The Gemoro has discussed more than once the Lechem HaPonim and the Shulchan. It seems that all agree the Lechem HaPonim was 10 Tefachim long, and that the Shulchan was 1 Amah wide (as stated in the Torah!), but there is a Machlokes if the Shulchan's Ama was 5 Tefochim or 6 Tefochim.
I was under the impression that everyone agrees the exact size of the Amah, just that some hold it was divided into 5 larger Tefochim, and some hold it was divided into 6 regular Tefochim. (Accordingly, I understood the Gemoro to mean that the Lechem HaPonim was 10 of the same-size Tefochim as used in the Shulchan, hence either 5 or 4 Tefochim did not fit). Is this correct, or is the Machlokes as to the actual size of the Amah width?
(I recall that in Hilchos Lulav, there is a discussion as to the size of the Tefochim, which may be where I got the above impression from).
Mark Bergman
Manchester UK
The argument is about the length of the Amah; it was longer according to Rebbi Meir. Both Rebbi Yehudah and Rebbi Meir agree that there were two ways of measuring the Amah, and that one way was used in certain cases and the other way (5 Tefachim) in other cases. The argument regards *when* the smaller Amos were used. Were they used for all measurements of the Klei ha'Mikdash, or only for some.
Be well,
M. Kornfeld