Jewish%20thought for Zevachim 123:14

אמר ליה אביי דלמא מקום מערכה קאמר מר א"ל מר דגברא רבה הוא ידע מאי קאמינא קרי עלייהו

[A strip] between one horn and another horn a cubit [in breadth], where the priests walked. Did then the priests walk between one horn and another? - Rather say: and there was [a strip of] a cubit where the priests walked.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' There was a kind of trench between the ma'arakah, i.e., the place on the altar where the sacrifices etc. were burnt, and the edge of the altar. This trench was two cubits wide, including one cubit between the horns and one cubit where the priests walked (Rashi, as emended by Sh. M.) .');">¹⁹</span> But it is written, Under the karkob round it beneath, reaching halfway up!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. XXXVIII, 4. Scripture states that the network grating around the sides of the altar was under the karkob. This implies that the karkob was on the wall of the altar; for if it was on the top surface, a grating on the sides could not be described as under it.');">²⁰</span> - Said R'Nahman B'Isaac: There were two, one for ornamental purposes, and the other for the priests, that they should not slip.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' There was an ornamental ledge on the side of the altar, and a trench on the top, to provide a firm foothold for the priests.');">²¹</span> 'The measurements of its length, breadth, and height are not indispensable.' Said R'Mani: provided that it is not smaller than the altar made by Moses. And how much is that? - Said R'Joseph: One cubit [square]. They ridiculed him: [quoting the text, And thou shalt make the altar.] five cubits long, and five cubits broad!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ex. XXVII, 1.');">²²</span> Said Abaye to him: perhaps the master meant the place of the pile?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Where the sacrifice was burnt. For of the five cubits two cubits had to be deducted on all sides for the strip between the horns and the pathway for the priests, leaving an area of one cubit square for the place of the pile.');">²³</span> - The master [sc. yourself], who is a great man, knows what I meant, he replied. Then he dubbed them<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who had ridiculed him.');">²⁴</span>

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