Daily Chumash & Rashi Parshas Teruma Shishi: The Mizbeiach – Copper altar (Friday, 3rd Adar)

📘 Rashi Q&A — Shemot 27:1–8

Verse 27:1 — The Outer Altar

Q1. How tall was the Mizbeach according to Rabbi Yehudah?

A: Literally three cubits high.

Q2. How tall was the Mizbeach according to Rabbi Yosei?

A: Its height was double its length (i.e., 10 cubits); the “three cubits” refers only to the measure from the border upward.

Verse 27:2 — The Horns (Kar’nos)

Q3. What does “מִמֶּנּוּ תִהְיֶיןָ קַרְנֹתָיו” teach?

A: The horns must be made from the same block as the Mizbeach — not attached separately.

Q4. Why was the Mizbeach overlaid with copper?

A: To atone for brazen stubbornness, as in the verse “your forehead is copper.”

Verse 27:3 — Altar Utensils

Q5. What are the ‘sirosav’?

A: Pots used to remove ashes.

Q6. What does “לדשנו” mean according to Rashi?

A: To remove its ashes, not to place ashes on it.

Q7. What are ‘ya’av’ (יָעָיו)?

A: Shovels (“vedil” in Old French) for taking ashes.

Q8. What are ‘mizrochosav’ (basins)?

A: Basins for receiving blood of the offerings.

Q9. What are ‘mazlegosav’ (flesh hooks)?

A: Bent hooks (“crozins”) used to turn the meat on the fire.

Q10. What are ‘machtosav’ (fire pans)?

A: Small pans used to take coals for the inner Mizbeach; related to “to scoop fire.”

Verse 27:4 — The Grate

Q11. What is a ‘michbar’?

A: A lattice‑like grate (like a sieve, “crible” in Old French).

Q12. How does Rashi rearrange the verse’s words?

A: “You shall make for it a copper grate of network.”

Verse 27:5 — Position of the Grate

Q13. What is the ‘karkov’ of the Mizbeach?

A: A decorative border encircling the Mizbeach.

Q14. How large was this border?

A: One cubit in height (a decorative groove).

Q15. What functional difference exists between the Mishkan’s Mizbeach and the Temple’s?

A: The Mishkan’s altar had no walkway for the Kohanim; only the stone altar of the Temple had such a walkway.

Q16. Why was the grate positioned at the midpoint of the altar?

A: To divide blood applied above vs. blood applied below.

Verse 27:5 — The Ramp

Q17. Where was the ramp located?

A: On the south side of the altar.

Q18. How close was the ramp to the altar?

A: It was separated by only a tiny gap (as learned in Zevachim).

Q19. Why does Rashi bring the law “do not ascend on steps”?

A: To show the Mizbeach required a ramp, not stairs.

Verse 27:6–7 — Carrying Poles

Q20. What material were the poles made from?

A: Acacia wood overlaid with copper.

Q21. Through which rings were the poles inserted?

A: Through the four rings on the grate.

Q22. What does “on both sides of the altar when carried” mean?

A: The poles extended through opposite sides so the altar could be lifted evenly.

Verse 27:8 — Hollow Panels

Q23. What does “nevuvo luchos” mean?

A: Hollow panels — not a solid block of wood, but boards with an empty interior.

Q24. Why was the altar hollow?

A: Because it was filled with earth whenever the Mishkan traveled, fulfilling “an altar of earth you shall make.”