Keranot

The four horns at the corners of the altar top, one amah by one amah, hollow. The blood of the chatat is placed on them, once on each of the four. Beyond them, toward the center, one amah where the kohanim walk, then the place of the fire.

Dimensions

• one amah by one amah, at the four corners of the top
• hollow
• height: five tefachim (Rambam, Beit HaBechirah 2:8)
• walls a quarter amah thick (choice)

Sources

• Middot 3:1“מְקוֹם הַקְּרָנוֹת אַמָּה מִזֶּה וְאַמָּה מִזֶּה”
• Rambam, Hilchot Beit HaBechirah 2:8“גֹּבַהּ כָּל קֶרֶן וְקֶרֶן חֲמִשָּׁה טְפָחִים. וְרִבּוּעַ כָּל קֶרֶן אַמָּה עַל אַמָּה. וְאַרְבַּע הַקְּרָנוֹת חֲלוּלוֹת הָיוּ מִתּוֹכָן”
• Rambam, Hilchot Beit HaBechirah 2:16“וְיִשָּׁאֲרוּ הַקְּרָנוֹת חֲלוּלִין”
• Zevachim 5:3“וְדָמָן טָעוּן אַרְבַּע מַתָּנוֹת עַל אַרְבַּע קְרָנוֹת… שְׁיָרֵי הַדָּם הָיָה שׁוֹפֵךְ עַל יְסוֹד דְּרוֹמִי”

Project decisionAdopted: five tefachim of height, following the Rambam (Beit HaBechirah 2:8), and horns flush with the walls of the altar. Set aside: the one-amah horn of the Semag's reading, reported by the Kessef Mishneh (on 2:7); the setting-in of the horns suggested by the Raavad (on 2:7). Choice of the tour: walls a quarter amah thick.