Explanation: The pit of Shitin was not considered a tunnel, for it was a need of the Mizbe'ach.

Implied question: It says in Chulin (83b, that we cannot leave earth permanently on the Mizbe'ach for the sake of Kisuy ha'Dam of Melikah, for this) adds to the Binyan (it will be Batel to the Mizbe'ach. Here we permit adding!)

Answer #1: There it discusses when the Mizbe'ach is already 60 (the maximum allowed).

Answer #2: We ask there from [the Isur to add to] the height.

Answer #3: We ask that he adds, and it will not be square. One cannot add earth on all sides around after every Melikah to make it square, like it must be!

Question: A verse in Yechezkel says "veha'Ari'el Shteim Esrei Amos... [El Arba'as Reva'av]" - this shows that the area of the Ma'arachah was 24 by 24 (12 by 12 in each quadrant), and from this verse we expound in Midos (3:1)! (Why did they need a Navi for this when building Bayis Sheni?)

Answer: If not for testimony, we would have explained that this is with the Keranos, lest it be different than Shlomo's Mizbe'ach (the place of the Ma'arachah was 20 by 20 - Shitah Mekubetzes).

Explanation: This is because Kedushas ha'Bayis was permanent.

This is unlike Kedushas ha'Aretz, which we hold that it was Batel, like is proven in Chulin (6b) regarding Beis She'an (R. Meir ate Yerek there without tithing it), for there is a difference between them, like I explained above (61a DH Mai).

Implied question: It says "ha'Kol bi'Chsav mi'Yad Hash-m Alai Hiskil" even regarding the Mizbe'ach, like it says in Chulin (83b) - just like the Bayis (length of the Heichal) is 60 [Amos], also the Mizbe'ach is 60!

Answer: It means that it is Kadosh up to 60 if they want to widen it, but there is no obligation to do so.

Version #1: This is a deficient [Amah].

Version #2: The Aruch explained that it is Gerumah, with a Reish, like "he gives Girumav" (what heaps above the top of the Kli);

Rav Yosef asked from a Beraisa that teaches that wood may not stick out [from the place of the Ma'arachah].

Observation: "Ground" is not precise, for [the gap] towered above the Amah of the Yesod and the Amah of the Sovev.

Implied question: Even without this verse, we would need air because it says Saviv, like below (it must be possible to surround the Mizbe'ach, i.e. nothing touches it)!

Answer: Mashehu (any amount) suffices [for Saviv]. However, here we require much air, and evident that it is for the sake of air.

Implied question: It is written "Chamesh Amos Orech v'Chamesh Amos Rochav" (it must be square)!

Answer: That is l'Chatchilah. This verse teaches that [squareness] is Me'akev.

Question: We know that it is Me'akev from "ha'Mizbe'ach"!

Observation: This is like Levi, who said above (54a that there was a physical Yesod on all sides, but in the south and east it was not considered a Yesod) for blood;

[Our Gemara] holds like him due to our Targum (of "Binyamin Ze'ev Yitrof...") - Mikdesha (a place sanctified to receive blood) will be built in his portion;

However, according to Rav, that there was no built Yesod (in the south), the Mizbe'ach was only 31 Amos from north to south, and the ramp was 32, i.e. 63 in all. [The Gemara] should have answered that [the ramp] towered above [only] the Amah of the Sovev.