## Zevachim Daf 62a

###### Zevachim 62a:1
[Zevachim 62a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/62a:1)

וְלֹא עַל גַּבֵּי מְחִילּוֹת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**and** one may **not** build it **on top of tunnels.**


###### Zevachim 62a:2
[Zevachim 62a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/62a:2)

אָמַר רַב יוֹסֵף, לָאו הַיְינוּ דְּתַנְיָא: ״וַיָּכִינוּ אֶת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ עַל מְכוֹנָתוֹ״ – שֶׁהִגִּיעוּ לְסוֹף מִדּוֹתָיו? וְהָכְתִיב: ״הַכֹּל בִּכְתָב מִיַּד ה׳ עָלַי הִשְׂכִּיל״!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara relates that after reconsidering the reason for the expansion of the altar, **Rav Yosef said: Is this not as it is taught** in a *baraita* with regard to the verse: **“And they set the altar upon its bases”** (Ezra 3:3), which teaches **that** in the Second Temple the size of the altar **reached its full measure,** i.e., that it was the ideal size, whereas in the First Temple it was not the ideal size? The Gemara asks: **But isn’t it written** with regard to the instructions David gave Solomon about how to build the Temple: **“All this in writing, as the Lord has made me wise by His hand upon me,** even all the works of this pattern” (I Chronicles 28:19), indicating that the design of the First Temple was dictated by God?


###### Zevachim 62a:3
[Zevachim 62a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/62a:3)

אֶלָּא אָמַר רַב יוֹסֵף: קְרָא אַשְׁכַּח וּדְרַשׁ – ״וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִיד: זֶה הוּא בֵּית ה׳ הָאֱלֹהִים, וְזֶה מִּזְבֵּחַ לְעֹלָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל״ – כִּי בַּיִת; מָה בַּיִת שִׁשִּׁים אַמָּה, אַף מִזְבֵּחַ שִׁשִּׁים אַמָּה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rather, Rav Yosef said:** The size of the altar in the First Temple was ideal, but in the Second Temple era there was a need to expand the altar, and they **found a verse and interpreted** it as follows. The verse states: **“Then David said: This is the House of the Lord God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel”** (I Chronicles 22:1). The verse juxtaposes the House, i.e., the Temple, with the altar, which indicates that the altar is **like** the **Temple: Just as** the **House** was **sixty cubits** (see I Kings 6:2), **so too,** the **altar** may be extended up to a length of **sixty cubits.**


###### Zevachim 62a:4
[Zevachim 62a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/62a:4)

בִּשְׁלָמָא בַּיִת – מִינַּכְרָא צוּרָתוֹ; אֶלָּא מִזְבֵּחַ – מְנָא יָדְעִי?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The Gemara discusses the construction of the altar in the Second Temple. The Gemara asks: **Granted,** with regard to the location of the **House, its shape** was **discernable** from the vestiges of its foundations; **but how did they know** the proper location of the **altar?**


###### Zevachim 62a:5
[Zevachim 62a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/62a:5)

אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: רָאוּ מִזְבֵּחַ בָּנוּי, וּמִיכָאֵל הַשַּׂר הַגָּדוֹל עוֹמֵד וּמַקְרִיב עָלָיו. וְרַבִּי יִצְחָק נַפָּחָא אָמַר: אֶפְרוֹ שֶׁל יִצְחָק רָאוּ, שֶׁמּוּנָּח בְּאוֹתוֹ מָקוֹם. וְרַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי אָמַר: מִכׇּל הַבַּיִת כּוּלּוֹ הֵרִיחוּ רֵיחַ קְטֹרֶת, מִשָּׁם הֵרִיחוּ רֵיחַ אֵבָרִים.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara answers that **Rabbi Elazar says: They saw** a vision of the **altar** already **built and Michael the archangel standing and sacrificing** offerings **upon it. And Rabbi Yitzḥak Nappaḥa says: They saw** a vision of **the ashes of Isaac** that were **placed in that location. And Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani says: From the entire House they smelled the scent of incense,** yet **from there,** the location of the altar, **they smelled a scent of** burned animal **limbs.**


###### Zevachim 62a:6
[Zevachim 62a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/62a:6)

אָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: שְׁלֹשָׁה נְבִיאִים עָלוּ עִמָּהֶם מִן הַגּוֹלָה – אֶחָד שֶׁהֵעִיד לָהֶם עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, וְאֶחָד שֶׁהֵעִיד לָהֶם עַל מְקוֹם הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, וְאֶחָד שֶׁהֵעִיד לָהֶם שֶׁמַּקְרִיבִין אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין בַּיִת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rabba bar bar Ḥana says** that **Rabbi Yoḥanan says: Three prophets ascended with them from the exile: One who testified to them about** the size and shape of **the altar, and one who testified to them about the** proper **location of the altar, and one who testified to them that one sacrifices** offerings **even if there is no Temple,** provided that there is a proper altar.


###### Zevachim 62a:7
[Zevachim 62a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/62a:7)

בְּמַתְנִיתָא תָּנָא, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר: שְׁלֹשָׁה נְבִיאִים עָלוּ עִמָּהֶן מִן הַגּוֹלָה – אֶחָד שֶׁהֵעִיד לָהֶם עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְעַל מְקוֹם הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, וְאֶחָד שֶׁהֵעִיד לָהֶם שֶׁמַּקְרִיבִין אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין בַּיִת, וְאֶחָד שֶׁהֵעִיד לָהֶם עַל הַתּוֹרָה – שֶׁתִּכָּתֵב אַשּׁוּרִית.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
It **was taught in a *baraita*** that **Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaakov says: Three prophets ascended with** the Jewish people **from the exile: One who testified to them about** the size and shape of **the altar and about the** proper **location of the altar, and one who testified to them that one sacrifices** offerings **even if there is no Temple, and one who testified to them about the Torah** and instructed **that it be written** in **Assyrian script [*Ashurit*]** rather than the ancient Hebrew script used in the times of Moses.


###### Zevachim 62a:8
[Zevachim 62a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/62a:8)

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: קֶרֶן וְכֶבֶשׁ וִיסוֹד וְרִיבּוּעַ – מְעַכְּבִין. מִדַּת אׇרְכּוֹ וּמִדַּת רׇחְבּוֹ וּמִדַּת קוֹמָתוֹ – אֵין מְעַכְּבִין. מְנָא הָנֵי מִילֵּי? אָמַר רַב הוּנָא, אָמַר קְרָא: ״הַמִּזְבֵּחַ״; כׇּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״הַמִּזְבֵּחַ״ – לְעַכֵּב.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ **The Sages taught** in a *baraita*: The **corner** built at each point where the edges of the altar meet, the **ramp** upon which the priests ascended the altar, the **base** of the altar, **and** the requirement that the altar must be exactly **square, are** all **indispensable** in order for the altar to be fit for use. But **the measurement of its length, and the measurement of its width, and the measurement of its height are not indispensable.** The Gemara asks: **From where are these matters** derived? **Rav Huna says:** In reference to each of these characteristics **the verse states** the term **“the altar,”** and there is a principle that **wherever** the term **“the altar” is stated,** it serves **to** indicate that the halakhic detail mentioned is **indispensable.**


###### Zevachim 62a:9
[Zevachim 62a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/62a:9)

אֶלָּא מֵעַתָּה, כִּיּוֹר לְרַבִּי וְסוֹבֵב לְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה – הָכִי נָמֵי דִּמְעַכֵּב?! דִּכְתִיב: ״וְנָתַתָּה אֹתָהּ תַּחַת כַּרְכֹּב הַמִּזְבֵּחַ מִלְּמָטָּה״, וְתַנְיָא: אֵיזֶהוּ כַּרְכּוֹב? רַבִּי אוֹמֵר: זֶה כִּיּוּר, רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: זֶה הַסּוֹבֵב!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **If that is so,** then the **engraving [*kiyyur*]** that was on the altar **according to Rabbi** Yehuda HaNasi, **or** the **surrounding ledge** of the altar **according to Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Yehuda,** should **also be indispensable, as it is written: “And you shall put it under the *karkov* of the altar beneath”** (Exodus 27:5). **And it is taught** in a *baraita*: **What is** the ***karkov*? Rabbi** Yehuda HaNasi **says: This is** the **engraving** on the altar. **Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Yehuda, says: This is the surrounding ledge.**


###### Zevachim 62a:10
[Zevachim 62a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/62a:10)

אִין; דְּתַנְיָא: אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם נִפְגְּמָה קֶרֶן מִזְבֵּחַ, וְהֵבִיאוּ בּוּל שֶׁל מֶלַח וּסְתָמוּהוּ; וְלֹא מִפְּנֵי שֶׁכָּשֵׁר לַעֲבוֹדָה, אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא יֵרָאֶה מִזְבֵּחַ פָּגוּם. שֶׁכׇּל מִזְבֵּחַ שֶׁאֵין לוֹ קֶרֶן וְכֶבֶשׁ וִיסוֹד וְרִיבּוּעַ – פָּסוּל. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: אַף הַסּוֹבֵב.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara answers: **Yes,** the *karkov* is also indispensable, **as it is taught** in a *baraita*: On **that day** when *etrogim* were pelted at a Sadducee priest who poured the water libation of *Sukkot* on his feet rather than on the altar (see *Sukka* 48b), **the corner of the altar was damaged** as a result of the pelting and the ensuing chaos. **They brought a fistful of salt and sealed** the damaged section. They did this **not because** it rendered the altar **fit for the** Temple **service, but** in deference to the altar, **so that the altar would not be seen** in its **damaged** state. The reason the altar is disqualified is **because any altar that does not have a corner, a ramp, and a base, and** any altar that is not **square,** is **disqualified. Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Yehuda, says: Even the surrounding ledge** is indispensable.


###### Zevachim 62a:11
[Zevachim 62a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/62a:11)

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אֵיזֶהוּ כַּרְכּוֹב? בֵּין קֶרֶן לְקֶרֶן, מְקוֹם הִילּוּךְ רַגְלֵי הַכֹּהֲנִים אַמָּה. אַטּוּ (הכהנים) [כֹּהֲנִים] בֵּין קֶרֶן לְקֶרֶן הֲווֹ אָזְלִי?! אֶלָּא אֵימָא: וּמְקוֹם הִילּוּךְ רַגְלֵי הַכֹּהֲנִים – אַמָּה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ **The Sages taught** in a *baraita*: **What is** the ***karkov*** of the altar? It is the area **between** one **corner and** the next **corner,** which is the **cubit-**wide **place** on top of the altar where **the priests** would **walk.** The Gemara asks: **Is that to say** that **the priests would walk between** one **corner and** the next **corner?** The Gemara answers: **Rather, say:** The *karkov* is the cubit-wide area between one corner and the other, **and** there was an additional **cubit** that was **the place** where **the priests** would **walk.**


###### Zevachim 62a:12
[Zevachim 62a:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/62a:12)

וְהָכְתִיב: ״תַּחַת כַּרְכֻּבּוֹ מִלְּמַטָּה עַד חֶצְיוֹ״! אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק: תְּרֵי הֲווֹ; חַד לְנוֹי, וְחַד לְכֹהֲנִים דְּלָא נִשְׁתַּרְקוּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **But isn’t it written:** “And he made for the altar a grating of network of brass, **under the *karkov* beneath, reaching halfway up”** (Exodus 38:4), which indicates that the *karkov* was on the side of the altar and not on top of it? The Gemara answers: **Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: There were two** entities called *karkov*. **One** was a slight protrusion above the midway point of the altar **for aesthetic** purposes, **and one** was an indentation on top of the altar **for** the benefit of **the priests,** to ensure **that they** would **not slip** off the top of the altar.


###### Zevachim 62a:13
[Zevachim 62a:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/62a:13)

מִדַּת אׇרְכּוֹ וּמִדַּת רׇחְבּוֹ וּמִדַּת קוֹמָתוֹ – אֵין מְעַכְּבִין. אָמַר רַבִּי מָנִי: וּבִלְבַד שֶׁלֹּא יִפְחָתֶנּוּ מִמִּזְבֵּחַ שֶׁעָשָׂה מֹשֶׁה. וְכַמָּה? אָמַר רַב יוֹסֵף: אַמָּה. מַחֲכוּ עֲלֵיהּ: ״חָמֵשׁ אַמּוֹת אֹרֶךְ וְחָמֵשׁ אַמּוֹת רֹחַב רָבוּעַ יִהְיֶה הַמִּזְבֵּחַ״!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
It was taught in a *baraita* cited above that **the measurement of** the altar’s **length, and the measurement of its width, and the measurement of its height are not indispensable. Rabbi Mani says:** This is the *halakha* **provided that one does not decrease its** size so that it is smaller **than** the **altar constructed by Moses.** The Gemara asks: **And how** large was the altar constructed by Moses? **Rav Yosef says:** One **cubit.** Those in the study hall **mocked** Rav Yosef, as it is written explicitly: **“Five cubits long and five cubits wide; the altar shall be square”** (Exodus 27:1).


###### Zevachim 62a:14
[Zevachim 62a:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Zevachim/r/62a:14)

אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי: דִּלְמָא מְקוֹם מַעֲרָכָה קָאָמַר מָר? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מָר דְּגַבְרָא רַבָּה הוּא, יָדַע מַאי קָאָמֵינָא. קָרֵי עֲלַיְיהוּ

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Abaye said to** Rav Yosef: **Perhaps the Master is speaking** about **the area of the arrangement** of wood? Since the corners took up one cubit on each side and there was an additional cubit on each side for the priests to walk, only one cubit was left for the arrangement of wood. Rav Yosef **said to** Abaye: **The Master,** i.e., Abaye, **who is a great man, knows what I** mean to **say.** Rav Yosef **read,** i.e., applied, the following verse **to those** who mocked him: