Commentary for Zevachim 118:10

אמר לו ר' יוסי והלא כבר נאמר (במדבר ד, כו) ואת קלעי החצר ואת מסך שער החצר אשר על המשכן ועל המזבח מה משכן י' אמות אף מזבח י' אמות ואומר (שמות לח, יב) קלעים חמש עשרה

- The gezerah shawah refers to the height [of the altar]. For it was taught: And the height thereof shall be three cubits:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ex. ibid.');">¹³</span> this is meant literally: these are the words of R'Judah. R'Jose said: 'Square' is stated here, and 'square' is stated elsewhere:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In reference to the golden altar, Ex. XXX, 2: a cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof; square shall it be; and two cubits shall be the height thereof.');">¹⁴</span> as there its height was twice its length, so here to [its height was] twice its length.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Hence, ten cubits.');">¹⁵</span> Said R'Judah to him: Is it possible that the priest stood on the altar, performing the service, whilst all the people saw him from without?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As would be the case if the altar were ten cubits high; this would not be seemly. - The text is emended in accordance with the Yalkut.');">¹⁶</span> Said R'Jose to him: But surely it is stated, And the hangings of the court, and the screen for the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle and by the altar roundabout,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Num. IV, 26.');">¹⁷</span> [which teaches that] as the tabernacle was ten cubits [high], so was the altar ten cubits [high]; and it says. The hangings for the one side were fifteen cubits.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ex. XXXVIII, 14. Rashi: it is now understood that they were fifteen cubits in height. Tosaf. objects that the whole context refers to the width, and accordingly emends: 'and the hangings were fifteen cubits,' omitting 'and it says' and 'for one side', this being a statement by R. Jose on their height, not a Biblical quotation.');">¹⁸</span>

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