In this chamber, “there were four tables [made] of hewn stone for the burnt-offering, one-and-a-half cubits long, one-and-a-half cubits wide, and one cubit high.”1Yechezkel 40:42. The knives for slaughtering the sacrificial animals and the basins in which the blood from the slaughtered animals would be collected, were placed on these tables so that these utensils would be prepared for the kohanim who would slaughter the sacrifices of the highest degree of sanctity in the northern portion of the courtyard.
The verse states:2Ibid.:43. The bracketed phrase was added based on the gloss of Metzudos. “And the tables on which the meat of the sacrifices [would be placed].” It appears that the phrase “There they would rinse the burnt-offering”3Ibid.:38. refers to this chamber, i.e., the meat of the sacrifices was rinsed on the tables inside this chamber. Therefore, the tables were made of hewn stone. Similarly, Middos, ch. 3,4Middos 3:5. states that there were marble tables between the pillars in the butchering area. Rav Ovadiah of Bartenura states that the entrails of the sacrifices were washed on these tables because marble cools the meat and protects it from spoiling.
In the Second Beis HaMikdash there were 8 such tables, as stated by the Mishnah in Shekalim, ch. 6,5Shekalim 6:4. “Eight marble tables in the butchering area; the entrails would be rinsed on them.”
וּבְלִשְׁכָּה זוֹ "אַרְבָּעָה שֻׁלְחָנוֹת לָעוֹלָה, אַבְנֵי גָזִית, אֹרֶךְ אַמָּה אַחַת וָחֵצִי, וְרֹחַב אַמָּה אַחַת וָחֵצִי, וְגֹבַהּ אַמָּה אַחַת" (יחזקאל מ, מב), עֲלֵיהֶם מַנִּיחִין הַסַּכִּינִים וְהַמִּזְרָקוֹת שֶׁמְּקַבְּלִין בָּהֶן אֶת הַדָּם, שֶׁיִּהְיוּ מוּכָנִים אֶל הַשּׁוֹחֲטִים שָׁם אֶת קָדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים בַּצָּפוֹן.
In this chamber, “there were four tables [made] of hewn stone for the burnt-offering, one-and-a-half cubits long, one-and-a-half cubits wide, and one cubit high.”1Yechezkel 40:42. The knives for slaughtering the sacrificial animals and the basins in which the blood from the slaughtered animals would be collected, were placed on these tables so that these utensils would be prepared for the kohanim who would slaughter the sacrifices of the highest degree of sanctity in the northern portion of the courtyard.
וְאֶל הַשֻּׁלְחָנוֹת בְּשַׂר הַקָּרְבָּן (יחזקאל מ, מג) וְיֵרָאֶה שֶׁמַּה שֶּׁאָמַר עַל לִשְׁכָּה זוֹ (יחזקאל מ, לח) "שָׁם יָדִיחוּ אֶת הָעֹלָה", דְּהַיְנוּ עַל שֻׁלְחָנוֹת אֵלּוּ שֶׁבְּתוֹכָהּ. וּלְכָך הֵם שֶׁל אַבְנֵי גָּזִית אכן דעת רש”י ורוב המפרשים שהם שולחנות הנ”ל דלא כפירוש המלבי”ם שלהניח הבשר היו עוד שולחנות., וּכְדִתְנַן בְּמִדּוֹת פ"ג (מ"ה) שֻׁלְחָנוֹת שֶׁל שַׁיִשׁ בֵּין הָעַמּוּדִים, וּפֵרֵשׁ מהר"ר עוֹבַדְיָה זלה"ה שֶׁעֲלֵיהֶן מְדִיחִין הַקְּרָבַיִים, לְפִי שֶׁהַשַּׁיִשׁ מְקָרֵר וּמְצַנֵּן וְשׁוֹמֵר הַבָּשָׂר שֶׁלֹּא יַסְרִיחַ, ע"כ.
The verse states:2Ibid.:43. The bracketed phrase was added based on the gloss of Metzudos. “And the tables on which the meat of the sacrifices [would be placed].” It appears that the phrase “There they would rinse the burnt-offering”3Ibid.:38. refers to this chamber, i.e., the meat of the sacrifices was rinsed on the tables inside this chamber. Therefore, the tables were made of hewn stone. Similarly, Middos, ch. 3,4Middos 3:5. states that there were marble tables between the pillars in the butchering area. Rav Ovadiah of Bartenura states that the entrails of the sacrifices were washed on these tables because marble cools the meat and protects it from spoiling.
וּבְבֵית שֵׁנִי הָיוּ שְׁמוֹנָה, כְּדִתְנַן בְּפֶרֶק שִׁשִּׁי מִמַּסֶּכֶת שְׁקָלִים (מ"ד) שְׁמֹנָה שֻׁלְחָנוֹת שֶׁל שַׁיִשׁ בְּבֵית הַמִּטְבְּחַיִים שֶׁעֲלֵיהֶן מְדִיחִין אֶת הַקְּרָבַיִים.
In the Second Beis HaMikdash there were 8 such tables, as stated by the Mishnah in Shekalim, ch. 6,5Shekalim 6:4. “Eight marble tables in the butchering area; the entrails would be rinsed on them.”