The Third Beit HaMikdash, Explanations of Problematic Passages in I Melachim

אֲשַׁלְּמָה נְדָרַי אֲשֶׁר נָדַרְתִּי בַּהַקְדָּמָה לְפָרֵשׁ הַסָּתוּם שֶׁבְּבִנְיַן שְׁלֹמֹה To Fulfill the Promise Made in the Introduction to Explain what is Enigmatic in King Shlomoh’s Building

(מלכים א ז, ב): "וַיִּבֶן אֶת בֵּית יַעַר הַלְּבָנוֹן מֵאָה אַמָּה אָרְכּוֹ וַחֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה רָחְבּוֹ וּשְׁלֹשִׁים אַמָּה קוֹמָתוֹ עַל אַרְבָּעָה טוּרֵי עַמּוּדֵי אֲרָזִים", הָעוֹמְדִים בְּאֹרֶךְ הַמֵּאָה אַמָּה, כָּל טוּר וְטוּר לְאֹרֶךְ הַמֵּאָה. וּמִטּוּר הָרִאשׁוֹן לַטּוּר הָרְבִיעִי חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה, וְהוּא רֹחַב הַבָּיִת. "וּכְרֻתוֹת אֲרָזִים עַל הָעַמּוּדִים", שֶׁהָעַמּוּדִים הַלָּלוּ עֲשׂוּיִם פְּתָחִים פְּתָחִים כְּעֵין אַכְסַדְרָה, וְהָיוּ הַכְּרֻתוֹת כְּמוֹ מַשְׁקוֹף שֶׁעַל הַמְּזוּזוֹת. “He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon.¹This building was a royal palace built by King Shlomoh, and was not part of the Beis HaMikdash. True, our Sages (Yoma 39b; Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer, ch. 49) used the term “the House of the Forest of Lebanon” to refer to the Beis HaMikdash. Nevertheless, the building itself was a palace used by the king. It was one hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high, [supported by] four rows of cedar columns.”²I Melachim 7:2. Each row of cedar columns was 100 cubits long, and there were 50 cubits between the first row and the last one, this being the width of the palace. “There were cedar beams (כרתות) above the pillars.” The pillars had openings between them like exedras do. Thus, the beams were like lintels over the door posts.

וְהָיוּ גַּם כֵּן אֵלּוּ הַכְּרֻתוֹת כְּדֵי לְהַעֲמִיד עֲלֵיהֶם הַמְּחִיצוֹת, שֶׁהֵם הַצְּלָעוֹת הַנִּזְכָּר בַּכָּתוּב (שם ג), וְשֶׁאָמַר (שם) "הַצְּלָעוֹת אֲשֶׁר עַל הָעַמּוּדִים". וְלֹא אָמַר עַל הַכְּרֻתוֹת, לְפִי שֶׁהָעַמּוּדִים הֵם הָעִקָּר אֲשֶׁר הַבַּיִת נָכוֹן אֲלֵיהֶם, וְהַכְּרֻתוֹת אֵינָם אֶלָּא לְהַחֲזִיק וּלְחַבֵּר עַמּוּד לְעַמּוּד לִהְיוֹת הָאֹהֶל אֶחָד וּמֻנָּחִים עַל צִדָּן וְלֹא הָיוּ זְקוּפִין. וּבְאָמְרוֹ "עַל הָעַמּוּדִים", רָצָה לוֹמַר עַל הַכְּרֻתוֹת שֶׁעַל הָעַמּוּדִים, וְלֹא נִקְרְאוּ בְּשֵׁם לְגַבַּיְיהוּ. These beams also served as support for the boards, the צְּלָעוֹת mentioned in the following verse:³Ibid.:3. “the boards that were on the pillars.” [This phrase teaches numerous details about the building’s structure.] The boards are described as being, “on the pillars,” and not on the beams, because the pillars served as the main supports for the building. The beams merely strengthened the structure by joining one pillar to another so that the structure would be a single entity. The beams lay on their sides and did not stand upright. Thus, the phrase, “the boards that were on the pillars,” should be understood as meaning “the boards were on the beams that were on the pillars.” The beams were not mentioned in this verse because they were secondary.

וְאֶפְשָׁר נַמִּי שֶׁהַכְּרֻתוֹת אֵינָם עוֹלִים לְמַעְלָה מֵהָעַמּוּדִים, וְאֵינָם שׁוֹכְבִין עֲלֵיהֶן לְמַעְלָה, אֶלָּא שֶׁהֵם נְתוּנִים בְּרָאשֵׁי הָעַמּוּדִים וּבְשִׁוְיוֹן לְמַעְלָה. וְלֹא כְעֵין מַשְׁקוֹף הַשּׁוֹקֵף עַל הַמְּזוּזוֹת, אֶלָּא כְּמוֹ יָתֵד אָרֹךְ הַמְּחַבֵּר שְׁנֵי עַמּוּדִים. כָּךְ הָיוּ הֵם מַקְלוֹת עָבִים מְאֹד כְּעֹבִי הָעַמּוּדִים, וּמְחַבְּרִין הָעַמּוּדִים לְהַתְמִימָם בְּרָאשֵׁיהֶם. וְאָתִי שַׁפִּיר טְפֵי מַה שֶּׁכָּתוּב "הַצְּלָעֹת אֲשֶׁר עַל הָעַמּוּדִים", לְפִי שֶׁהַכְּרֻתוֹת אֵינָם עוֹלִים עַל הָעַמּוּדִים, וּמָה "שֶׁעֲלֵיהֶם", הוּא עַל הָעַמּוּדִים שֶׁהֲרֵי הֵם שָׁוִים לְמַעְלָה. אֲבָל מַה שֶּׁכָּתוּב "וּכְרֻתוֹת אֲרָזִים עַל הָעַמּוּדִים", יִהְיֶה הָרָצוֹן בּוֹ שֶׁהֵם בְּעֶלְיוֹנֵי הָעַמּוּדִים, לֹא עֲלֵיהֶם מַמָּשׁ וְכִדְּפָרֵישִׁית. Alternatively, it is possible to say that the beams were not positioned above the pillars, and did not lie on the pillars. Instead, they were connected to the tops of the pillars, and were on the same level as the pillars. Rather than serve as a lintel atop a doorpost, the beams were like long planks that joined one pillar to another. They were thick, of the same breadth as the pillars, joining the pillars to create a level surface on top of them. According to this interpretation, the phrase, “the boards that were on the pillars,” can be understood simply: The boards rested on the pillars, because the beams were on the same level as the pillars. If that is true, the phrase “There were cedar beams above the pillars” must be interpreted as “on the higher portion of the pillars” and not as explained above.

וְהַצְּלָעוֹת שֶׁהֵם מְחִיצוֹת שֶׁעַל הָעַמּוּדִים, עֲשׂוּיִּם גַּם כֵּן מֵעַמּוּדִים הַנְּתוּנִים עַל הַכְּרֻתוֹת וְהָעַמּוּדִים שֶׁלְּמַטָּה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (שם ו) "וְעַמֻּדִים וְעָב עַל פְּנֵיהֶם", וּפֵרֵשׁ רַשִׁ"י הָעַמּוּדִים לֶאֱרֹג בָּהֶן צְלָעוֹת מִזֶּה לָזֶה. The צלעות, the boards, on top of the pillars, were fashioned from the same wood as were the pillars. Thus, it was as if there were pillars lying on the beams and pillars. This is indicated by the verse,⁴Ibid.:6. “And pillars and timber on top of them,” which Rashi interprets as referring to the wood that served as the boards.

וְעַל אֵלּוּ הַמְּחִיצוֹת הָעֶלְיוֹנוֹת קֵרוּי אֶרֶז אַרְבָּעִים וַחֲמִשָּׁה אֲרָזִים (שם ג), חֲלֻקִּים בְּג' חֲלָקִים לְג' חֲלָלִים שֶׁבֵּין הָאַרְבָּעָה טוּרִים (שם ד), וּנְתוּנִים בְּכָל חָלָל ט"ו מֵהֶם. וְאָרְכָּן לְרֹחַב הַבַּיִת מִטּוּר לְטוּר, וְרָחְבָּן לְאֹרֶךְ הַבַּיִת זֶה אֵצֶל זֶה, וְלֹא הָיָה בְּרֹחַב ט"ו מֵהֶן לְקָרוֹת כָּל אֹרֶךְ הַבַּיִת שֶׁהוּא מֵאָה אַמָּה, לְכָךְ נָתַן בְּסוֹפָן אֲרָזִים קְצָרִים, נְתוּנִים אָרְכָּן לְאֹרֶךְ הַבַּיִת, וְהֵם שְׁקוּפִים כְּמַשְׁקוֹף בְּרָאשֵׁיהֶן, לַעֲרוֹקָן^אלא מצאתי חבר למילה זאת. וּלְדַבְּקָן יָפֶה עַל הַמְּרִישִׁין הָעֲשׂוּיִּן לָהֶם מִזֶּה וּמִזֶּה. The palace had a ceiling made of cedar wood. The ceiling contained 45 cedar planks, which were placed on these boards. This ceiling was divided into three portions for the three spaces between the four rows of pillars.⁵See Rashi, I Melachim 7:4. Each of these spaces contained fifteen cedar planks, their length extending over the width of the structure, from one row of pillars to the next. The width of the cedar planks, as they were placed one next to the other, ran across the length of the structure. The fifteen planks were not long enough to extend over the entire 100-cubit length of the structure. Therefore, shorter cedar beams were placed at the end of the structure. These beams were placed lengthwise, along the length of the structure. They were fashioned like a lintel at their ends so that they could be attached to the beams fashioned for them on either side.

וְזֶה מַעֲשֵׂה הַמְּכוֹנָה “This is the craftsmanship of the stands” ¹I Melachim 7:28. This verse is referring to the stands for the basins. In the First Beis HaMikdash, Shlomoh had ten basins made. The basins rested on these stands. The stands had wheels so that they could be moved easily.

עָשָׂה אַרְבָּעָה אוֹפַנֵּי נְחֹשֶׁת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ל): "וְאַרְבָּעָה אוֹפַנֵּי נְחֹשֶׁת לַמְּכוֹנָה הָאַחַת" כְּצוּרַת עֲגָלָה גְּדוֹלָה. (לב-לג): "וְקוֹמַת הָאוֹפַן הָאֶחָד אַמָּה וַחֲצִי הָאַמָּה, וּמַעֲשֵׂה הָאוֹפַנִּים כְּמַעֲשֵׂה אוֹפַן הַמֶּרְכָּבָה", אוֹפַן בְּתוֹךְ אוֹפַן, לְמַעַן יוּכְלוּ לְהוֹלִיכָם אֶל אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה הָרוּחַ וְהָרָצוֹן לְהוֹלִיכָם, שָׁמָּה יוֹלִיכוּם, מִבְּלִי שֶׁיִּצְטָרֵךְ לְהָפְכָם אָנֶה וָאָנָה. He made “four copper wheels for each stand.”²I Melachim 7:30. Each stand resembled a large wagon.³I.e., the stands resemble carriages in which the basins were placed. “Each wheel was one-and-one-half cubits high. The wheels were fashioned like chariot wheels.”⁴I Melachim 7:32-33. Each wheel was made up of two wheels, one inside the other,⁵Rashi, I Melachim 7:33. Rashi based his commentary on this verse on Yechezkel 1:16. in a crisscross. Thus, the person moving the stand could easily turn it in any direction without having to maneuver it extensively.

וְהַמֶּרְחָק שֶׁמֵּאוֹפַן לְאוֹפַן מִמִּזְרָח לְמַעֲרָב אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת, וְכֵן מִצָּפוֹן לַדָּרוֹם שֶׁהִיא מְרֻבַּעַת, לֹא אֲרֻכָּה כַּעֲגָלוֹת שֶׁלָּנוּ, וְזֶהוּ שֶׁכָּתוּב (כז) "אַרְבַּע בָּאַמָּה אֹרֶךְ הַמְּכוֹנָה הָאַחַת וְאַרְבַּע בָּאַמָּה רָחְבָּהּ". There were 4 cubits between the wheel on the east and the one on the west, and the wheel on the north and the one on the south. Thus, the bases of the stands were square, not rectangular like our wagons. This is intimated by the verse,⁶I Melachim 7:27. “four cubits was the length of one base and four cubits its breadth.”

וּמַקֵּל עָב וְאָרֹךְ נִתְחַב בִּשְׁנֵי הָאוֹפַנִּים שֶׁמִּמִּזְרָח לְמַעֲרָב הַצְּפוֹנִיִּים, וְכֵן בַּשְּׁנַיִם הַדְּרוֹמִיִּים, וְכֵן נַמִּי בְּאוֹתָן הָאוֹפַנִּים, שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ אֵלּוּ הָיָה מַקֵּל נָתוּן וְנִתְחָב בִּשְׁנַיִם מֵהֶם שֶׁמִּצָּפוֹן לַדָּרוֹם הַמִּזְרָחִיִּים, וְכֵן בַּשְּׁנַיִם הַמַּעֲרָבִיִּים, וְאֵלּוּ הַמַּקְלוֹת קְרָאָם הַכָּתוּב יָדוֹת, זֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר (לג) "יְדוֹתָם". A long, thick rod was inserted in both of the northern wheels, running from east to west, to serve as the wheels’ axle. A similar axle was inserted in the southern wheels. The inner wheels also had an axle inserted in the eastern and western wheels, running from north to south. These axles are referred to as יְדוֹתָם in the narrative.⁷Ibid.:33.

וּפֵרוּשׁ "וְגַבֵּיהֶם" (שם) הוּא מֶרְכְּזֵי הָאוֹפַנִּים שֶׁבְּתוֹכָם סוֹבְבִים הַמַּקְלוֹת הַלָּלוּ, וְנִקְרָאִים גַּב לְפִי שֶׁהוּא הַגֹּבַהּ שֶׁבָּאוֹפַן בְּשָׁכְבוֹ עַל הָאָרֶץ, וְכֵן כָּל מֶרְכְּזֵי עִגּוּל הוּא הַגָּבוֹהַּ שֶׁמִּמֶּנּוּ, לְפִי שֶׁכָּל הַצְּדָדִין נִמְשָׁכִין מֵעִמּוֹ. That narrative also mentions ְגַבֵּיהֶם, “their hubs,” referring to the center of these wheels. The axles revolved in these hubs. The word ְגַבֵּיהֶם derives from the word govah, which literally means “height.” The hubs are referred to as ְגַבֵּיהֶם because they are the highest part of a wheel when the wheel lies on the ground. Another reason why the text uses the term ְגַבֵּיהֶם to refer to the wheels’ hubs is because the center of a circle can be called its height, for all of its sides originate from it.

וּפֵרוּשׁ "וְחִשֻּׁקֵיהֶם" (שם) הֵם הָעִגּוּלִים הַחִיצוֹנִיִּם שֶׁמְּקַשֵּׁר חִשּׁוּקֵיהֶם, שֶׁהֵם הָעֵצִים הַדַּקִּים כְּמִין זְרוֹעוֹת הַנִּתְחָבִים וּנְתוּנִים מִגַּב לַחִשּׁוּק, וְהוּא מִלְּשׁוֹן (שמות כז י) "וַחֲשֻׁקֵיהֶם כָּסֶף", וְהוּא הַגַּלְגַּל הַמְּגַלְגֵּל עַל הָאָרֶץ, וּרְגִילִין לַעֲשׂוֹת סְבִיבוֹ בַּרְזֶל עָגֹל, וְנִקְרָא בִּלְשׁוֹן הַמִּשְׁנָה בְּפֶרֶק י"א דְּכֵלִים (מ"ג) סוֹבֵב שֶׁל גַּלְגַּל, וְכָאן לֹא הָיָה צָרִיךְ לַסּוֹבֵב לְפִי שֶׁהוּא כֻּלּוֹ מִנְּחֹשֶׁת. The verse uses the word ְחִשֻּׁקֵיהֶם to refer to the wheels’ rims. The rims connect the spokes, which are referred to as חִשֻּׁרֵיהֶם. The term חִשֻּׁקֵיהֶם is also used when the Torah discusses the Mishkan:⁸See Shmos 27:10. “Their bands (חִשֻּׁקֵיהֶם) were silver.” The rim of a wheel is the part of the wheel that revolves and is in contact with the earth. Usually, wheels have an iron rim. Thus, the mishnah⁹Keilim 11:3. mentions “an iron rim.” In this instance, it was not necessary for the wheels to have an iron rim, because the wheel was made entirely of copper.¹⁰Copper is both ductile and tough, making it easy to shape into wheels and sturdy enough not to need an outer iron rim.

וּמִסְגָּרֹת (כח) פֵּרוּשׁ כְּמִין טַבְלָאוֹת עָשׂוּי לָהֶם עַל הַיָּדוֹת לְאַרְבַּע רוּחוֹת בְּרִבּוּעַ, וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר (לא) "וּמִסְגְּרֹתֵיהֶם מְרֻבָּעוֹת לֹא עֲגֻלּוֹת", וְהֵם סוֹגְרִים הָעֲגָלָה מֵאַרְבַּע רוּחוֹתֶיהָ, לְפִיכָךְ נִקְרְאוּ מִסְגָּרֹת. The verse uses the term ¹¹I Melachim 7:28.וּמִסְגְּרֹת to refer to the frames that were attached to the axles on all four sides. These frames formed a square, as stated,¹²Ibid.:31. “Their frames were square, not round.” These appendages are called frames because they enclose – or frame – the stand’s axles on all four sides.

וְעַל הַמִּסְגָּרוֹת הַלָּלוּ נְסָרִים מִנְּחֹשֶׁת, קְרָאָם הַכָּתוּב (ל) "סַרְנֵי נְחֹשֶׁת", וְהִיא מִלָּה מְסֹרֶסֶת. וַעֲלֵיהֶם כְּלוֹמַר מִבַּחוּץ וְלֹא עַל גַּבָּם עֲשׂוּיִם כְּמִין שְׁלִיבוֹת סֻלָּם (כט), וּמִבֵּין שְׁלִיבָה לִשְׁלִיבָה מִסְגָּרוֹת וַעֲלֵיהֶם צוּרַת בָּקָר וְגוֹ' (שם), וְהָיוּ הַנְּסָרִים עוֹלִים מֵעַל הַמִּסְגָּרוֹת עַד כְּנֶגֶד קוֹמַת הָאוֹפַנִּים, וּמְשַׁפְּעִים וְהוֹלְכִים כְּכוֹבַע וּכְמִין כִּסּוּי שֶׁבְּעֶגְלוֹת צַבִּים^אעגלה עם קירוי, וז"ל רש"י (במדבר ז ג): שש עגלת צב - אין צב אלא מחופים וכן (ישעיה סו כ) בצבים ובפרדים, עגלות מכוסות קרויות צבים: עַד בּוֹאָם כְּנֶגֶד קוֹמַת הָאוֹפַן, וְשָׁם נִמְשָׁכִין זֶה אֶל זֶה עַד שֶׁמְּכַסִּים אוֹתוֹ, זוּלַת בְּאֶמְצָעוֹ לְמַעְלָה אֵינָן מְכַסִּין, אֲבָל יֵשׁ בָּהֶן נֶקֶב עָגֹל, רֹחַב עִגּוּלוֹ אַמָּה וָחֵצִי, וְהַכִּסּוּי הַזֶּה נִקְרָא (לא) כּוֹתֶרֶת, וְהַנֶּקֶב שֶׁבּוֹ פִּי כּוֹתֶרֶת, וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר (שם) "וּפִיהָ עָגֹל מַעֲשֵׂה כֵן אַמָּה וַחֲצִי הָאַמָּה". Copper planks were attached to these frames. Scripture¹³Ibid.:30. refers to these copper planks as סַרְנֵי נְחֹשֶׁת. The root of the word סַרְנֵי is סרן, which is made up of the same letters as the word נסר, “board.” Hence, the commentaries explain that the term סַרְנֵי נְחֹשֶׁת should be understood as meaning “planks of copper.” Attached to these planks was a façade, resembling the rungs of a ladder. The rungs were attached to the surface of the planks, and were not suspended above the planks. Between each rung was a frame on which there were forms of oxen, lions, and cherubs.¹⁴Thus, the frames and the planks served as decorative coverings, hiding the wheels from view. The planks reached above the frames, all the way to the wheels. They ascended on an angle, appearing like a cap, or a covering for wagons, until they reached the level of the wheels. The planks continued to be extended until they covered the wheels. However, the two sides did not meet in the center, and they were not covered from above. There, they had a round hole, a cubit and a half in diameter, over the center of the wheels. This covering was called¹⁵I Melachim 7:31. a כּוֹתֶרֶת, “a coronet.” The hole in the coronet was referred to as פי כותרת, “the opening of the coronet.” Although the word פי is normally translated as “mouth”, it can also be translated as “opening” as in the phrase, ופיה עגול מעשה כן אמה וחצי האמה, “its opening was round, like the craftsmanship of the stands, a cubit and a half in diameter.”

וּסְבִיב זֶה הַנֶּקֶב עוֹלָה מְחִיצָה בְּגֹבַהּ חֲצִי אַמָּה, זֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר (לה) "וּבְרֹאשׁ הַמְּכוֹנָה חֲצִי הָאַמָּה קוֹמָה עָגֹל סָבִיב". וּבְתוֹךְ הַמְחִיצָה הַזֹּאת נִכְנַס וְנִתְחַב הַכַּן, שֶׁהוּא כְּלִי קִבּוּל הַמְקַבֵּל הַכִּיּוֹר, שֶׁהַכִּיּוֹר תָּחוּב בַּכַּן, וְהַכַּן בְּתוֹךְ מְחִיצָה זוֹ שֶׁעַל הָעֲגָלָה. וְהַכַּן בַּתַּחְתּוֹנָה הוּא עָגוֹל בַּחֲצִי אַמָּה כְּשִׁעוּר גֹבַהּ הַמְּחִיצָה שֶׁעַל הַנֶּקֶב הֶעָגֹל שֶׁבַּמְּכוֹנָה לְמַעְלָה, וְעוֹלֶה הַכַּן עַל הַמְחִיצָה הַזֹּאת אַמָּה, וְזֶה מַה שֶּׁכָּתוּב (לא) "וּפִיהוּ מִבֵּית לַכֹּתֶרֶת וָמַעְלָה בָּאַמָּה". This hole was surrounded by a shield that rose half a cubit high. This is derived from the phrase,¹⁶Ibid.:35. “At the top of the stand, there was a round shield half a cubit high.” The base would be inserted into this shield. The base was a receptacle in which the basin was held, i.e., the basin would be inserted into the base, which in turn was within the shield above the round hole in the higher portion of the stand. The base would rise a cubit above this shield. This is implied by the phrase,¹⁷Ibid.:31. “Its opening extended a cubit from the inside of the coronet.”

וּמֵעַתָּה יֵשׁ לָנוּ שָׁלֹשׁ אַמּוֹת קוֹמוֹת הַמְּכוֹנָה, שֶׁהָאוֹפַן אַמָּה וָחֵצִי, וְהַמְּחִיצָה הָעֲגֻלָּה חֲצִי אַמָּה, וְאַמָּה יוֹצֵא גֹּבַהּ הַכַּן מֵעָלֶיהָ, וְהָאַמָּה הַזֹּאת הִיא מְרֻבַּעַת, וְלוֹ אַרְבַּע כְּתֵפוֹת בְּאַרְבַּע פִּנּוֹתָיו. וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר (לד) "וְאַרְבַּע כְּתֵפוֹת אֶל וְגוֹ' הַמְּכֹנָה הָאַחַת מִן הַמְּכֹנָה כְּתֵפֶיהָ", לְפִי שֶׁהַכִּיּוֹר הוּא לְמַטָּה בְּשִׁפּוּלוֹ מְשֻׁפָּע שֶׁיִּכְנֹס לְתוֹךְ הַכַּן, וּכְדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִפֹּל אֶל תּוֹכוֹ יוֹתֵר מִשִּׁעוּר הַנִּרְצֶה לְכָךְ נַעֲשׂוּ אֵלּוּ הַכְּתֵפוֹת שֶׁיִּשָּׂאוּהוּ וְיִסְבְּלוּהוּ. Thus, each stand was three cubits high: The wheel was a cubit and a half high. The round shield was half a cubit high, and the base itself was a cubit high; it emerged from the shield. The cubit-high base was square, and it had four shafts, one on each of its four corners. This is reflected by the verse,¹⁸Ibid.:34. “There were four shafts to… each stand. The shafts emerged from the stands.” The rationale is that the bottoms of the basins narrowed so they could be inserted into the bases. To prevent them from slipping down lower than the desired height, the shafts were constructed around the bases as support.