I heard this question from Rabbi Ahron Lopiansky, and would greatly appreciate to hear your thoughts on what may be the answer.
Why is the inner altar called a mizbeyach, which seems to imply a makom where zvachim are offered. The inner altar primarily is used for the ketores offering.
Thank you very much.
Sinbcerely,
Shlomo Zalman
Shlomo Zalman Lerner, Atlanta
The Zohar in Parshas Vayakhel asks this question and says that indeed there is one Zevach on the inner altar, and this is the Satan, who is "bound and tied like a Zevach" by the inner altar and cannot prosecute against us. Moreover, "when he sees the smoke of the incense, he is defeated and runs away."
However, another logical answer would seem to be that the blood of the Yom Kippur sacrifices is sprinkled on this altar once a year and therefore it qualifies also to be termed a Mizbe'ach. This answer is given by the Radak in his Sefer ha'Sharashim, under the reference "Zevach." Moreover, the spraying of blood on the Mizbe'ach is essential for its existence, as this is required to maintain its purity. Incense, however, can be offered even without the inner altar existing there, as determined in Zevachim 59a.
Yoel Domb