths,28 then the Temple court must have had more space, and we have learnt: The Temple court was in all a hundred and eighty-seven cubits long and a hundred and thirty-five cubits wide. From east to west it was a hundred and eighty-seven cubits: the place where the feet of the Israelites trod29 was eleven cubits; the place where the feet of the priests trod30 was eleven cubits; the altar was thirty-two cubits; between the porch31 and the altar was twenty-two cubits; the Sanctuary was a hundred cubits, and eleven cubits behind the Holy of Holies!32 — You must therefore say that ‘the bottom shall be a cubit’ refers to the height [of the base], ‘a cubit the breadth’ to the rebatement [of the sobeb], and ‘the border thereof by the edge thereof round about’ refers to the height33 [of the horns], but [as to the space taken up by the horns] measurement of a span stated in this verse in regard to the horns is explained as referring to the distance from the middle of each surface in every direction, i.e., the four quarters of every surface each measured a span by a span, therefore the whole of the surface was a cubit-square. regarded as a Temple building. their measurements will be easily gathered from the adjoining diagram which represents one side of the altar. (See drawing). The numbers in the figure represent cubits: a=the base; b = wall of the sobeb; c = the sobeb; d = place for the altar fire, vfrgn; e = the horns. the wall beneath his feet a cubit's distance down he has reached two handbreadths (taking the cubit to be five handbreadths) below the red line. or width of each ledge or platform round the altar. six handbreadths. surface must be twenty-four by twenty-four. And as this is the teaching of the verse it cannot be said that the measurement is not exact! five cubits of six handbreadths each; accordingly the length of each side was in reality thirty-one cubits.