How did they go about removing [everything] for the cleansing of the Temple Courtyard? They immersed the vessels that were in the Temple, after they had said to them: `'Be careful not to touch the Table [and the Menorah] [lest you] contaminate it.”  All the vessels that were [used] in the Tem-ple had second and third [replacement] sets so that if the first ones became contaminated, they would bring the second ones to replace them.  All the vessels that were [used] in the Temple require immersion except for the Golden Altar and the Copper Altar, because they are like earth —- these are the words of R' Eliezer. The Sages say: Because they are plated.