s were
busied on one lamp." The words of Rabbi Jose. But the Sages say, "they did
not remove the lamps from their places; they only removed the snuff from
the candlestick, as is said, 'He shall order the lamps upon the pure
candlestick.' "(680)

Chapter XI

The altar of incense was in length a cubit, and in breadth a cubit, and in
height two cubits, as is said, "And thou shalt make an altar to burn
incense upon; of shittim-wood shalt thou make it. A cubit shall be the
length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof: four square shall it be:
and two cubits shall be the height thereof: the horns thereof shall be of
the same."(681) And it was all overlaid with gold.(682) This altar had
three names, the altar of incense, the altar of gold, the inner altar.
_The altar of burnt-offerings_ was in length five cubits, and in breadth
five cubits, and in height three cubits, as is said, "And he made the
altar of burnt-offering of shittim-wood: five cubits was the length
thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof; it was four-square; and
three cubits the height thereof."(683) The words of Rabbi Meier. To him
said Rabbi Jose, "from hearing what is said five by five do we not know
that it is four-square? What is the meaning of saying four-square?" "It is
superfluous, save for identification in pronouncing with regard to it an
equal decision. It is said here four-square, and there four-square." "What
four-square is meant there?" "That its height is double its breadth, even
the four-square mentioned here means that its height is double its
breadth." Rabbi Meier said to him, "if it be according to thy words, it
follows that the altar is higher than the curtains." Rabbi Jose; answered
him, "and is it not already said, 'And the hangings of the court, and the
hanging for the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle,
and by the altar round about.' "(684) As the tabernacle was ten cubits
broad, so the altar of burnt-offerings was ten cubits broad. A painted
line girdled it in the middle to divide between the blood (sprinkled)
above, and the blood (sprinkled) below. The painted line and downward was
five cubits. The foundation was a cubit. And three cubits was the compass,
and the circuit was a cubit, and there they put the blood sprinkled below.
The painted line and upward was five cubits--a cubit the horns, and three
cubits the compass, and one cubit the circuit. And there they put the
blood which was sprinkled abo