intended to increase the knowledge, interest, and anticipation of the reader, thereby hastening the realization of our hopes and prayers for the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Beit HaMikdash.

Har El - the Mizbei'ach, the Altar - "The Mount of G-d" (Yechezkel)
The main source describing the Mizbei'ach (sacrificial altar) of Bayit Sheini is the third Perek of Midot; there are other references scattered throughout Gemara and Midrashim. Rambam elucidates the Mizbei'ach specifications in his Hilchot Beit HaBechira ch.2. All Korbanot were offered on this altar; Ketoret (incense) was offered on the Mizbach HaZahav (golden altar) situated in the Heichal inside the Bayit. Located in the Azara, anterior to the Bayit, the Mizbei'ach was in essence, constructed of three square platforms, one above the other with sloped ambulation- ramps "to the south of the Altar". The Mishna reads, "The (base platform of the) Mizbei'ach was 32 Amot in length by 32 Amot in width. (One Ama is roughly a half-meter.) It rose up one Ama and (then) receded one Ama; this was the base. Thus we find (that the second platform was) 30 Amot by 30 Amot …the Yesod, the "foundation", the base of the Altar protruded along the entire length of the northside and also protruded the entire length of the west side. It protruded (along the south side from the southwest and southeast corners for a length of) one more Ama along the south side and one more Ama along the east side. At the southwestern corner of the Yesod, there were two holes like two narrow nostrils by whichthe blood that had been poured over the western base and (the blood that had been poured over) the southern base would run down and mingle in the water-channel and flow out to the Kidron brook".

The blood still remaining in the Mizrakim, the Mikdash vessels used to receive the blood from the necks of the slaughtered sacrificial animals, after the blood application of the "Inner Sin Offerings" (e.g. Yom Kippur Avoda) was poured into the western of the two holes. The blood remaining in the Mizrakim after the blood applications of all other Korbanot was poured into the southern hole. The second platform which stood upon the base platform "rose up five Amot and receded one Ama; this formed the Soveiv, the circuit ledge". The recession of one Ama on each side, from the second to the third platforms provided the Soveiv for the Kohanim to walk on all around the top of the second platform of the Mizbei'ach. "There remained a square of 28 Amot by 28 Amot (the top - or third platform of the Altar, 3 Amot high) which was the measurement of the top of the Altar." It could be very dangerous for the Kohanim to walk on the very narrow Soveiv rising 6 Amot above the ground, more than the height of a one-story building. In inclement weather, they could very easily slip. There are no references in our sources to a protective guardrail or fence on the Mizbei'ach parallel to that required in the Torah for the flat roof of a building. Tiferet Yisrael pictures the surface of the Soveiv curving upwards at its outer edge. The resultant cant, forming a kind of barrier, would force the Kohanim to lean inwards and cling to the wall of the Mizbei'ach, thus minimizing the risk of falling.

The Mishna continues, "And a red line, the Chut HaSikra, circled the Mizbei'ach in the middle to separate between blood which must be sprinkled above the red line and blood which must be sprinkled below." (This line was actually one Ama below the Soveiv.) Tiferet Yisrael explains, "The sacrificial bird burnt offering andthe animal sin offering's blood applications were applied to the Mizbei'ach above the Chut HaSikra. The blood applications of all the other sacrifices were tossed, spilled or poured below the red line." There was an ornamental strip for beautification between the Chut HaSikra and the Soveiv (Zevachim 62a). Tiferet Yisraelpictures it as "drawings of flowers and blossoms embossed around the Mizbei'ach." The Mishna describes the upper corners of the third and highest platform as, 'The place of the 'Keranot'. These Keranot (horns) were hollow box-like protuberances of one Ama square and five Tefachim (A Tefach is 8-9.67cm.) high positionedon the corners of the Altar. (Zebachim 54b) 'R. Kahana said, "The horns were hollow as it is written, "…And they shall be filled like basins, like the horns of the Mizbei'ach." (Zechariah 9:15) Mizrak is the term used by Zecharya for basin and the term used for 'horns' (Zavit) literally means corners! But a 'corner' cannothold blood! R. Kahana therefore, understood that the Pasuk in Zecharya implies that the horns of the Mizbei'ach were hollow and formed a receptacle capable of holding blood like a Mizrak. The Mishna continues, "The place of the Keranot was one Ama on each side; thus leaving a square in the middle of 26 by 26. The placewhere the 'feet of the Kohanim trod' was also one Ama (further in) on every side; thus there was left a square in the middle of 24 Amot by 24 Amot for the Ma'arachot, the wood fires of the Mizbei'ach." The "place where the feet of the Kohanim trod" provided a path for the Kohanim to follow when they walked around the topof the Mizbei'ach… so the Kohanim would not slip". Rashi envisions it as a channel depressed into the surface of the top of the Mizbei'ach. Needless to say, this depressed walkway would have had to been provided with a drainage system so that it would not fill up during the winter rains and inconvenience the Kohanim.

There were three Ma'arachot, wood-fed fires, on the top of the Mizbei'ach; one large fire near the southeast corner for burning the Korbanot, a second smaller one near the southwestern corner to provide coals for the Mizbach HaZahav and a third fire (location uncertain) which served as a "back-up".

Adjacent to the second Ma'aracha was a pile of salt for the salting of bird-Korbanot after they were slaughtered, but before they were burnt on the Mizbei'ach. As the Korbanot were burnt and the residue collected, the Kohanim pushed the ashes into the middle of the Mizbei'ach and gradually a large pile would accumulate. This pile of ashes wascalled the Tapu'ach. "Some- times there were three hundred kor ("an intentional exaggeration") of ashes and on the Festivals, the Kohanim did not clear it away" (Tamid 2:2). A large amount of ashes was considered an "adornment" for the Mizbei'ach because it showed that many Korbanot had been offered.

Periodically the ashes were removed in large brass containers called Pysachterin. " …There were two chains attached to it; a Kohein pulled on one to lower it and another Kohein held the other chain to steady it from above so it would not roll …. with this vessel they lowered the ashes that had been piled up on the Mizbei'ach" (Tamid 5:5).The ashes were then removed from Jerusalem. Abutting the southwestern 'horn' on the top of the Mizbei'ach were two silver cups imbedded in the surface. The eastern cup served as a receptacle for the Nisuch HaYayin (wine liba- tion) which was performed twice daily (Bamidbar 28:8). The western cup served as a receptaclefor Nisuch HaMayim, the Sukkot water libation. The mouth of the wine vessel was wide and that of the water was narrow so that both should empty out at the same time." (Sukka 48b) <to be cont.>

Catriel Sugarman (acatriel@netvision.net.il, 02-652-7531) gives illustrated lectures on the Beit Hamikdash and related topics. Catriel is in the process of writing a book:

The Temple of Jerusalem, A Pilgrim's Perspective: A Guided Tour through the Temple and the Divine Service.

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