1)

(a)According to the Tana Kama, the area of the Mizbe'ach ha'Olah at the base was - thirty-two by thirty-two Amos (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

(b)They constructed it, as well as the other sections of the Mizbe'ach - by means of a frame comprising four large planks, which they filled in with stones, lime, pitch and lead.

(c)We are currently describing the size of the Y'sod (the foundation of the Mizbe'ach), which they built - one Amah tall.

(d)It then went in one Amah. The area of each of the four planks that formed the frame in which they set the lower section of the Mizbe'ach was - thirty by thirty Amos.

(e)They then reduced the middle section by one Amah on each side - in which the area of the top section of the Mizbe'ach was - twenty-eight by twenty-eight Amos (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

(f)The ledge that separates the two sections of the Mizbe'ach was called - the 'Sovev'.

2)

(a)The measurements of ...

1. ... the four K'ranos (blocks) on the four corners of the Mizbe'ach were - one cubic Amah.

2. ... the rest of the top of the Mizbe'ach was - twenty-six by twenty-six Amos.

(b)The area of the M'kom ha'Ma'arachah was only twenty-four by twenty-four Amos - because they left another Amah for the Kohanim to walk round beside the Amah between the K'ranos.

3)

(a)Rebbi Yossi maintains that initially, Sh'lomoh built the Y'sod of the Mizbe'ach twenty-eight by twenty-eight Amos. The size of the M'kom ha'Ma'arachah was therefore - twenty-four by twenty-four Amos.

(b)When they returned from Galus Bavel and rebuilt the Beis-ha'Mikdash however - they added to the Mizbe'ach (See Tosfos Yom Tov) the measurements to conform to the Tana Kama's original ones.

(c)They added four Amos - to the south side and four Amos to the east side (See Tosfos Yom Tov) 'k'Miyn Gama' ...

(d)... like a Greek Gama (which is shaped like the letter 'L'.

4)

(a)They added the extra four Amos specifically on to the south and the west sides of the Mizbe'ach on account of the Shitin - 'the deep pit' (holes bored into the top of the Mizbe'ach into which the they poured the wine [and the water on Succos]).

(b)In the first Beis-ha'Mikdash - they used to pour the Nesachim on the floor of the Mizbe'ach, next to the south-western corner (from where it ran on to the floor of the Azarah).

(c)They did so based on the Pasuk in Yisro "Mizbe'ach Adamah Ta'aseh Li" - from which they learned that - the Mizbe'ach must be compact (without holes) like earth.

(d)When the wine reached the ground in front of the Mizbe'ach - it flowed into a pit that they had dug there.

5)

(a)Based on the Korbanos, the b'nei Golah decided to add the Bor into which the wine flowed, inside the Mizbe'ach itself - because they maintained that just as the Korbanos are 'eaten' on the Mizbe'ach itself, so too, should the Nesachim be absorbed by the Mizbe'ach.

(b)And they explained "Mizba'ch Adamah" to mean that - the Mizbe'ach should be joined to the ground (and not raised by means of posts.

(c)We just learned that they added four Amos to the twenty existing Amos. We learn this from the Pasuk in Yechezkel "ve'Ariel (the Mizbe'ach) Sh'teim-Esrei Orech bi'Sheteim-Esrei Rochav Ravu'a", which indicates that - the M'kom ha'Ma'arachah should measure twelve Amos in all directions ...

(d)... from the center, which we learn from the additional words there "el Arba'as Reva'av".

6)

(a)The 'Chut ha'Sikra' mentioned in the Mishnah was - a red thread that encircled the middle of the Mizbe'ach ...

(b)... one Amah below the Sovev (See Tosfos Yom Tov DH 'be'Emtza').

(c)Its purpose was - to distinguish between the blood that was sprinkled on the top half of the Mizbe'ach and the blood that was sprinkled on the lower half (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

(d)The blood of - a Chatas and of an Olas ha'Of exclusively was sprinkled above the Chut ha'Sikra.

7)

(a)The north and the west sides of the Mizbe'ach - were surrounded by the Y'sod ...

(b)... which took up only one Amah of the south and the east sides (as we explained earlier).

(c)There was no Y'sod on the bulk of these two sides - because that section lay in the portion of Yehudah.

(d)This was because the south-eastern Keren was not in the portion of Binyamin - in which case the blood of the Korbanos was not sprinkled there (and did therefore not require a Y'sod).

8)

(a)Binyamin is referred to as 'Toreif', based on the Pasuk in Vayechi - where Ya'akov referred to Binyamin as 'Ze'ev Yitrof' (a wolf that grabs its prey [with reference to the Korbanos]).

(b)Unklus translates the continuation of the Pasuk "ba'Boker Yochal Ad" - 'in his portion will the Beis-ha'Mikdash be built' ...

(c)... implying that any part of the Beis-ha'Mikdash that is sanctified for the blood to be sprinkled on it must be in his portion (and not in that of Yehudah).

(d)They initially constructed the bulk of the south and east sides of the Mizbe'ach's base without a Y'sod - by placing a block of wood or something else in that part of the frame to prevent the stones, the lime, the pitch and the lead from filling that area).

(e)This explains the term 'Sovev' by which the upper ledge of the Mizbe'ach is called - since, unlike the Y'sod, it encircled the Mizbe'ach completely.

9)

(a)The purpose of the two thin holes that were bored into the south-western corner were - for the leftover blood of the Chata'os to drain from the Y'sod.

(b)The Tana compares them - to two thin nostrils.

(c)The blood - of the Chata'os ha'Penimiyos was poured on to ...

1. ... the western Y'sod, and of the Chata'os ha'Chitzoniyos (See Tosfos Yom Tov) on to ...

2. ... the southern Y'sod.

(d)Both lots of blood (mixed and) ended up - in the Amah (the stream that flowed through the Azarah.

10)

(a)After exiting the Azarah, the 'Amah' flowed to 'the Valley of Kidron' ...

(b)... where the Gizbor of Hekdesh sold it to the local gardeners as fertilizer.

11)

(a)The small area of one square Amah that is situated next to the south-western corner of the Mizbe'ach was - to gain access to the Shis (the area underneath the Mizbe'ach into which the Nesachim flowed).

(b)The Kohanim ...

1. ... got into the area leading down to the Shis - by removing a marble cover by means of a ring that was attached to it.

2. ... descended to the Shis - by means of a ladder (Tiferes Yisrael).

(c)The Kevesh (the ramp via which the Kohanim ascended the Mizbe'ach), which was - thirty-two Amos long and sixteen Amos wide.

(d)... was placed on - the south side of the Mizbe'ach.

(e)It had to be a ramp, not steps or a ladder - on account of the Pasuk in Yisro "ve'Lo Sa'aleh be'Ma'alos al Mizb'chi ... ".

12)

(a)When the Tana says (in connection with the ramp) 'u'Revuvah Haysah be'Ma'aravo', he means - that on the west of the ramp (at the top) there was a kind of square window (a cavity) ...

(b)... that measured one square Amah ...

(c)... where they threw Chata'os ha'Of that had become Pasul (See Tiferes Yisrael).

13)

(a)When they originally constructed the Mizbe'ach - they took stones from the valley of Beis Kerem ...

(b)... from underneath virgin soil ...

(c)... because then they knew for sure that no metal had touched them (See Tiferes Yisrael).

(d)A chipped stone too - would render it Pasul ...

(e)... even after it had already been built into the Mizbe'ach, though the other stones remained Kasher.

14)

(a)The Kohanim 'limed ...

1. ... the Mizbe'ach - twice annually, (before [Tiferes Yisrael] Pesach and before Succos).

2. ... the Heichal (See Tosfos Yom Tov) - once a year (before Pesach).

(b)According to Rebbi - they also cleaned it once a week (See Tiferes Yisrael) ...

(c)... to wipe away the blood-stains that accumulated during the week.

(d)According to the Tana Kama, they avoided using a metal 'Kafis' (a lath) for liming the Mizbe'ach - in case (See Tiferes Yisrael) it touched the Mizbe'ach

(e)The reason that the Torah is particular about using metal on the Mizbe'ach is - because whereas metal was created in order to curtail human life, the Mizbe'ach was created to extend it (in which case, the two do not go well together).

15)

(a)A series of rings was attached to the floor on the north side of the Azarah (as we discussed in Tamid). Yochanan Kohen Gadol - initiated them.

(b)The rings were necessary - because they did not truss up the animals in the conventional manner, in which case they would still be able to move during the Shechitah.

(c)According to the Tana Kama, there were six rows (from west to east), each consisting of four rings. Yesh Omrim say - four rows, each consisting of six rings.

(d)They were fixed on the north side of the Mizbe'ach - because that is where Kodshei Kodshim (to which category the Korban Tamid belongs) were Shechted.

(e)They prevented the animals' heads from slipping out of the ring - by moving the rings round, until the open part was underneath the floor.

16)

(a)We already discussed the Beis ha'Mitbachayim in Tamid. The function of ...

1. ... the three rows (See Tosfos Yom Tov) of metal hooks on each of the thick blocks (that stood on the eight pillars) - was to hang on them the Shechted carcasses of the Korbanos for skinning.

2. ... the tables that stood among the pillars (See Tosfos Yom Tov) - was to wash the intestines.

(b)These tables were made of marble and not of gold - because marble (unlike gold) keeps meat cool and prevents it from going off.

17)

(a)The Kiyor was located - between the Ulam and the Mizbe'ach slightly towards the south.

(b)The distance between the Ulam and the Mizbe'ach was - twenty-two Amos.

(c)Twelve steps led the Mizbe'ach to the Ulam.

18)

(a)The ...

1. ... height of each step was - half an Amah

2. ... width of most of the steps (from east to west) was - one Amah.

(b)The fourth and the seventh steps were three Amos wide.

(c)According to the Tana Kama, the top step (until it reached the Ulam) was - four Amos wide.

(d)According to Rebbi Yehudah it was - five Amos.

(e)When the Tana says 'Amah Amah ve'Rovad Shalosh (Arba or Chamesh)', 'Rovad' means - 'the stretch of floor.

19)

(a)The entrance to the Ulam was twenty Amos wide and its height - forty.

(b)It was topped by five 'Maltera'os' - beams with pictures carved into them.

(c)They were made of Milas - another name for the wood of a gall-nut tree.

(d)The bottom beam was twenty-two Amos long, each subsequent beam - one Amah longer at each end, which means that the top beam was thirty Amos wide.

(e)Between each two beams was - a row of stones.

20)

(a)The ...

1. ... beams that stretched from the entrance of the Heichal to the entrance of the Ulam - prevented the very high walls of the latter (See Tiferes Yisrael) from caving in.

2. ... golden ropes that hung from the ceiling of the Ulam - enabled the young Kohanim (See Tiferes Yisrael) to climb up to examine the crowns (Ibid.) on the windows of the Heichal.

(b)Tovyah, Yeda'yah, and Chen ben Tzefanyah mentioned in the Pasuk in Zecharyah - were the ones who donated the crowns that we just referred to.

21)

(a)The golden vine that stood at the entrance of the Heichal - was for anyone who donated a golden leaf, grape or cluster of grapes to hang it on to.

(b)The vine was draped over - poles (in the form of a trellis [See Tosfos Yom Tov]).

(c)And it was placed specifically at the entrance of the Heichal - which was all overlaid with gold (See also Tosfos Yom Tov).

(d)Rebbi Eliezer b'Rebbi Tzadok said that - it once required three hundred Kohanim to carry it from one place to another.

(e)Chazal commented on Rebbi Eliezer b'Rebbi Tzadok however that - this was an exaggeration (See Tosfos Yom Tov) and that he only mentioned three hundred to stress how heavily laden the vine was with golden ornaments.