שמות כ ו ,כה : קְרָשִים
The Baal haTurim notes that there were forty-eight planks, corresponding to the forty-eight prophets and forty-eight groups of Kohanim twenty-four groups of Kohanim, and twenty-four groups of Leviim.
The 48 planks of the walls were from: 20 of the south side and 20 of the north side and six of the west side plus the two corner planks at the southwest and northwest corners (the east side did not have planks).
Alternatively, the 48 is derived from the 19 times in these pasukim in which the word קרש is mentioned.
- The plural verb not modified is assumed to be two (the smallest plural form)
- The prefix ה indicates an additional item
Thus, קרש is one; קרשים is two; הקרש is two; הקרשים is three
Pasuk Word Number indicated (48)
15 הַקְּרָ שִׁ ים 3
16 הַקֶּרֶּ ש 2
הַקֶּרֶּ ש 2
17 לַקֶּרֶּ ש (=לְּהַקֶּרֶּ ש) 2
קַרְּ שֵׁ י 2
18 הַקְּרָ שִׁ ים 3
קֶּרֶּ ש 1
19 הַקֶּרֶּ ש 2
(twice) הַקֶּרֶּ ש 4
20 קֶּרֶּ ש 1
21 (twice) הַקֶּרֶּ ש 4
22 קְּרָ שִׁ ים 2
23 קְּרָ שִׁ ים 2
25 קְּרָ שִׁ ים 2
(twice) הַקֶּרֶּ ש 4
26 לְּקַרְּ שֵׁ י 2
27 (twice) לְּקַרְּ שֵׁ י 4
28 הַקְּרָ שִׁ ים 3
29 הַקְּרָ שִׁ ים 3
