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The Mishnah in Tamid (2:2) is cited which describes this pile of ashes, and it tells us that the pile sometimes grew to contain more than three hundred kor of ashes, which is more than nine thousand se’ah. This is a huge amount, and Rava states that it is actually an exaggerated number and does not have to be taken literally.
R’ Yitzchak b. Nachmeini, in the name of Shmuel, says that this description of the volume of ashes on the Altar is one of three places where our sages spoke in exaggerated terms. A second example is regarding the decorative display of golden grapes which adorned the entrance to the antechamber of the Sanctuary (Middos 3:8). One time it had to be moved, and we are told that it took more than three hundred kohanim to move it due to its massive weight.
We explore the notion of exaggeration in Talmud its use and its dangers.