View of the Short Columns

To the north of the Altar, within the butchering area, were eight short columns from which the sacrificial animals would be hung for flaying. The columns were shorter than a man’s height and topped by a square piece of heavy cedar. This block of wood was not fastened to the columns but remained in place due to its own weight. Along three sides of the cedar block, except for the western side, were affixed a row of three iron hooks. One handbreadth of the hook protruded from the block and 2 handbreadths were embedded in the wood.