מלכים א, פרק ז׳, פסוק ל״ב

The intricate copper bases crafted for the Tabernacle featured a precise mechanical design, operating much like a functional wagon or chariot. The structural details focus specifically on the placement, mechanics, and dimensions of the wheels that mobilized these heavy stands.

The four wheels were positioned directly underneath the frames of the base. Rather than protruding outward, the wheels were tucked away into the inner hollow space between the outer and inner walls of the base, sitting exactly beneath the frames [מלבי״ם]. The center of each wheel aligned perfectly with the low partitions located at the bottom of the structure [מצודת דוד].

To allow the structure to roll, the wheels were mounted on axles inserted directly into their center holes. A key engineering feature was that these axles were not attached as an afterthought. Instead, they were formed in a single, continuous casting with the base itself, jutting out as an inseparable part of the main body [רש״י] and [מלבי״ם].

The specific measurements provided for these components are meant to highlight the scale of the wheels and their axles, rather than simply repeating the fact that the wheels existed [אברבנאל]. The stated height of one and a half cubits actually measures the distance from the ground to the axle. This specific dimension was crucial, as it determined exactly how high the entire copper base would be elevated above the earth [רלב״ג] and [אברבנאל].