What is the meaning of "v'Lifnei ha'Devir"?
Rashi: [The Kodesh ha'Kodoshim was] in front of) ha'Devir (the wall).
Radak: It is as if it says v'Lifnim (towards the inside, was) ha'Devir (the Kodesh ha'Kodoshim). We find that a final Mem is omitted, e.g. "Chalonei Shekufim" (verse 4) is like Chalonim, "Nit'ei Na'amanim" (Yeshayah 17:10), is like Neta'im. 1
There, the verse writes a Samuch form even though it is not Samuch, and so Radak explained there! (PF)
Above (verse) it said that the entire Bayis was 30 Amos tall!
Rashi: The Kodesh ha'Kodoshim was only 20 tall, it was lower than the Heichal 1 .
Radak: The plating of gold (Malbim - and the covering of cedar under the gold) was 20 Amos tall. The top 10 Amos were covered with gems (like Avnei ha'Choshen) - "va'Ytzaf Es ha'Bayis Even Yekarah" (Divrei ha'Yamim II, 3:6), for glory. The verse after that says "va'Ychaf Es ha'Bayis
Radak: Just like above, "60 Amos long" applies to the Heichal and Kodesh ha'Kodoshim together, also "30 Amos tall" applies to both!
What did he cover with gold?
Rashi: The Devir, i.e. the wall [between the Heichal and the Kodesh ha'Kodoshim].
What is "Zahav Sagur"?
Rashi: Once they began to sell it, all other stores are closed (no one wants to buy other gold).
Targum Yonasan: Good gold 1 . Rashi - i.e. one who has it, he closes it to himself (does not sell it).
So it says in Divrei ha'Yamim II, 3:8. (PF)
What is "Mizbe'ach Erez"?
Rashi: It is the Mizbe'ach [in the Heichal, on which we burn] Ketores. I do not know why Moshe's Mizbe'ach was buried. Radak - this cannot be Moshe's Mizbe'ach, for that was of Shitim 1 wood and covered with gold.
Gra: Shlomo wanted 2 the Mikdash to be twice as big as the Mishkan. It was twice as long and twice as wide. There were two Keruvim on Moshe's Aron, and two pairs on Shlomo's. Moshe's Mizbe'ach ha'Ketores was one Amah square; Shlomo added coverings, to make it two Amos square.
Rosh Hashanah 23a, based on Yeshayah 41:19: Erez and Shitim are different kinds of cedars.
Hashem gave the dimensions of the Bayis - (Divrei ha'Yamim I, 28:19) "ha'Kol bi'Chsav mi'Yad Hashem Alai Hiskil" (Pesachim 86a)! We must say that the Mizbe'ach was not included; Shlomo was authorized to make it as he wants. (PF)
With what did he cover the Mizbe'ach?
Radak: He covered it with cedar wood. The verse does not say from what it was before he covered it. Perhaps it was of rock (Malbim - or of earth 1 ). Gra - he covered Moshe's Mizbe'ach with cedar wood, and afterwards with gold.
Presumably, he means of wood and filled with earth. (PF) Refer to Shemos 20:2:1:2.
Why is the Mizbe'ach mentioned in a verse discussing the Devir?
Radak: It was opposite the opening of the Devir. 1
Rashi (8:8): The ends of the staves of the Aron jutted out from the Paroches (curtain) over the opening in the wall between the Heichal and Kodesh ha'Kodoshim. (The opening was in the middle from north to south, just like the Aron was centered. (PF)
