1) WAS THERE A “YESOD” IN THE SOUTH AND EAST?

(a) Question (Mishnah): The Kohen was Molek Olas ha’Of (on the Sovev, in the southeast corner) opposite the Oref, he would fully cut both Simanim, he pressed the bird against the Mizbe’ach to squeeze out the blood.
1. Will we say that Melikah was done in the air?! (Rashi – i.e., above the bare floor – we know that even of he bends down to Molek below his feet, i.e. below the Sovev, it is Kosher – if there was no Yesod there, the blood would fall to the floor! R. Tam – Is Melikah Kosher in the airspace of Yehudah?! Only Binyamin’s portion has Kedushas Mizbe’ach!)
(b) Answer (Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak): They stipulated, Yehudah received the land, the airspace belonged to Binyamin (Rashi – and a platform was built there to collect the blood).
(c) Question: What does it mean ‘There was no Yesod there’?
(d) Answer #1 (Rav): The Yesod physically did not extend to that corner.
(e) Answer #2 (Levi): (It physically extended to the corner, but) Halachically it was not considered Yesod (to put Shirayim there).
1. Rav holds that the Targum of (Ber. 49:27) “Binyamin Ze’ev Yitrof…” says that the Mizbe’ach will be built in Binyamin’s portion (Yehudah had no share in it);
2. Levi holds that the Targum says that the Mikdash will be built in his portion, i.e. the place Huchchar to receive blood (Yehudah had a share in the Mizbe’ach, but not to receive blood).
(f) Question (against Levi – Mishnah): The Yesod went across the entire northern and western sides; it Achal (occupied) one Amah on the southern and eastern sides.
(g) Answer: ‘Achal’ means, it (is the part that) received blood (but there was a physical Yesod around all sides).
(h) Question (against Rav – Mishnah): The Yesod was 32 Amos by 32 Amos.
(i) Answer: The Mishnah gives the dimensions of the northern and western sides.
(j) Question (against Rav – Beraisa): The ramp (which came up to the south side) covered the Amah of the Yesod (the Mizbe’ach was recessed from it), and (likewise regarding) the Amah of the Sovev.
(k) Answer: The ramp covered the Amah where the Yesod would have been (if it spanned the south side).
(l) Question (against Rav – Levi – Beraisa): To build the Mizbe’ach, we bring a frame 32 Amos square and one Amah tall; and whole, wet stones (big and small), plaster, molten lead and pitch; mix them and pour it into the frame (this forms the Yesod);
1. We then bring a frame 30 Amos square (centered above the Yesod) and five Amos tall, and do the same;
2. The next frame is 28 Amos square and three Amos tall, we do the same;
3. The last frame is one cubic Amah (for each Keren).
4. Suggestion: Perhaps after making a square Yesod, we cut off (all but one Amah of) the southern and eastern sides.
54b—————————————54b

5. Rejection: The Torah requires “Avanim Shelemos”!
(m) Answer: Before pouring in the mixture, we insert beams to fill up the extra Amah on the two sides, reducing the size of the mold.
(n) Support: Rav Kahana must say so regarding the Keranos!
1. (Rav Kahana): The stones on the Keranos were hollow – “U’mal’u ka’Mizrak k’Zaviyos Mizbe’ach”;
2. Question: The Torah requires “Avanim Shelemos”!
3. Answer: Before pouring in the mixture, we insert something inside, and later remove it.
2) FINDING THE SITE OF THE “BEIS HA’MIKDASH”
(a) Question (Rava): “V’David…u’Shmuel va’Yeshvu…b’Noyos ba’Ramah” – what is the connection of Noyos to Ramah?
(b) Answer: David and Shmuel were in Ramah, engaging in the Noy (beauty) of the world (the Beis ha’Mikdash);
1. David and Shmuel: “V’Kamta v’Alisa” – this teaches that the Beis ha’Mikdash is the highest place in Eretz Yisrael;
2. Eretz Yisrael is the highest of all lands.
3. They did not know the highest place in Eretz Yisrael; they looked through Sefer Yehoshua, and noticed that regarding the portion of Binyamin it always says “V’Alah ha’Gevul”, regarding the other Shevatim it sometimes says that the border goes up, down or around;
i. They concluded that the highest place is in Binyamin.
4. They thought to build it in Ein Eitam, the highest place – they decided that it should be slightly lower, on account of “U’Vein Keseifav Shachen” (between the shoulders, just below the highest part (the head)).
5. Alternatively, they had a tradition that the Great Sanhedrin must sit in (Lishkas ha’Gazis in the Beis ha’Mikdash,) in the portion of Yehudah, whereas the Shechinah (i.e. the Azarah) is in Binyamin’s portion;
i. If they would build it in Ein Eitam, this would be too far from the portion of Yehudah – therefore, it is better to build it slightly lower (closer to Yehudah);
ii. They concluded, this is why it says “U’Vein Keseifav Shachen”.
6. Do’eg became jealous of David because of this – “Ki Kin’as Beischa Achalasni”.
7. “Zechor Hash-m l’David Es Kol Unoso. Asher Nishba…Im Eten Shenas l’Einai…Ad Emtza Makom la’Sh-m…”
8. “Shema’anuha v’Efrasah” – this is (Sefer) Yehoshua, who was from Efrayim;
9. ‘Metzanuha bi’Sde Ya’ar” – this is the portion of Binyamin – “Binyamin Ze’ev Toref”.
3) “SHALMEI TZIBUR” AND “ASHAMOS”
(a) (Mishnah): Zivchei Shalmei Tzibur and Ashamos…
1. Asham is brought for swearing falsely (in order to steal), Me’ilah, relations with a Shifchah Charufah, a Nazir who became Tamei, Taharah of a Metzora, and for doubtful transgression of an Isur Kares.
(b) Shalmei Tzibur and Ashamos are slaughtered in Tzafon, Kabalah must be in a Kli Shares in Tzafon;
1. There are two Zerikos of blood which are (effectively) four;
2. Male Kohanim eat the meat within the hangings, cooked in any way, that day and until half the following night.