Zevachim Daf 62 זבחים דַף 62

The Gemara asks, although it is understandable how the אנשי כנסת הגדולה determined the location for the second Beis Hamikdash, because the original foundations were still visible, but how did they know the exact location for the מזבח? Four answers are given: (1) ראו מזבח בנוי – they saw the mizbeiach built, ומיכאל השר הגדול עומד ומקריב עליו – and Michoel, the great officer, standing and offering [korbanos] on it. (2) אפרו של יצחק ראו שמונח באותו מקום – they saw the ashes of Yitzchak lying in that place. (3)מכל הבית כולו הריחו ריח קטרת – from the whole area of the [Beis Hamikdash] they smelled the aroma of the ketores, משם הריחו ריח אברים – but from [the מזבח’s location] they smelled the aroma of the limbs burned there. (4) Rebbe Yochanan says that three נביאים (חנניה, מישאל, and עזריה) went up with them from Exile: one testified to them about the size of the מזבח, one testified about the location of the מזבח, and one testified שמקריבין אף על פי שאין בית – that they may offer [korbanos] even though there is no [Beis Hamikdash].

A Mishnah states: כבש היה לדרומה של מזבח – there was a ramp on the south side of the mizbeiach, which was thirty-two amos long by sixteen amos wide. Rav Huna explains that the passuk says to shecht on the "ירך" – side, literally “thigh,” of the מזבח, to the north. Since its “feet” are described as being to the north, its “face” (i.e., the ramp entrance) must be to the south. Rava explained: רמי גברא אאפיה – put the man on his face, i.e., lying down, where the face and feet are in opposite directions. Abaye asked that perhaps it should be compared to one sitting upright, but Rava answered that the passuk says "רבוע" – square, which can also mean lying down. Rebbe Yehudah darshens this from "ומעלותיהו פנות קדים" – and its ramp turns eastward, teaching: כל פינות שאתה פונה לא יהו אלא דרך ימין למזרח – all turnings which you turn should only be to the right, eastward. Thus, the כבש must be to the south, so turning to the right would face east. The source that turning must always be to the right is from the ים של שלמה, where its sides are described in a counterclockwise order.

Rebbe Shimon ben Yose ben Lekunia asked Rebbe Yose if it was true that Rebbe Shimon ben Yochai said: אויר יש בין כבש למזבח – there was a gap of airspace between the ramp and the mizbeiach. Rebbe Yose responded, do you not say so? A היקש between "הבשר והדם" – the meat and the blood of עולות teaches: מה דם בזריקה אף בשר בזריקה – just as blood is put on the מזבח by throwing, so too the meat (i.e., the איברים) is put on the מזבח by throwing it. This indicates that there was a gap between the כבש and the מזבח, necessitating throwing the איברים. Rebbe Shimon objected that the throwing can be fulfilled by standing near the fire and throwing the איברים in, but Rebbe Yose countered that since he throws them onto מערכה דלוקה – the burning part of the pyre, he obviously will have to throw them. Therefore, the היקש must be teaching about a gap before the מזבח, requiring throwing the איברים from the כבש. Rav Pappa explains that the היקש to דם teaches that just as with blood, אויר קרקע מפסיקו – the airspace of the ground separates him from the מזבח, so too with throwing the איברים, there is airspace of ground between him and the מזבח, indicating a gap.