I Chronicles 22:1 Jewish Thought: The Third Beit HaMikdash

Based on the above concepts, it is necessary to contemplate where the Altar will be located in the Future Beis HaMikdash; may it be built speedily, in our days. There is no doubt that its place on Mount Moriah will not change from where it was in the past. As the Talmud states,¹²Ibid. 62a. “It was taught, ‘Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaakov relates: Three prophets ascended with [the Jewish people] from the exile: one gave testimony concerning the Altar and its location.’ ” The Sages required this testimony to ensure that the Altar’s location would not be changed. Rambam¹³Hilchos Beis HaBechirah 2:1-3. and Sefer Mitzvos Gadol¹⁴Positive commandment 163. also rule in this manner. The question, however, is whether the design of the structure around the Altar will change, while the Altar will remain in its original location.¹⁵In contrast to the Altar and its location, in the Future Beis HaMikdash, there is no requirement that the Holy of Holies be located in the same place as it was in the Second Beis HaMikdash. It is obvious from the narrative in Yechezkel that the dimensions of the Courtyard and the building of the Beis HaMikdash in the Future will differ from their dimensions in the Second Beis HaMikdash. Hence, it is possible that the position of the Altar with regard to the Holy of Holies will also be different. After all, as explained above,¹⁶See sections 36-37. the Courtyard in the Future Beis HaMikdash will not resemble the Courtyard in the previous Batei HaMikdash (see secs. 36-37).