Zevachim 118

והלא כבר נאמר (מלכים א ג, ד) אלף עולות יעלה שלמה על המזבח ההוא ואילו בבית עולמים הוא אומר (מלכים א ח, סג) ויזבח שלמה את זבח השלמים אשר זבח לה' בקר עשרים ושנים אלף

But surely it is said, A thousand burnt-offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. III, 4. The altar referred to is the brazen one made in the days of Moses (cf. II Chron. I, 6) .');">¹</span> while of the Eternal House<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The Temple.');">²</span>

וכשאתה מגיע לחשבון עולות ולמנין אמות זה גדול מזה

it is said, And Solomon offered for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, which he offered unto the Lord, two and twenty thousand oxen,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. VIII, 63.');">³</span> and when you calculate the number of burnt-offerings and the number of cubits, the latter was larger than the former?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Moses' altar was five cubits square. From these a cubit must be deducted on all sides for the horns, and a further cubit on all sides for the terrace where the priests walked. This left only one cubit square for the actual burning. Whereas in Solomon's altar the actual place for burning was twenty cubits square, according to R. Jose, which means four hundred times as large. If then the smaller altar could cope with a thousand animals, this larger one was surely more than enough for the number offered that day. Hence 'was too little to receive' etc. cannot be meant literally.');">⁴</span>

אלא מהו קטן מהכיל כאדם האומר לחבירו פלוני ננס הוא ופסול לעבודה

Rather, what does 'was too little to receive' mean? As one says to his neighbours.'

ור' יהודה שפיר קאמר ר' יוסי ר' יהודה לטעמיה דאמר מזבח שעשה משה גדול היה דתניא (שמות כז, א) חמש אמות אורך וחמש אמות רוחב דברים ככתבן דברי ר' יוסי

So-and-so is a dwarf', when he is unfit for [sacrificial] service.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., instead of saying directly that for some reason he is unfit, he uses a euphemism and calls him a dwarf. Similarly here, the altar had become unfit for service, and that is delicately stated by saying that it was too small.');">⁵</span> But R'Jose says well to R'Judah?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' His argument is sound. How then does R. Judah rebut it?');">⁶</span>

ר' יהודה אומר נאמר כאן (שמות כז, א) רבוע ונאמר להלן (יחזקאל מג, טז) רבוע מה להלן מאמצעיתו היה מודד אף כאן מאמצעיתו היה מודד

- R'Judah is consistent with his view, for he maintained that the altar made by Moses was large. For it was taught: [And thou shalt make the altar of acacia wood.] five cubits long, and five cubits broad; [the altar shall be square]:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ex. XXVII. 1.');">⁷</span>

והתם מנלן דכתיב (יחזקאל מג, טז) והאריאל שתים עשרה אמה לכל רוח או אינו אלא י"ב על י"ב כשהוא אומר אל ארבעת רבעיו מלמד שמאמצע הוא מודד

this is meant literally: these are the words of R'Jose. R'Judah said: 'Square' is stat here, and 'square' is stated elsewhere:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ezek. XLIII, 16, q.v. It is quoted in the text.');">⁸</span>

ור' יוסי כי גמר גזירה שוה בגובהה הוא דגמיר דתניא (שמות כז, א) ושלש אמות קומתו דברים ככתבן דברי רבי יהודה

as there it was measured from the centre, so here it was measured from the centre. And how do we know [that it was so] there? - Because it is written, And the hearth<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., the actual portion of the altar for burning.');">⁹</span>

רבי יוסי אומר נאמר כאן (שמות כז, א) רבוע ונאמר להלן רבוע מה להלן גובהו פי שנים כארכו אף כאן פי שנים כארכו

shall be twelve cubits long by twelve cubits broad, square. You might think that it was only twelve cubits square; when, however, it says, to<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit. translation, not in as E.V.');">¹⁰</span>

אמר ליה רבי יהודה (והלא כבר נאמר ואת החצר מאה אמה וקומה חמש אמות וגו') אפשר כהן עומד ע"ג המזבח ועבודה בידו וכל העם רואין אותו מבחוץ

the four sides thereof, it teaches that the measurement was taken from the middle.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Interpreting 'to' as intimating that from one particular point there were twelve cubits in all directions, hence from the centre. Accordingly, Moses' altar was ten cubits square, not five, and when the two cubits on all sides are deducted (v. n. 11, p. 296) it was still six as against Solomon's twenty cubits square. The latter therefore would not be large enough for the extra work it had to do.');">¹¹</span> And R'Jose?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' How does he rebut this reasoning?');">¹²</span>

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>