Kaisipang Hudyo sa Ezekiel 40:43: The Third Beit HaMikdash

The verse states:²Ibid.:43. The bracketed phrase was added based on the gloss of Metzudos. “And the tables on which the meat of the sacrifices [would be placed].” It appears that the phrase “There they would rinse the burnt-offering”³Ibid.:38. refers to this chamber, i.e., the meat of the sacrifices was rinsed on the tables inside this chamber. Therefore, the tables were made of hewn stone. Similarly, Middos, ch. 3,⁴Middos 3:5. states that there were marble tables between the pillars in the butchering area. Rav Ovadiah of Bartenura states that the entrails of the sacrifices were washed on these tables because marble cools the meat and protects it from spoiling.

“The hooks, one handbreadth [long].”¹Yechezkel 40:43. In his commentary to this phrase, Rashi explains that these were iron hooks that were embedded in the short pillars²Even though the verse does not mention pillars with hooks – only hooks on the “House,” i.e., the walls of the Courtyard – based on our Sages’ account of the Second Beis HaMikdash, Rashi understands that there will also be pillars with hooks in the Future Beis HaMikdash. that were located in the butchering area in the northern portion of the courtyard. The sacrificial animals were hung on these hooks when they were being skinned. Similarly, the fifth chapter of Tractate Pesachim³Pesachim 64a. teaches that there were iron hooks embedded in the pillars and the walls of the courtyard. The sacrificial animals were hung from and skinned on these hooks.