1)

What is the meaning of "N'vuv Luchos"?

1.

Rashi, Rashbam, R. Bachye, Seforno, Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: It means that the Mizbe'ach was made of planks of acacia-wood (and was overlaid with copper ? Tanchuma) and was hollow 1 in the middle. 2

2.

Tanchuma: With reference to answer #1 ? It was hollow but it had a cover of acacia-wood and copper on which they burned the Korbanos.

1

R. Bachye: From the Lashon "ve'Ish N'vuv Luchos" (Iyov 11:12).

2

Seforno and Rashbam: Without a base and without a cover. Refer to 20:21:1:2. Rashi there however, writes that the frame of the Mizbe'ach was made of copper ? in fact, in Pasuk 5 he refers to it as the 'Mizbe'ach ha'Nechoshes'.

2)

If, as the commentaries explain, the Mizbe'ach had no cover, how did the sacrifice on it?

1.

Rashi, Rashbam and Targum Yonasan: Whenever they encamped, they filled it with earth. 1

1

Refer to 20:21:1:2. Though, according to the the opinion that the Mizbe'ach measured five by five by ten Amos, how they filled it when they encamped and emptied it before they traveled is puzzling to say the least?

3)

If the Mizbe'ach had a cover of wood and copper, why did the fire not burn the wood?

1.

R. Bachye (citing the Tanchuma): Moshe posed this question to Hakadosh-Baruch-Hu, who answered that 'The G-d who commands fire to burn would command the fire on the Mizbe'ach not to burn through the copper' ? despite the fact that it burned constantly and despite the thinness of the copper. 1

1

R. Bachye, ibid.: Just as Moshe had passed fiery angels on Har Sinai and even into the voicinity of Hashem Himself ? who is described in Devarim 4:24 as 'a Consuming fire' and came out unscathed.

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