Zevachim 59b

זבחים נ״ט ע״ב

Learn Zevachim 59b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Zevachim 59b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The size of משה's altar: רבי יהודה and רבי יוסי argue over 'קטן מהכיל' and over the altar's width and height

Overview

The פסוק in מלכים א 8:64 says שלמה offered sacrifices in the middle of the courtyard because the copper altar was 'too small to receive' them. רבי יהודה reads this literally. רבי יוסי argues that שלמה once brought a thousand עולות on משה's small altar, so the Temple altar could not really have been too small. For him, 'too small' is a polite way of saying משה's altar was disqualified. The גמרא explains that רבי יהודה is not convinced because he holds משה's altar was large. A ברייתא shows the dispute: רבי יוסי reads '5 by 5 אמות' as written, while רבי יהודה uses a גזירה שוה with יחזקאל's altar to measure from the center, making it 10 by 10. רבי יוסי uses the same word 'רבוע' instead to learn the height, comparing it to the incense altar, so משה's altar was 10 אמות tall. רבי יהודה objects that the 5-אמה courtyard walls would leave the כהן visible from outside. רבי יוסי answers with פסוקים tying the altar's height to the משכן's, and his answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (14)

1. Challengeרבי יוסי contrasts Solomon's offerings on two altars
2. ChallengeThe math shows Moses' altar held more per cubit
3. Resolution'Too small' is a polite way of saying disqualified
4. ChallengeWhy isn't רבי יהודה convinced?
5. Resolutionרבי יהודה holds Moses' altar was large
6. ProofThe baraita on the size of Moses' altar begins
7. Proofרבי יהודה measures משה's altar from its center
8. QuestionHow do we know יחזקאל measured from the center?
9. Response'To its four sides' shows measuring from the center
10. Resolutionרבי יוסי uses the word comparison for height
11. Proofרבי יהודה reads the height of 3 אמות as written
12. Proofרבי יוסי makes משה's altar twice as tall as it is long
13. Challengeרבי יהודה: the courtyard walls were too low for a 10-amah altar
14. Resolutionרבי יוסי: the altar was as tall as the Mishkan