Commentary for Shabbat 183:8

ואיבעית אימא מארון דאמר מר ארון תשעה וכפורת טפח הרי כאן י' וגמירי דכל טונא דמידלי במוטות תילתא מלעיל ותרי תילתי מלרע אישתכח דלמעלה מי' הוה קאי וליגמר ממשה דילמא משה שאני דאמר מר אין השכינה שורה אלא על חכם גבור ועשיר ובעל קומה

Now it is well known that any burden that is carried on staves, a third is above [the porter's height] and two thirds are below: thus it is found that it was very much raised.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The Kohathites carried the altar on staves on their shoulders. Allowing for two thirds of the altar to swing below the top of their heads, the bottom of the altar would still be a third of ten cubits-i.e., three and one third cubits-from the ground, which is considerably more than ten handbreadths. ');">²¹</span> Alternatively, [it is deduced] from the Ark. For a Master said: The Ark was nine [handbreadths high], and the mercy-seat was one handbreadth; hence we have ten. And it is well known that any burden that is carried on staves, a third is above and two thirds are below: thus it is found that it was very much raised.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For allowing for Levites of the usual height, viz., three cubits eighteen handbreadths, and two thirds of the Ark, i.e., six and two thirds handbreadths swinging below the level of their heads, its bottom would still be eleven and one third handbreadths above the ground. — This alternative rejects the deduction from Moses. ');">²²</span> But deduce it from Moses? — Perhaps Moses was different, because a Master said: The <i>Shechinah</i> rests only on a wise man, a strong man, a wealthy man and a tall man.'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Hence Moses' height may have been exceptional. V. Ned., Sonc. ed., p. 119 n. 4; also Gorfinkle, 'The Eight chapters of Maimonides', p. 80, for an interesting though fanciful explanation of this passage. ');">²³</span>

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