The Altar as Source of Life

Both the stones of the altar ramp and the stones of the altar were from the valley of Beth Kerem. They dug from the virgin ground below and brought whole stones [to the Temple] over which no iron had been wielded, for iron disqualifies [stone for use in the Temple] through physical contact. [Even] any sort of damage [would disqualify] a stone. If one [of the stones] was damaged, it would be disqualified, but the others would be fit. They would whiten [the stones] twice a year, once [before] Passover and once [before] Sukkot, and they would [whiten] the hekhal¹ once [a year, before] Passover. Rabbi says: Every Friday [before the Sabbath], they would whiten it with a cloth because of the blood. They would not plaster it with an iron spoon lest it touch [the stone] and disqualify [it], because iron was created to shorten a person’s life, and the altar was created to lengthen a person’s life. It does not make sense that that which shortens would be waved over that which lengthens.