Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Commentary for Menachot 196:22

אלא מי סברת חד דרא הוה תרי דרי נינהו

Furthermore, we would then have five tables on the south side!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In contravention of the Biblical ordinance. Cf. Ex. XXVI, 35.');"><sup>30</sup></span> And further, where did the table of Moses stand?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which stood, according to the Baraitha quoted above p. 601, between the other tables. There was thus insufficient room for all eleven tables.');"><sup>31</sup></span> - But according to your argument [this question could] also [be raised] against him who said [that they stood lengthwise] from east to west: Where did the table of Moses stand?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If it was among the other tables then one table must have stood completely in the front half of the Sanctuary!');"><sup>32</sup></span> But in fact [there is no difficulty] for you have assumed, have you not, that they stood in one row? [In reality, however,] they stood in two rows.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Each row consisting of five tables and measuring ten cubits by one cubit. The table of Moses stood by itself between the two rows.');"><sup>33</sup></span>

Tosafot on Menachot

The middle is preferable. And the explanation of the book [Rashi] is regarding that we read the Torah that we do not read any less than ten verses, and the middle reads four verses, being preferable. And regarding this he brings the baraita there, in the third chapter of Megilah (Megilah 21b) but it is difficult - because they bring also other baraitot, that affirm that the first and the last [alyiot] are preferable [as well]. Therefor it seems that here in our mishnah regarding the three that walk in the way, the bigger is on the middle, as it is said in the chapter "The appointed one said to them" (Yoma 37a) and in Masechet Megillah (Megillah 21b) it brings that since other things are preferable, it is preferable that he reads 4 verses.
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Rashi on Menachot

From here we infer that the middle position is commendable - regarding three that read Torah on Mondays and Thursdays, and we say in Megillah 21b: "we do not read any less than ten verses. And Rabbi Yochana says: the middle [alyiah] is preferable, and that is four verses, and the others are three and three.
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