Zevachim

Yearning for Him all day.1 Therefore was Benjamin privileged to become a host to the Holy One, blessed be He, as it is said: And He dwelleth between his shoulders. 2 An objection is raised: How was the burnt-offering of a bird sacrificed? He [the priest] pinched off its head close by its neck and divided it,3 and drained out its blood on the wall of the altar.4 Now if you say that it had no base, did he simply apply it in the air?5 — Said R. Nahman b. Isaac: Perhaps they thus stipulated that the air-space should count as Benjamin's and the soil as Judah's. 6 What does ‘it had no base’ mean? — Rab said: In the construction.7 R. Levi said: In respect of blood.8 Now Rab interpreted [the text just quoted]:9 In his [Benjamin's] heritage shall the altar be built.10 While Levi interpreted it: In his heritage shall the sanctuary be built, which means, a place sanctified for [the reception of] blood.11 Come and hear: The base ran along the whole of the north and the west sides, and extended one cubit into the south and one cubit into the east? — By ‘extended’ is meant in respect of blood. 12 Come and hear: The altar was thirty-two [cubits] by thirty-two? 13 — This was the side length.14 Come and hear: Thus it was found that it overhung a cubit over the base and a cubit over the balcony?15 — Say: a cubit corresponding to the base area and a cubit of the balcony. 16 Come and hear: For Levi taught: How did they build the altar? They brought a frame thirty-two [cubits] square and one cubit deep; and they brought round smooth stones17 of all sizes;18 then they brought plaster, molten lead and pitch, melted them down and poured them in; and this was the place of the base. Then they brought a frame thirty cubits square and five cubits deep, and they brought smooth stones etc, [and this was the place of the balcony]. Then they brought a frame twenty-eight cubits square, and three cubits deep; and they brought smooth stones etc., and this was the place of the [wood] pile.19 Then they brought a frame one cubit square, and they brought smooth round stones, of all sizes, and pitch and molten lead, melted them down, and poured them in, and this formed the horn; and similarly for each horn.20 And should you answer was pinched. count as belonging to Judah, and on this ledge the blood fell and was thus sacred. Nevertheless, this ledge could not count as a base, where blood actually had to be poured out on the base. Judah's portion. belonged to Judah. portion. the south. on the south.