דברי הימים ב, פרק ד׳, פסוק א׳

King Solomon constructed a massive altar within the Temple, specifically designed to accommodate a vast number of sacrifices. Its surface area was four times larger than the altar used in the desert Tabernacle, stretching to approximately ten meters in length [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Although it is referred to as a bronze altar, it was actually constructed from stones. It received this title simply because it served as the direct replacement for the original bronze altar crafted by Moses in the wilderness [מצודת דוד, מלבי ם].

The recorded dimensions detail specific sections of the structure rather than its overall outer frame. The length of twenty cubits measures strictly the arrangement area at the very top, where the wood and fire were placed [מלבי ם]. Similarly, the height of ten cubits does not represent the total distance from the ground. Instead, it measures the distance from the red line that encircled the middle of the altar upwards [רלב ג].

The account of this construction fills a historical gap absent from the parallel record in the Book of Kings. Solomon built this new altar at the very beginning of the Temple's construction. He did not wait until the dedication ceremonies, as it was clear that the older, smaller altar from the time of Moses was insufficient to handle the extensive volume of the new Temple service [מלבי ם].