The Altar
Parsha Pages | February 12, 2024
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The Altar

Parsha Pages | December 10, 2025

MIZBEACH – THE ALTAR

ועשית את המזבח עצי שטים חמש אמות ארך וחמש אמות רחב רבוע יהיה המזבח ושלש אמות קמתו (שמות כז,א)
And you should make the altar of acacia-wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be four-square; and the height thereof shall be three cubits. (Shmos 27,1)

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Altar has three main names:

  • Altar of the Olah (burnt offerings) (Shmos 35,16)
  • Copper Altar (Shmos 39,39)
  • The Outer Altar (Mishnah Zevachim 36b)

The place of the Altar: The Altar was the middle portion of the Courtyard, with its ramp to the south. The Kiyar (washing basin) was on the western side. The actual position of the Altar is a subject of dispute with three main opinions: the Altar was totally in the south (with the northern edge at the mid-point of the north-south division); the Altar was totally in the north (the southern edge at or near the mid-point of the north-south division); the Altar was approximately half in the south and half in the north.

The Altar requires four items: Yesod (base), Kevesh (ramp), Ribui (squareness of structure), and Keranos (four horns - one amah cube protrusions at each corner)

The Altar existed in the Mishkan and in both Bais haMikdashim: The Altar served the main purpose as a place to burn the animal sacrifice, and other services such as sprinkling the blood, pouring of libations, and maintaining a constant fire. However, the Altar had differences within each structure as will be explained.

Note: The inner Mizbeach (located within the Kodesh structure) had other purposes such as the ketores.

COPPER ALTAR OF THE MISHKAN (Altar of Moshe)

Rebbi Yehudah and Rabbi Yose disagree concerning four matters (Zevachim 59-60):

RABBI YEHUDAHRABBI YOSE1. The height of the Altar
Three Amos (plus one for the Keranos)Nine Amos (plus one for the Keranos)2. The top horizontal area
Ten Amos squaredFive Amos squared3. Floor of the Courtyard (below the Altar)
Holy – eligible for offerings to be burnt upon itOfferings could not be burnt upon it4. Height of the curtains around the Courtyard
Ten AmosFifteen Amos

Explanation of the verse –“ five amos long, five amos wide and three amos high”
5 by 5 in four squares = 10 X 10 amos
Three amos high - literally
5 by 5 amos literally
Three amos refers top section

This four-point dispute stems from a single point of disagreement – the definition of the gezeirah shavah based on the word רבוע found in the verse from Shmos 27,1 and again in Shmos 30,2 (regarding the inner Mizbeach).

According to Rabbi Yehudah, the gezeirah shavah teaches that the Mizbeach of Moshe was ten amos square (horizontally on the top). This derivation leads to his acceptance of the plain meaning of the verse that the Mizbeach was only three amos high, plus the curtains could be five amos high.

According to Rabbi Yose the gezeirah shavah teaches that the Mizbeach of Moshe was 10 amos high (twice the length). This derivation leads to his understanding that the curtains would need to be 15 amos high (five amos above the Mizbeach). Further, the plain meaning of the verse that the top of the Mizbeach (horizontal) was five square amos.

According to Rabbi Yose (the halacha according to most codifiers)

  • A – קרנות - Horns
  • B – מכבד - Lattice
  • C – כרכב – Band
  • D – בדים - Staves
  • E – טבעות – Rings
  • F – יסוד - Base

ALTAR OF THE FIRST BAIS HAMIKDASH

Differences in comparison to the Mishkan:

MishkanFirst Bais HaMikdashComposed of wood overlaid with copperComposed of stone and overlaid with white plasterLength – 5 amos
Width – 5 amos
Height – 10 amosLength – 28 amos
Width – 28 amos
Height – 10 amosPyres of wood/fire: Only oneThree (other opinions 4 or 5)Michbar – decorative band of one amah; lower edge at mid-pointRed line at mid-pointStaves בדים Needed for carryingNot needed

ALTAR OF THE SECOND BAIS HAMIKDASH

Larger Altar from Second Bais HaMikdash (32 amos) superimposed over Altar from First Bais haMikdash (28 amos)

These measurements include the total expanse of each Altar including the yesod (one-amah high base). The site of the fire was twenty square amos (first Bais haMikdash) and twenty-four square amos (second Bais haMikdash).

The Heavenly fire was present in the second Bais haMikdash, but did not assist in the consumption of the sacrifices. Thus, the larger Altar was required to handle the sacrifices (even though the population had significantly decreased at the beginning of the second Bais haMikdash).

WHY DID THEY CHANGE THE MIKDASH ALTAR FROM THE ALTAR OF MOSHE?

Chasam Sofer explains that according to Shmos 29,5 “v’chein taasu” (so they did). Usually, this phrase means so should be done for future generations. In this context the phrase is modified by the earlier part of the verse “according to which I will show you.” Just as you, Moshe, will have all items of the Mishkan created to the specifications that I have shown you, so future generations their Sanctuaries and contents shall be created per prophetic vision that I will communicate in the future.

MIZBEACH – THE ALTAR

ועשית את המזבח עצי שטים חמש אמות ארך וחמש אמות רחב רבוע יהיה המזבח ושלש אמות קמתו (שמות כז,א)
And you should make the altar of acacia-wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be four-square; and the height thereof shall be three cubits. (Shmos 27,1)

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Altar has three main names:

  • Altar of the Olah (burnt offerings) (Shmos 35,16)
  • Copper Altar (Shmos 39,39)
  • The Outer Altar (Mishnah Zevachim 36b)

The place of the Altar: The Altar was the middle portion of the Courtyard, with its ramp to the south. The Kiyar (washing basin) was on the western side. The actual position of the Altar is a subject of dispute with three main opinions: the Altar was totally in the south (with the northern edge at the mid-point of the north-south division); the Altar was totally in the north (the southern edge at or near the mid-point of the north-south division); the Altar was approximately half in the south and half in the north.

The Altar requires four items: Yesod (base), Kevesh (ramp), Ribui (squareness of structure), and Keranos (four horns - one amah cube protrusions at each corner)

The Altar existed in the Mishkan and in both Bais haMikdashim: The Altar served the main purpose as a place to burn the animal sacrifice, and other services such as sprinkling the blood, pouring of libations, and maintaining a constant fire. However, the Altar had differences within each structure as will be explained.

Note: The inner Mizbeach (located within the Kodesh structure) had other purposes such as the ketores.

COPPER ALTAR OF THE MISHKAN (Altar of Moshe)

Rebbi Yehudah and Rabbi Yose disagree concerning four matters (Zevachim 59-60):

RABBI YEHUDAHRABBI YOSE1. The height of the Altar
Three Amos (plus one for the Keranos)Nine Amos (plus one for the Keranos)2. The top horizontal area
Ten Amos squaredFive Amos squared3. Floor of the Courtyard (below the Altar)
Holy – eligible for offerings to be burnt upon itOfferings could not be burnt upon it4. Height of the curtains around the Courtyard
Ten AmosFifteen Amos

Explanation of the verse –“ five amos long, five amos wide and three amos high”
5 by 5 in four squares = 10 X 10 amos
Three amos high - literally
5 by 5 amos literally
Three amos refers top section

This four-point dispute stems from a single point of disagreement – the definition of the gezeirah shavah based on the word רבוע found in the verse from Shmos 27,1 and again in Shmos 30,2 (regarding the inner Mizbeach).

According to Rabbi Yehudah, the gezeirah shavah teaches that the Mizbeach of Moshe was ten amos square (horizontally on the top). This derivation leads to his acceptance of the plain meaning of the verse that the Mizbeach was only three amos high, plus the curtains could be five amos high.

According to Rabbi Yose the gezeirah shavah teaches that the Mizbeach of Moshe was 10 amos high (twice the length). This derivation leads to his understanding that the curtains would need to be 15 amos high (five amos above the Mizbeach). Further, the plain meaning of the verse that the top of the Mizbeach (horizontal) was five square amos.

According to Rabbi Yose (the halacha according to most codifiers)

  • A – קרנות - Horns
  • B – מכבד - Lattice
  • C – כרכב – Band
  • D – בדים - Staves
  • E – טבעות – Rings
  • F – יסוד - Base

ALTAR OF THE FIRST BAIS HAMIKDASH

Differences in comparison to the Mishkan:

MishkanFirst Bais HaMikdashComposed of wood overlaid with copperComposed of stone and overlaid with white plasterLength – 5 amos
Width – 5 amos
Height – 10 amosLength – 28 amos
Width – 28 amos
Height – 10 amosPyres of wood/fire: Only oneThree (other opinions 4 or 5)Michbar – decorative band of one amah; lower edge at mid-pointRed line at mid-pointStaves בדים Needed for carryingNot needed

ALTAR OF THE SECOND BAIS HAMIKDASH

Larger Altar from Second Bais HaMikdash (32 amos) superimposed over Altar from First Bais haMikdash (28 amos)

These measurements include the total expanse of each Altar including the yesod (one-amah high base). The site of the fire was twenty square amos (first Bais haMikdash) and twenty-four square amos (second Bais haMikdash).

The Heavenly fire was present in the second Bais haMikdash, but did not assist in the consumption of the sacrifices. Thus, the larger Altar was required to handle the sacrifices (even though the population had significantly decreased at the beginning of the second Bais haMikdash).

WHY DID THEY CHANGE THE MIKDASH ALTAR FROM THE ALTAR OF MOSHE?

Chasam Sofer explains that according to Shmos 29,5 “v’chein taasu” (so they did). Usually, this phrase means so should be done for future generations. In this context the phrase is modified by the earlier part of the verse “according to which I will show you.” Just as you, Moshe, will have all items of the Mishkan created to the specifications that I have shown you, so future generations their Sanctuaries and contents shall be created per prophetic vision that I will communicate in the future.

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Parsha Pages | February 12, 2024