The upper surface of the Altar was a square, measuring 28 cubits by 28 cubits. It was divided by measuring 12 cubits from its center to each side, producing a square 24 cubits by 24 cubits. This was the area where the Altar’s pyres were arranged.1Middos 3:1. This is alluded to by the verse,2Yechezkel 43:16. “The Ariel was 12 [cubits] in length and 12 [cubits] in width.”
וְגַג הַמִּזְבֵּחַ שֶׁהוּא רָחָב כ"ח עַל כ"ח מִתְחַלֵּק בְּאוֹפֶן זֶה: שֶׁתִּמְדּוֹד מְאֶמְצָעִיתוֹ שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה אַמָּה לְכָל צַד, שֶׁהוּא כ"ד עַל כ"ד, וְהוּא מְקוֹם הַמַּעֲרָכָה (פ"ג מ"א). זֶהוּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מג, טז) "וְהָהֲרִאֵיל שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה אֹרֶךְ בִּשְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה רֹחַב".
The upper surface of the Altar was a square, measuring 28 cubits by 28 cubits. It was divided by measuring 12 cubits from its center to each side, producing a square 24 cubits by 24 cubits. This was the area where the Altar’s pyres were arranged.1Middos 3:1. This is alluded to by the verse,2Yechezkel 43:16. “The Ariel was 12 [cubits] in length and 12 [cubits] in width.”