Both the stones of the ramp and the stones for the altar [came] from the valley of Beit Kerem. They would dig below [the stones] virgin soil and would bring complete stones that were never touched by iron, because iron renders them [the stones] unfit by just touch. [They are also unfit] if they are chipped through any means. If one of them were chipped, it is rendered unfit, but the rest [of the sones] are not. The [walls and the the top of the altar] were whitewashed twice a year, once on Pesach and once on Sukkot. The vestibule [was whitewashed] once a year, on Pesach. Rebbi says, every Friday they would be whitewashed with a cloth because of the blood stains. The whitewash was not applied with an iron trowel, out of the concern that the iron trowel would touch the stones, and render them unfit, since iron was created to shorten man's days, and the altar was created to extend man's days, and it is improper that that the shortner be placed upon that which extender.
Bartenura on Mishnah Middot
מבקעת בית כרם – they would bring them [from the valley of Bet HaKerem].
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Middot
Introduction
Our mishnah deals with the stones used for the altar. Deuteronomy 27:5-6 states: “You should build an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones. Do not wield an iron tool over them; you must build the altar of the Lord your God of unhewn stones.” These two verses and their fulfillment are the main topic of this mishnah.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Middot
מן הבתולה – land that was never dug there ever.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Middot
The stones both of the ascent and of the altar were taken from the valley of Bet Kerem. Bet Kerem is close to Jerusalem (today it is a neighborhood in Jerusalem).
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Middot
והפגימה – invalidates the stones. בכל דבר – and even if they were not impaired/become defective [through contact] with iron.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Middot
They dug into virgin soil and brought from there whole stones on which no iron had been lifted, since iron disqualifies by mere touch, though a flaw made by anything could disqualify. If one of them received a flaw, it was disqualified, but the rest were not. The quarrying would begin in soil that had not been used. They would extract whole stones without using any iron tools. Any stone which had been touched by an iron tool is disqualified. If it was flawed by a different type of tool it is also disqualified, but other types of metal do not disqualify by mere touch. If one of the stones that were already in use received a flaw, it is disqualified but the other stones are still valid. They will have to replace the flawed stone.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Middot
ומלבנים אותן – with plaster, twice a year.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Middot
They were whitewashed twice a year, once at Pesah and once at Hag, and the Sanctuary was whitewashed once a year, at Pesah. Rabbi says: they were whitewashed every Friday with a cloth on account of the blood stains. The stones of the altar were whitewashed with plaster twice a year, once on Pesah (their Pesah cleaning) and once on Sukkot. The mishnah seems to say that they whitewashed the Sanctuary with plaster once a year. However, this cannot be the intention of the mishnah because the Sanctuary and the Holy of Holies were both covered with gold. Therefore, Albeck explains that this refers to the porch (the Ulam) that comes before the Sanctuary. Another explanation is that the word “Sanctuary” here actually refers to the whole Temple, including the courtyards. Rabbi [Judah Hanasi] holds that they would clean the altar once a week because of the blood stains. But they would only do so with a simple cloth.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Middot
רבי אומר כו' – He does not dispute against the first Tanna/teacher, but rather adds to state that on each Friday, they would clean them with a cloth because of the blood.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Middot
The plaster was not laid on with an iron trowel, for fear that it might touch and disqualify. When they put on the plaster, they did not use an iron trowel for fear that would disqualify the stones.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Middot
לא היו סדין אותו בכפים – He (I.e., Rabbi Judah the Patriarch) returns to something the first Tanna/teacher stated, that when they would clean them with plaster twice a year, they would not plaster them with builder’s trowels who were accustomed to plaster with them [which were made of iron]. (See Exodus 20:22: And if you make for Me an altar of stones, do not build it of hewn stones, for by wielding your tool upon them you have profaned them.”).
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Middot
Since iron was created to shorten man's days and the altar was created to prolong man's days, and it is not right therefore that that which shortens should be lifted against that which prolongs. This section explains why iron disqualifies the stones of the altar. It is a nice midrash the material that is used to destroy life should be kept away from the altar, whose ultimate purpose is to provide and lengthen life.
