The Chosen Temple Chapter 5

הַר הַבַּיִת וְהוּא הַר הַמּוֹרִיָּה הָיָה חֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת אַמָּה עַל חֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת אַמָּה וְהָיָה מֻקָּף חוֹמָה. וְכֵפִין עַל גַּבֵּי כֵּפִין הָיוּ בְּנוּיוֹת מִתַּחְתָּיו. מִפְּנֵי אֹהֶל הַטֻּמְאָה. וְכֻלּוֹ הָיָה מְקֹרֶה סְטָיו לְפָנִים מִסְּטָיו:

Mount Moriah, the Temple Mount, measured 500 cubits by 500 cubits. It was surrounded by a wall. [The earth beneath it was hollowed out to prevent contracting ritual impurity] due to Tumat Ohel. Arches above arches were built underneath [for support]. It was entirely covered, one colonnade inside another.

וַחֲמִשָּׁה שְׁעָרִים הָיוּ לוֹ. אֶחָד מִן הַמַּעֲרָב וְאֶחָד מִן הַמִּזְרָח וְאֶחָד מִן הַצָּפוֹן וּשְׁנַיִם מִן הַדָּרוֹם. רֹחַב כָּל שַׁעַר עֶשֶׂר אַמּוֹת וְגָבְהוֹ עֶשְׂרִים. וְיֵשׁ לָהֶם דַּלְתוֹת:

Five gates led to the [Temple Mount]: One from the west, one from the east, one from the north, and two from the south. Each gate was 10 cubits [wide] and twenty cubits high. [Each gate] had doors.

לְפָנִים מִמֶּנּוּ סוֹרֵג מַקִּיף סְבִיב גָּבְהוֹ עֲשָׂרָה טְפָחִים וּלְפָנִים מִן הַסּוֹרֵג הַחֵיל [גָּבְהוֹ] עֶשֶׂר אַמּוֹת. וְעָלָיו הוּא אוֹמֵר בַּקִּינוֹת (איכה ב ח) "וַיַּאֲבֶל חֵל וְחוֹמָה" זוֹ חוֹמַת הָעֲזָרָה:

Further within, a latticework partition, 10 handbreadths high, surrounded it on all sides. The Chayl [a rampart] ten cubits high, was located further inside this partition. It is referred to in the [Book of] Lamentations [2:6]: 'The wall and the rampart mourned.' [This wall] refers to the wall surrounding the Temple Courtyard.

לְפָנִים מִן הַחֵיל הָעֲזָרָה. וְכָל הָעֲזָרָה הָיְתָה אֹרֶךְ קפ"ז עַל רֹחַב קל"ה. וְשִׁבְעָה שְׁעָרִים הָיוּ לָהּ. שְׁלֹשָׁה מִן הַצָּפוֹן הַסְּמוּכִין לַמַּעֲרָב. וּשְׁלֹשָׁה מִן הַדָּרוֹם סְמוּכִין לַמַּעֲרָב. וְאֶחָד בַּמִּזְרָח מְכֻוָּן כְּנֶגֶד בֵּית קֹדֶשׁ הַקָּדָשִׁים בָּאֶמְצַע:

Further inward, beyond the chayl, was the Temple Courtyard. The Temple Courtyard was 187 [cubits] long and 135 [cubits] wide. It had seven gates. Three were on its north side, close to the west, and three were on the south side, close to the west. One [gate] in the east was positioned in the center, [directly] opposite the Holy of Holies.

כָּל שַׁעַר מֵהֶן הָיָה רָחְבּוֹ עֶשֶׂר אַמּוֹת וְגָבְהוֹ עֶשְׂרִים אַמָּה. וְהָיוּ לוֹ דְּלָתוֹת מְחֻפּוֹת זָהָב. חוּץ מִשַּׁעַר מִזְרָחִי שֶׁהָיָה מְצֻפֶּה נְחשֶׁת דּוֹמָה לְזָהָב. וְשַׁעַר זֶה הוּא הַנִּקְרָא שַׁעַר הָעֶלְיוֹן וְהוּא שַׁעַר נִיקָנוֹר:

Each gate was ten cubits wide and twenty cubits high. Each one had gold-plated doors, except for the eastern gate which was plated with bronze that resembled gold. This was called the Upper Gate. It was [also called] the gate of Nicanor.

הָעֲזָרָה לֹא הָיְתָה מְכֻוֶּנֶת בְּאֶמְצַע הַר הַבַּיִת. אֶלָּא רְחוֹקָה מִדְּרוֹם הַר הַבַּיִת יֶתֶר מִכָּל הָרוּחוֹת וּקְרוֹבָה לַמַּעֲרָב יֶתֶר מִכָּל הָרוּחוֹת. וּבֵינָהּ וּבֵין הַצָּפוֹן יֶתֶר מִמַּה שֶּׁבֵּינָהּ וּבֵין הַמַּעֲרָב. וּבֵינָהּ וּבֵין הַמִּזְרָח יֶתֶר מִמַּה שֶּׁבֵּינָהּ וּבֵין הַצָּפוֹן:

The Temple Courtyard was not situated directly in the center of the Temple Mount. Rather, it was set off further from the southern [wall] of the Temple Mount than from [the wall of] any other direction. It was closer to the western [wall] than to [the wall of] any other direction. There was a greater distance between it and the northern [wall] than between it and the western [wall]. [Similarly,] there was a greater distance between it and the eastern [wall] than between it and the northern [wall].

וְלִפְנֵי הָעֲזָרָה בַּמִּזְרָח הָיְתָה עֶזְרַת הַנָּשִׁים. וְהִיא הָיְתָה אֹרֶךְ מֵאָה אַמָּה וַחֲמִשָּׁה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים עַל רֹחַב קל"ה. וְאַרְבַּע לְשָׁכוֹת הָיוּ בְּאַרְבַּע מִקְצְעוֹתֶיהָ שֶׁל אַרְבָּעִים אַרְבָּעִים אַמָּה וְלֹא הָיוּ מְקֹרוֹת וְכֵן עֲתִידִין לִהְיוֹת:

The Women's Courtyard was in front of the Temple Courtyard on the East and was 135 cubits long and 135 cubits wide. It had four chambers, each forty cubits [by forty cubits, one] in [each of] its four corners. They did not have roofs, nor will they in the Messianic Age.

וּמַה הֵם מְשַׁמְּשׁוֹת. דְּרוֹמִית מִזְרָחִית לִשְׁכַּת הַנְּזִירִים שֶׁשָּׁם מְבַשְּׁלִין אֶת שַׁלְמֵיהֶם וּמְגַלְּחִין אֶת שַׂעֲרָם. מִזְרָחִית צְפוֹנִית לִשְׁכַּת דִּיר הָעֵצִים שֶׁשָּׁם כֹּהֲנִים בַּעֲלֵי מוּמִין מַתְלִיעִים בָּעֵצִים. שֶׁכָּל עֵץ שֶׁנִּמְצָא בּוֹ תּוֹלַעַת פָּסוּל. צְפוֹנִית מַעֲרָבִית לִשְׁכַּת הַמְצֹרָעִים. מַעֲרָבִית דְּרוֹמִית בָּהּ הָיוּ נוֹתְנִין יַיִן וְשֶׁמֶן וְהִיא הָיְתָה נִקְרֵאת לִשְׁכַּת בֵּית שַׁמְנַיָּא:

For what purpose were they used? The southeastern chamber was [called] the Chamber of the Nazirites. There, they cooked peace offerings and shaved their hair. The northeastern chamber was [called] the Chamber of the Woodshed. There, the priests who [were disqualified from the Temple service] because of physical deformities checked the wood [brought for the Altar] for worms. If a worm was found, it was unfit for use. The northwestern chamber was [called] the Chamber of Those Afflicted with Tzara'at. The southwestern chamber was used to store wine and oil. It was called "The Chamber of the Oils."

עֶזְרַת הַנָּשִׁים הָיְתָה מֻקֶּפֶת גְּזוּזְטְרָא כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיוּ הַנָּשִׁים רוֹאוֹת מִלְּמַעְלָן וְהָאֲנָשִׁים מִלְּמַטָּן כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיוּ מְעֵרְבָּבִין. וּבַיִת גָּדוֹל הָיָה בְּצַד הָעֲזָרָה בִּצְפוֹנָהּ מִבַּחוּץ בֵּין הָעֲזָרָה וְהַחֵיל וְהָיָה בָּנוּי כִּפָּה וּמֻקָּף רְבָדִין שֶׁל אֶבֶן וְהוּא הָיָה נִקְרָא בֵּית הַמּוֹקֵד. וּשְׁנֵי פְּתָחִים הָיוּ לוֹ אֶחָד פָּתוּחַ לָעֲזָרָה וְאֶחָד פָּתוּחַ לַחֵיל:

The Women's Courtyard was surrounded by balconies so that women could look on from above and the men from below without intermingling. Outside the Temple Courtyard, on its northern side, was a large structure between the Courtyard and the chayl. It was built with a dome and [its inner walls] were surrounded with stone protrusions. It was called the Chamber of the Hearth. It contained two entrances: one to the Temple Courtyard and one to the chayl.

וְאַרְבַּע לְשָׁכוֹת הָיוּ בּוֹ. שְׁתַּיִם קֹדֶשׁ וּשְׁתַּיִם חֹל. וְרָאשֵׁי פִּסְפְּסִין מַבְדִּילִין בֵּין הַקֹּדֶשׁ וְהַחל. וּמַה הָיוּ מְשַׁמְּשׁוֹת מַעֲרָבִית דְּרוֹמִית לִשְׁכַּת הַטְּלָאִים. וּדְרוֹמִית מִזְרָחִית לִשְׁכַּת עוֹשֵׂי לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים. מִזְרָחִית צְפוֹנִית בָּהּ גָּנְזוּ בֵּית חַשְׁמוֹנַי אַבְנֵי מִזְבֵּחַ שֶׁשִּׁקְּצוּם מַלְכֵי יָוָן. צְפוֹנִית מַעֲרָבִית בָּהּ יוֹרְדִין לְבֵית הַטְּבִילָה:

There were four chambers inside it. Two were consecrated and two were not. Marking posts separated the consecrated [chambers] from those which were not consecrated. For what purpose were they used? The southwestern [chamber] was the Chamber of the Lambs. The southeastern [chamber] was the Chamber of the Bakers of the Showbread. [In] the northeastern [chamber], the Hasmoneans entombed the stones of the Altar which were defiled by the Greek kings. [In] the northwestern chamber, [a stairwell] descended to the mikveh.

הַיּוֹרֵד לְבֵית הַטְּבִילָה מִלִּשְׁכָּה זוֹ הָיָה הוֹלֵךְ בַּמְּסִבָּה הַהוֹלֶכֶת תַּחַת הַמִּקְדָּשׁ כֻּלּוֹ וְהַנֵּרוֹת דּוֹלְקוֹת מִכָּאן וּמִכָּאן עַד שֶׁמַּגִּיעַ לְבֵית הַטְּבִילָה. וּמְדוּרָה הָיְתָה שָׁם. וּבֵית הַכִּסֵּא שֶׁל כָּבוֹד. וְזֶהוּ כְּבוֹדוֹ, מְצָאוֹ נָעוּל בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁיֵּשׁ שָׁם אָדָם:

One who descended from this chamber to the mikveh proceeded along a winding stairway located under the entire Temple complex. Candles were kindled on both sides [of the passageway, to illuminate the way] until reaching the mikveh. This [chamber] also contained the hearth and the seat of dignity. This was the dignity associated with it. If one found it locked, he knew it was occupied by another person [and did not enter].

אֹרֶךְ הָעֲזָרָה מִן הַמִּזְרָח לַמַּעֲרָב קפ"ז וְזֶהוּ חֶשְׁבּוֹנָן. מִכֹּתֶל מַעֲרָבִי שֶׁל עֲזָרָה עַד כֹּתֶל הַהֵיכָל אַחַת עֶשְׂרֵה אַמָּה. וְאֹרֶךְ הַהֵיכָל כֻּלּוֹ מֵאָה אַמָּה. בֵּין הָאוּלָם וְלַמִּזְבֵּחַ שְׁתַּיִם וְעֶשְׂרִים. הַמִּזְבֵּחַ שְׁתַּיִם וּשְׁלֹשִׁים. מְקוֹם דְּרִיסַת רַגְלֵי הַכֹּהֲנִים וְהוּא הַנִּקְרָא עֶזְרַת כֹּהֲנִים אַחַת עֶשְׂרֵה אַמָּה. מְקוֹם דְּרִיסַת רַגְלֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהוּא הַנִּקְרָא עֶזְרַת יִשְׂרָאֵל אַחַת עֶשְׂרֵה אַמָּה:

The Temple Courtyard was 187 cubits long from east to west. The measurement can be broken down as follows: Eleven cubits from the western wall of the Courtyard to the wall of the Temple building. 100 cubits, the length of the Temple building. 22 cubits between the Entrance Hall and the Altar. 22 cubits, [the length of] the Altar. Eleven cubits, the area where the priests could walk. This was called the Priestly courtyard. Eleven cubits, the area where Israelites could walk. This was called the Courtyard of Israel.

וְרֹחַב הָעֲזָרָה מִן הַצָּפוֹן לַדָּרוֹם מֵאָה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים וְחָמֵשׁ וְזֶהוּ חֶשְׁבּוֹנָן. מִכֹּתֶל צְפוֹנִי עַד בֵּית הַמִּטְבָּחַיִם שְׁמוֹנֶה אַמּוֹת. בֵּית הַמִּטְבָּחַיִם י"ב אַמּוֹת וּמֶחֱצָה. וְשָׁם תּוֹלִין וּמַפְשִׁיטִין אֶת הַקָּדָשִׁים בְּצִדּוֹ:

The Courtyard was 135 cubits wide, from north to south. The measurement can be broken down as follows: Eight cubits from the northern wall until the butchering area. Twelve and one half cubits, the width of the butchering area. There, they would suspend the sacrificed animals [on posts] and remove their hides.

מְקוֹם הַשֻּׁלְחָנוֹת שְׁמוֹנֶה אַמּוֹת וּבוֹ שֻׁלְחָנוֹת שֶׁל שַׁיִשׁ שֶׁמַּנִּיחִין עֲלֵיהֶן הַנְּתָחִים וּמְדִיחִין אֶת הַבָּשָׂר לְבַשְּׁלוֹ. וּשְׁמוֹנָה שֻׁלְחָנוֹת הָיוּ. וּבְצַד מְקוֹם הַשֻּׁלְחָנוֹת מְקוֹם הַטַּבָּעוֹת כ"ד אַמָּה. וְשָׁם שׁוֹחֲטִין אֶת הַקָּדָשִׁים:

At its side was the place for the tables; it was eight cubits wide. It had marble tables on which the severed limbs were placed. The meat was washed [there] before it was cooked. There were eight tables. The area of the rings [was positioned] next to the location of the tables. It was 24 cubits [wide]. There, they slaughtered the sacrifices.

וּבֵין מְקוֹם הַטַּבָּעוֹת וְהַמִּזְבֵּחַ שְׁמוֹנֶה אַמּוֹת וְהַמִּזְבֵּחַ ל"ב. וְהַכֶּבֶשׁ שְׁלֹשִׁים. וּבֵין הַכֶּבֶשׁ וּלְכֹתֶל דְּרוֹמִי י"ב אַמָּה וּמֶחֱצָה. מִכֹּתֶל צְפוֹנִי שֶׁל עֲזָרָה עַד כֹּתֶל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ שֶׁהוּא רֹחַב שִׁשִּׁים וּמֶחֱצָה. וּכְנֶגְדוֹ מִכֹּתֶל הָאוּלָם עַד כֹּתֶל מִזְרָחִי שֶׁל עֲזָרָה שֶׁהוּא אֹרֶךְ שֵׁשׁ וְשִׁבְעִים:

There were eight cubits between the Altar and the area of the rings. The Altar was 32 cubits wide. The ramp was 30 cubits [long]. There were twelve and a half cubits between the ramp and the southern wall. [The area] from the northern wall of the Temple Courtyard until the wall of the Altar, was sixty and a half [cubits] wide. The length of this area, from the wall of the Entrance Hall until the eastern wall of the Courtyard, was 76 [cubits].

כָּל הַמְרֻבָּע הַזֶּה הוּא הַנִּקְרָא צָפוֹן הוּא הַמָּקוֹם שֶׁשּׁוֹחֲטִין בּוֹ קָדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים:

The entire rectangle [described above] is called "the northern portion." The sacrifices of the most sacred order of holiness were slaughtered there.

שְׁמוֹנֶה לְשָׁכוֹת הָיוּ בְּעֶזְרַת יִשְׂרָאֵל. שָׁלֹשׁ בַּצָּפוֹן. וְשָׁלֹשׁ בַּדָּרוֹם. שֶׁבַּדָּרוֹם לִשְׁכַּת הַמֶּלַח. לִשְׁכַּת הַפַּרְוָה. לִשְׁכַּת הַמְּדִיחִין. לִשְׁכַּת הַמֶּלַח שָׁם נוֹתְנִין מֶלַח לַקָּרְבָּן. לִשְׁכַּת הַפַּרְוָה שָׁם מוֹלְחִין עוֹרוֹת הַקָּדָשִׁים. וְעַל גַּגָּהּ הָיְתָה בֵּית טְבִילָה לְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים. לִשְׁכַּת הַמְּדִיחִין שָׁם הָיוּ מְדִיחִין קִרְבֵי הַקָּדָשִׁים וּמִשָּׁם מְסִבָּה עוֹלָה לְגַג בֵּית הַפַּרְוָה. וְהַשָּׁלֹשׁ שֶׁבִּצְפוֹן לִשְׁכַּת הַגָּזִית. לִשְׁכַּת הַגּוּלָה. לִשְׁכַּת הָעֵץ. לִשְׁכַּת הַגָּזִית שֶׁבָּהּ סַנְהֶדְרִי גְּדוֹלָה יוֹשֶׁבֶת. וְחֶצְיָהּ הָיָה קֹדֶשׁ וְחֶצְיָהּ הָיָה חֹל. וְלָהּ שְׁנֵי פְּתָחִים אֶחָד לַקֹּדֶשׁ וְאֶחָד לְחל וּבַחֵצִי שֶׁל חֹל הָיוּ הַסַּנְהֶדְרִין יוֹשְׁבִין. לִשְׁכַּת הַגּוּלָה שָׁם הָיְתָה בּוֹר שֶׁמְּמַלְּאִין מִמֶּנּוּ בַּגּוּלָה וּמִשָּׁם מְסַפְּקִין מַיִם לְכָל הָעֲזָרָה. וְלִשְׁכַּת הָעֵץ הָיְתָה אֲחוֹרֵי שְׁתֵּיהֶן וְהִיא הָיְתָה לִשְׁכַּת כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל וְהִיא הַנִּקְרֵאת לִשְׁכַּת פַּרְהֶדְרִין. וְגַג שְׁלָשְׁתָּן שָׁוֶה. וּשְׁתֵּי לְשָׁכוֹת אֲחֵרוֹת הָיוּ שָׁם בְּעֶזְרַת יִשְׂרָאֵל. אַחַת מִימִין שַׁעַר מִזְרָחִי וְהוּא לִשְׁכַּת פִּינְחָס הַמַּלְבִּישׁ. וְאֶחָד מִשְּׂמֹאלוֹ וְהוּא לִשְׁכַּת עוֹשֶׂה חֲבִיתִין:

The Courtyard of the Israelites had eight chambers: three in the north and three in the south. In the south, were the Chamber of Salt, Parve's Chamber, and the Washing Chamber. The salt for the sacrifices was stored in the Chamber of the Salt. The hides of the sacrifices were salted in Parve's chamber. Its roof had a mikveh, used by the High Priest on Yom Kippur. The internal organs of the sacrifices were washed in the Washing Chamber. It had a winding rampway leading to the roof of Parve's chamber. The three [chambers] in the north were the Chamber of Hewn Stone, the Chamber of the Bowl, and the Chamber of Wood. The Supreme Sanhedrin sat [in judgment] in the Chamber of Hewn Stone. Half was consecrated and half was not. The Sanhedrin sat in the half that was not consecrated. The Chamber of the Bowl had a well from which water was drawn with a bowl. This [well] supplied water to the entire Temple Courtyard. The Chamber of Wood was situated behind these two. It was the Chamber of the High Priest and [also] called "the Chamber of Parhedrin." The roofs of these three chambers were on the same level. The Courtyard of the Israelites had two other chambers: one to the right of the eastern gate, [called] the Chamber of Pinchas, the clothes-butler; and one to the left. It was [called] the Chamber of the Bakers of the chavitin.