Zevachim 60A

אמה אל הכתף״. ומה תלמוד לומר ״חמש אמות״? משפת מזבח ולמעלה.

cubits for the one side” (Exodus 38:14), which indicates that the height of the curtains surrounding the courtyard of the Tabernacle was 15 cubits. And what is the meaning when the verse states: “And the height 5 cubits” (Exodus 27:18)? It is referring to the height of the curtains from the upper edge of the altar and above; the curtains surrounding the courtyard were 5 cubits higher than the altar.

ומה תלמוד לומר ״ושלש אמות קומתו״? משפת סובב ולמעלה.

R' Yosei continues: And what is the meaning when the verse states: “And you should make the altar…and its height should be 3 cubits” (Exodus 27:1)? The verse means that the altar measures 3 cubits from the edge of the surrounding ledge and above.

ורבי יהודה, כי גמיר גזירה שוה ⁠– ברחבה הוא דגמיר.

The Talmud asks: And how does R' Yehuda, who understands that the copper altar built in the time of Moses was actually 3 cubits high, interpret the verbal analogy based upon the word “square,” from which R' Yosei derived that the height of the copper altar was 10 cubits? The Talmud answers: When he learns the verbal analogy, he learns it with regard to the altar’s width, not its height. This is based on the verse in Ezekiel (see 59b). Accordingly, it teaches that the altar built in the time of Moses was 10 cubits by 10 cubits.

ולרבי יהודה, הא קא מיתחזי כהן! נהי דכהן מיתחזי; עבודה דבידו ⁠– לא מיתחזי.

The Talmud asks: And according to R' Yehuda, who maintains that the altar was 3 cubits high and the curtains surrounding the courtyard of the Tabernacle were 5 cubits high, isn’t the priest visible while performing the service atop the altar? The Talmud answers: Granted, the priest is visible, but the items with which he performs the sacrificial service that are in his hand are not visible.