יחזקאל, פרק מ״א, פסוק כ״ב

In the vision of the future Temple, a unique wooden vessel appears, blurring the lines between an altar for incense and a table for bread. The vision begins with the dimensions of an altar but concludes with a surprising declaration that it is, in fact, a table. This sudden shift sparks a deep exploration into the spiritual role and true identity of this fixture standing in the sanctuary.

One approach suggests that this is the inner incense altar [רד״ק, אברבנאל, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Unlike the altar built by Moses, this one is shown entirely of wood, lacking any gold plating. This might be because the prophet is seeing the wooden core that will eventually be overlaid with gold [מלבי״ם], or because the vision intentionally highlights a future era of spiritual holiness that transcends the physical wealth of silver and gold [אברבנאל]. Alternatively, another perspective argues that the vision is actually describing the table that stood opposite the altar, which was constructed from wooden planks and plated with gold [רש״י, מצודת דוד, רד״ק].

The sharp transition from describing an altar to calling it a table carries profound symbolic weight. When the Temple was destroyed, sacrifices ceased, yet God's abundant provision of food for humanity never stopped. Because both vessels are made of wood, the altar, representing the future return of the sacrificial service, stands in for the table, which is not shown separately in the vision [מלבי״ם]. Furthermore, this shift hints at a powerful spiritual reality: in times when the Temple does not exist, a person's everyday dining table provides atonement just as the altar once did [רש״י, רד״ק].

An angel speaks to the prophet [מצודת דוד], declaring that this is the table before God. This statement serves as a vital lesson that wealth, honor, and physical blessings are not achieved independently. Rather, they flow directly from God, who watches over His creations and satisfies the desires of all living things [אברבנאל].

The vision details the specific measurements and parts of the wooden vessel, noting it stands three cubits high and two cubits long. Although its width is not explicitly mentioned, it is understood to be perfectly square, with its width matching its length [מלבי״ם, רד״ק]. The corners of the structure are interpreted either as the traditional horns of an altar [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ] or as the legs extending from its four edges [רש״י, מצודת דוד, אברבנאל]. The top surface or roof of the vessel is also noted [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד, אברבנאל], though some understand this measurement to indicate that the corners are included in the overall length [רד״ק]. Finally, the structure is held together by fixed panels connecting the parts from below [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד] or by enclosing frames [רש״י, אברבנאל]. In the vision, every one of these components appeared entirely of wood.