출애굽기 40:10의 주석

AND THE ALTAR SHALL BE MOST HOLY. Since they would also sacrifice on it the most holy offerings, Scripture describes the altar as “most holy,” even though it stood in the court of the Tabernacle. Of the Tabernacle, however, Scripture says, and it shall be holy,⁸¹Verse 9. because the term “most holy” is used usually only with reference to the place where the ark rests, just as it is said, and the veil shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.⁸²Above, 26:33. It is possible that He said of the altar “most holy,” because it sanctifies other things, just as He said, whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy.⁸³Ibid., 29:37. See also Ramban above in Seder Ki Thisa 34:25, towards the end, for the specific explanation of how the altar sanctifies whatever touches it.

והיה המזבח קודש קדשים “the altar will become holy of holies.” Although the copper altar was standing in the courtyard of the Tabernacle, the Torah refers to it as “holy of holies.” The reason is that also the kind of offerings which are categorized as קדשי קדשים are being offered on it. (Compare Zevachim 7,1) The reason why the Torah wrote of the Tabernacle that it was קודש, holy, was to remind us that that the only part of the Tabernacle that qualified for the description קודש קדשים, holy of holies, was the section west of the dividing curtain. Possibly, the reason why the altar in the courtyard is called קודש קדשים, “holy of holies,” was because of its capacity to make people who came into direct contact with it “holy.” Compare (Exodus 29,37) כל הנוגע במזבח יקדש, “whoever or whatsoever touches the altar will become sanctified.” [This means that it becomes subject to far more stringent regulations governing what is sacred and what is profane. Ed.]