Issi b. Akiva says: an altar of copper filled with earth. As it is written (I Kings 8:64) "For the copper altar before the L–rd was too small to contain the burnt-offerings, etc." Now was it too small? Is it not written (Ibid. 3:4) "A thousand burnt-offerings did Solomon sacrifice on that altar"? What is the intent of "small"? As people speak, "He is a dwarf" — i.e., he is unfit for the service. On the day that the new altar was built, the other was secreted.