## The Third Beit HaMikdash Chapter 42

###### The Third Beit HaMikdash 42:1
[The Third Beit HaMikdash 42:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Third%20Beit%20HaMikdash/r/42:1)

**פּרְנַסְתָּ** כ"ו אַמָּה עַל כ"ו אַמָּה, וְנִשְׁאָר לְךָ עוֹד אַמָּה סָבִיב, גַּם כֵּן מָקוֹם לְהִלּוּךְ רַגְלֵי הַכֹּהֲנִים. אֶלָּא שֶׁבְּזָוִיּוֹת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ בְּאַרְבַּע פִּנּוֹתָיו נוֹתְנִין דְּפוּס אַמָּה עַל אַמָּה בְּרוּם אַמָּה, לְרַשִׁ"י (יחזקאל מג, יג, עירובין ד). בֵּין גָּבְהָן בֵּין רָחְבָּן בַּת ה', וְלָרַמְבַּ"ם דְּכָנַס הַיְסוֹד בְּבַת ה' סְבִירָא לֵיהּ (לעיל סי' ל"ח) הָכָא דַּוְקָא גָּבְהָן [בַּת ה'], אֲבָל רִבּוּעָן בְּאַמַּת ו' (פ"ב מבה"ב ה"ו). וּמְמַלְּאוֹ כוּ' כְּדִלְעֵיל (סי' ל"ז). וְהֵן נִקְרָאִין קְרָנוֹת, וְהֵם מַשְׁלִימִים גּוֹבַהּ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה עֶשֶׂר אַמָּה.

**The Third Beis HaMikdash, trans. by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, Moznaim Pub Corp. 2016:**
We now have a square measuring 26 cubits by 26 cubits, comprising the Altar’s upper surface. Thus, there was one more cubit of space remaining on each side of the Altar’s surface. The *kohanim* used this remaining cubit on each side when walking atop the Altar, except that some of this outer perimeter was occupied by the Altar’s “horns,” which were at the 4 corners of the Altar. Each “horn,” measured 1 cubit by 1 cubit. The horns were fashioned by placing a mold, measuring 1 cubit by 1 cubit, and 1 cubit high at each of the corners, and filling it with a mixture of stones, lime, and molten lead.¹ There is a difference of opinion among the Rabbis regarding the dimensions of these horns. According to *Rashi,*², *Yechezkel* 43:13 and *Eruvin* 4a. both the cubits of the horns’ height and width comprised 5 handbreadths. *Rambam,*³ 2:6. by contrast, maintained that the only reduction in the width of the Altar’s base was 5 handbreadths.⁴ Accordingly, though the cubit used to measure of the horns’ height comprised only 5 handbreadths, the cubit used to measure their width and length comprised 6 handbreadths. Including the height of the horns, the Altar was 10 cubits high.

footnotes:
¹ See sec. 37 above.
² Rashi
³ Hilchos Beis HaBechirah
⁴ See sec. 38 above.


###### The Third Beit HaMikdash 42:2
[The Third Beit HaMikdash 42:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Third%20Beit%20HaMikdash/r/42:2)

וּלְפִי שֶׁהַקְּרָנוֹת הַלָּלוּ מַפְסִיקִין סְבִיב הַמִּזְבֵּחַ בָּאַמָּה הַחִיצוֹנָה, לְפִיכָךְ הֻצְרְכוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים לָתֵת לָהֶם עוֹד אַמָּה אַחַת סָבִיב לְהִלּוּכָן, שֶׁיּוּכְלוּ לְסַבֵּב הַמִּזְבֵּחַ *מִבְּלִי עִכּוּב. וַהֲכִי אָמְרִינַן בְּפֶרֶק קָדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים (זבחים סב), אַטּוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים בֵּין קֶרֶן לְקֶרֶן הֲווֹ אָזְלִי אֶלָּא אֵימָא וּמְקוֹם הִלּוּךְ רַגְלֵי הַכֹּהֲנִים אַמָּה. וּפֵרֵשׁ רַשִׁ"י, בֵּין קֶרֶן כוּ' וַהֲלֹא כְּשֶׁיַּגִּיעוּ לַקֶּרֶן הַקֶּרֶן מְעַכְּבָן מֵהַקִּיף (מהדורא בתרא). וְהִיא הָאַמָּה שֶׁכָּתַבְנוּ סִימָן מ"א, וְלֹא נִתְפָּרְשָׁה בַּכָּתוּב.

**The Third Beis HaMikdash, trans. by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, Moznaim Pub Corp. 2016:**
Since the horns obstructed the *kohanim’s* passage around the outer edge of the upper surface of the Altar, it was necessary to provide them with another cubit of space on that surface, on which they could walk freely. Indeed, Tractate *Zevachim* states:⁵ 62a. “Did the *kohanim* walk between the horns? Instead, say that a cubit was designated where the feet of the *kohanim* would walk.” On that statement, *Rashi* comments that it is impossible to say that the *kohanim* walked between the horns because the horns would prevent them from making the circuit.⁶ The cubit where the *kohanim* would walk is described in sec. 41, although it is not mentioned in Yechezkel’s narrative.

footnotes:
⁵ Zevachim
⁶ Mahadura Basra.


###### The Third Beit HaMikdash 42:3
[The Third Beit HaMikdash 42:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Third%20Beit%20HaMikdash/r/42:3)

אֲבָל הַקְּרָנוֹת מְפוֹרָשִׁים בְּאָמְרוֹ (יחזקאל מג, טו) "וּמֵהָאֲרִאֵיל וּלְמַעְלָה הַקְּרָנוֹת אַרְבַּע", וְנֶאֱמַר (שם יז) "וְהַגְּבוּל סָבִיב אוֹתָהּ חֲצִי הָאַמָּה" - כְּלוֹמַר מַה שֶּׁנָּתוּן בִּגְבוּלֵי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ בְּזָוִיּוֹת מָדַד מֵאֶמְצָעִיתוֹ, וְהָיָה חֲצִי אַמָּה לְכָל צַד שֶׁהוּא אַמָּה עַל אַמָּה.

**The Third Beis HaMikdash, trans. by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, Moznaim Pub Corp. 2016:**
The horns by contrast, are mentioned, as it is written,⁷ 43:15. “From the *Ariel* upward, there were four horns,” and it is written:⁸17. “And the edge (*g’vul*) around it was half a cubit.” The latter phrase refers to the horns. This verse should be understood as meaning, when the area at the edge of the Altar is measured from the center of a horn, it is half a cubit to each side. Thus, each horn measured 1 cubit by 1 cubit in total.

footnotes:
⁷ Yechezkel
⁸ Ibid.:


###### The Third Beit HaMikdash 42:4
[The Third Beit HaMikdash 42:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Third%20Beit%20HaMikdash/r/42:4)

וְקַשְׁיָא לָן לְפֵרוּשׁ זֶה דִּגְבוּל הוּא (יְסוֹד) ¹ [קֶרֶן], אִם כֵּן מַהוּ דִּכְתִיב גַּבֵּי מַתַּן דָּמִים (שם כ') "וְנָתַתָּה עַל אַרְבַּע קַרְנֹותָיו וְגוֹ' וְאֶל הַגְּבוּל סָבִיב", הֲרֵי הוּא קֶרֶן הוּא גְּבוּל, וּמַהוּ "וְאֶל הַגְּבוּל"? וְיֵשׁ לוֹמַר דְּהֵיכָא דְּלָא כְּתִיב בְּהֶדְיָא קֶרֶן וּכְתִיב גְּבוּל, פֵּרוּשׁוֹ קֶרֶן. אֲבָל הֵיכָא דִּכְתִיב קֶרֶן וּגְבוּל בַּהֲדֵי הֲדָדֵי, הֲוָה גְּבוּל עִנְיָן אַחֵר, דּוֹמֶה קְצָת לְמַה שֶּׁפֵּרֵשׁ רַשִׁ"י ז"ל בְּפָרָשַׁת אֱמֹר (ויקרא כא, כ) גַּבֵּי גָרָב וְיַלֶּפֶת, עַיֵּן שָׁם. וּלְפִיכָךְ יֵשׁ לְפָרְשׁוֹ כְּדִכְתִיב גַּבֵּיהּ קֶרֶן בַּהֲדֵיהּ, דִּגְבוּל רְצוֹנוֹ לוֹמַר מְקוֹם דְּרִיסַת רַגְלֵי הַכֹּהֲנִים, אוֹ מַה שֶּׁבֵּין הַקְּרָנוֹת, אוֹ שְׁנֵיהֶם כְּאֶחָד. וְיֵשׁ לוֹ חָבֵר בַּמִּשְׁנָה, גְּבוּל הָעֲרוּגָה דִּבְמַסֶּכֶת כִּלְאַיִם (פ"ג מ"א), שֶׁהוּא מְקוֹם הַדְּרִיסָה שֶׁסְּבִיב הָעֲרוּגָה. וְאַף יוֹנָתָן תִּרְגֵּם כָּל גְּבוּל שֶׁבָּעִנְיָן (שם יג, יז) גְּדַנְפָא, שֶׁהוּא תַּרְגּוּם מִסְגֶּרֶת, וְהַךְ דְּגַבֵּי קֶרֶן (שם כ) תִּרְגְּמוֹ: וּתְחוּמָא.

footnotes:
¹ כ”ה בדפו”ר, ולכאורה פירושו מילת יסוד, דהיינו ששמו של הקרן הוא גבול, לאפוקי אם הפירוש הוא גבולו של המזבח, וכמ”ש רבינו לקמן בשם התרגום שתרגם גבול שם דבר (גדנפא) ולא תחום דבר, (ואולי יש לתקן ולכתוב קרן במקום יסוד).

**The Third Beis HaMikdash, trans. by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, Moznaim Pub Corp. 2016:**
One might object to interpreting the term *g’vul* as referring to the horns,⁹ because of the verse referring to the placement of the sacrificial blood on the Altar,¹⁰20. “And you shall place it on the corners (*karnosav*)… and on the edge (*g’vul*) all around.” The word *karnosav* is referring to the horns. However, if this is so, then what is the word *g’vul* referring to? It is possible to explain that when the term *keren* is not mentioned, and *g’vul* is mentioned, *g’vul* refers to the horns. When, however, Scripture mentions *g’vul* and *keren* together, *g’vul* has another meaning. To cite a parallel, see *Rashi’s* interpretation of the terms *garav* and *yalefes.*¹¹ 21:20. There, he explains that the meaning of *garav* depends on the context where it is used. In *Vayikra, loc. cit.,* since it is used in connection with *yalefes,* it has one meaning, and in *Devarim* 28:27 when it is used in connection with *cheres,* it has a different meaning. Thus, when the term *g’vul* is mentioned together with the term *keren,* it refers to the area where the *kohanim* walk, or the space between the horns, or both of these spaces. Indeed, the *Mishnah* uses the term *g’vul* in this manner in Tractate *Kilayim,*¹² 3:1. when discussing the *g’vul ha’arugah,* the area used to walk around a row of produce. Similarly, the *Targum Yonason* translates the term *g’vul* as *gedanfa,* “frame,” when it is used alone,¹³ 43:17. but when that term is used together with the word *keren,*¹⁴ 43:20. it is translated as *techuma,* its “area.”

footnotes:
⁹ This reflects a correction of the Hebrew text which states יסוד, “foundation.”
¹⁰ Ibid.:
¹¹ See Rashi, Vayikra
¹² Kilayim
¹³ Targum Yonason, Yechezkel
¹⁴ Targum Yonason, Yechezkel