Big Steps

The Chinuch mitzvah 41 שלא לפסוע על המזבח says והעובר עליה ופסע פסיעה גסה על המזבח עד שנגלה ערותו במזיד לוקה.  The issur is for one who takes a large step, to the point that he reveals his nakedness on the altar, and then one is lashed.  The Rambam in lav 80 says as well, ולשון מכילתא מה תלמוד לומר אשר לא תגלה ערותך עליו כשיעלה למזבח לא יהיה פוסע פסיעה גסה אלא מהלך עקב בצד גודל.  The Smag lav 291 adds ולאו דווקא עקב בצד גודל, שהרי לא אסר אלא הרחבת פסיעות [ביומא דף כ"ב], ותנן נמי היו רצין ועולין בכבש.  However, the Rambam in Beis Habechirah (1:17) only notes the prohibition as prohibiting making steps to go up on the mizbaoch, not merely taking large steps, אין עושין מדרגות למזבח שנאמר לא תעלה במעלות על מזבחי ... והעולה במעלות על המזבח לוקה.  The Minchas Chinuch notes this discrepancy.  The Even Haezel says that it must be the Rambam recanted his view from Sefer Hamitzvot and he hinges the issue on if the issur is defined by the reason of the possuk אשר לא תגלה ערותך עליו.  The Michilta is the opinion of R' Shimon לשיטתו who holds a reason in the possuk expands the issur to beyond the specific details of the possuk and therefore he holds all big steps are prohibited but the Rambam rules like the opinion of R' Yehuda who disagrees with this and holds one is still bound by the parameters of the possuk and therefore the issur is limited to going up via stairs.  Proof to an arguing opinion is from the Gemarah cited by the Smag that the kohanim ran up the ramp.

The Tosfos Yeshanim Yoma (22a) answers that the prohibition of taking a large step is only during active duty in the Mikdash and since the kohanim ran before avodah it is not prohibited.  The Rambam and Chinuch (as noted by Minchas Chinuch) however hold the prohibition is at all times, not only during the time of avodah.  

It is clear from the Michilta cited in the Rishonim that the issur is in taking large steps.  The Mishne L'melech cites an additional Michilta אין לי אלא עליה ירידה מנין ת"ל אשר לא תגלה.  The Briskor Rav says this Michilta disagrees with the previous opinion since if the issur is taking a large step there is no reason to differentiate between goin up or down.  This opinion holds the prohibition is for what the possuk says, לא תעלה במעלות על מזבחי and we might have limited the prohibition to going up, קמ"ל that the root of the prohibition is a lack of כיסוי ערוה and that applies going up or going down a ramp.   

It is also noteworthy that the Chinuch ends the mitzvah  וַעֲנָוִים יִשְׁכְּנוּ אָרֶץ and the Minchas Chinuch says it is to end on a positive note, however, the fact that he chooses this possuk means the yesod of the issur is an act of arrogance.  The Gemarah Zevachim (87b) says there was an empty airspace between the ramp and mizbaoch and Tosfos says it was more than an ammah.  So how did the kohanim take a big step over the airspace? The Minchas Avraham says according to the Chinuch there is no גואה since one needs to take the step to cross the airspace.;