Category: All Teachings

An understanding of the layout of the Temple is critical to comprehend how the Temple functioned. Three ingredients necessary in all structures on the Temple Mount. These are: that the structure is commanded or mentioned in scripture, is according to the halachah (Jewish law or more specifically how a commandment is performed), and is functional. Discovering the function of a building often gives us the insight to understanding spiritual realities exhibited in the Temple.

The Temple and its Extensions

The Original Temple Mount was 500 Cubits by 500 Cubits. Three different cubits were used on the Temple Mount that we know of today. The Royal Cubit (20.67 inches) was used in the wall around the Original Temple Mount. The Temple Mount is known as Har haBayit (Mountain of the House). The Hasmoneans added to this on the south. Their extension did not have the same kedusha (sanctity) as the original 500 by 500. This was added to by Herod on the south again, and on the west and north. The Fortress Antonia penetrated into the Temple Mount and is much larger than what is usually portrayed. It was located on the northwestern corner of the Temple Mount, extending north of the Mount. To the south it reached the northern edge of the Fosse. This Fosse had been filled in by the Roman General Pompey.

The Outer Court
The population approached from the south, entering by two sets of tunnels known as the Chulda Gates. Above these tunnels was the Royal Stoa, massive in size and the location of the Bazaar of Chanan (Anaias). The western two thirds of the Rooyal Stoa was this marketplace. The eastern one third of the Royal Stoa was the second quarters of the Sanhedrin Gedolah (the Great Sanhedrin). Upon exiting the tunnels into the Outer Courtyard (Rahav or Broad Place) were a complex of mikvaot and toilets. Separate facilities for men and women. Immediately to the north of these Mikvaot and toilets was the Soreg, the wall forbidding entry (according to the Torah) to the Inner Courtyards by non-Jews. Just past the Soreg were steps. The steps are covered up today but could still be seen 145 years ago. On the south there were 14 steps while on the east there were 12. On the west there were no steps, and we do not know yet how many were on the north, but it was a small number. A five handbreadths cubit of 19.2 inches was used up to this point. At the top of the stairs there was the Cheil, 10 cubits wide that totally encircled the Inner Courtyards. From this point a six handbreadths cubit (23.04) inches was used. There were two major Inner Courtyards known as the Azarah and the Ezrat Nashim (the Court of the Women). Of the two the Azarah was most important and had the highest kedusha.

The Azarah Extended Area
On the southern corners were two large buildings (100 cubits south to north and 50 cubits east to west). They each had a gate running through their midst. The southwestern building was known as the Beit Otzrot (House of the Treasury and Storehouse), while the southeastern building was known as the Beit Avtinas (House of Avtinas). The gate that ran through the Beit Otzrot was known as the Shaar haElyon (the Upper Gate). The gate that ran through the Beit Avtinas was known as the Shaar haMayim (the Water Gate). Between these two buildings was a plaza with a series of stairs ascending to the middle gates. These gates were the Shaar haDeeleek (the Firewood Gate) next to the Beit Otzrot (to the east), and the Shaar haBekarot (the Firstborn Gate) east of Shaar haDelek and next to the Beit Avtinas to its east. These gates were 50 cubits from south the north.

The Azarah
On the east of the Azarah was the Shaar Nikanor (the Nikanor Gate) with smaller gates to its south and north. On the northern wall starting on the northeastern corner was the Beit haNitzotz (House of the Spark or Flame). The gate that ran through this building had two names, Shaar haNitzotz (Gate of the Nitzotz) and Shaar haShir (the Song Gate). This building was also 100 x 50 cubits. Next to this building to the west was two middle gates 50 cubits deep. The first was the Shaar haNashim (the Women’s Gate) and then the Shaar haKorban (the Sacrifice Gate). On the northwestern corner was another 100 x 50 cubit building known as the Beit haMokeid (House of the Hearth). Directly behind the Temple Building on the western side of the Azarah was the fifth 100 x 50 cubit building known as the Parbar. This building was 100 cubits from south to north and 50 cubits from east to west. There was a gate on each side of the Parbar making a total of 13 gates to the Azarah. To the west of the Parbar was the Cheil as it bordered the corner buildings on the north.

Within the Azarah proper there was a courtyard on the east just to the west of the Shaar Nikanor known as the Ezrat Yisrael (Court of Israel). This courtyard was 136 cubits from south to north and 11 cubits from east to west. West of the Ezrat Yisrael was the Dukhan (the platform where the Levitical Choir stood. It had a cubit step with three half cubits steps extending from the first step westward. Next was the Ezrat Kohanim (Court of the Priests) also 135 x 11 cubits. West of the Ezrat Kohanim was the Altar with its ramp or kevesh and the Beit haMitbeichayam (Slaughterhouse). The Altar or Mizbeiach was 32 cubits square. The kevesh or ramp (actually three ramps) was 32 cubits from south to north. The kevesh was on the south side of the Altar. The Slaughterhouse was to the north of the Altar and had 24 rings, 8 marble tables and 8 dwarf pillars.

Two cubits to the west of the Yesod or foundation of the Altar was the start of the 12 ma’alot or steps that led into the Temple Building. The Ulam (Porch) of the Temple was 100 cubits from south to north and 11 cubits (interior) wide. The Gateway to the Temple Building was 40 cubits high (about 8 stories) and 20 cubits wide. The Parochet or veil that hung over it was known as the Heavens. Another gate adjoined to the Ulam on the west center known as the Great Gate. it was 20 cubits high and 10 cubits wide. This led into the Heichal or haKodesh (the Holy Place). This is where the Menorah, Mizbeiach Zahav (Golden Incense Altar) and the Shulchan Lechem haPanim (Bread of the Face). This room was 40 cubits from east to west and 20 cubits from south to north and 40 cubits high. On the western end of the HaKodesh was the first veil of the double Parochet. There was a cubit space between the two Parochet known as the Tracksin. The Kodesh haKodashin (Holy of Holies) was west of the second Veil. The room was 20 cubits x 20 cubits. This was measured from the eastern veil of the double Parochet, while the western veil was the western boundary of the HaKodesh. There were 38 offices known as Taim wrapping around the HaKodesh and Kodesh haKodashim on the south, west and north in three floors. Above the Hakodesh and Kodesh haKodashim was a second floor, also 40 cubits high. There was a veil separating between the area of the Hakodesh and the Kodesh haKodashim. Behind the Temple Building was an 11 cubit area. The Azarah proper was 187 cubits from east to west and 135 cubits wide.

The Ezrat Nashim
The Ezrat Nashim (Court of the Women) was east of the Azarah and was also lower on the mountain (the Kodesh haKodashim was at the highest point). This courtyard was 135 cubits by 135 cubits. The 5 handbreadths cubit was used here (19.2 inches). This was the courtyard that was for general assembly. There were three gates, south, east, and north. The East Gate was the most important. Outside of the gate on the Cheil sat two buildings. On the southern side was a building to store one third of the ashes of the Red Heifer, to the north of the gates was the location on the building for the Sanhedrin Ketanah (Smaller Sanhedrin with 23 judges). This was also on the Cheil. On the outer corners starting on the southwest was known as the Lishkat Beit Shemaniah where they would deposit wine and oil. On the southeastern corner was the Lishkat haNezerim (Chamber of the Nazirites). On the northeastern corner was the Lishkat haEitzim (Chamber of the Woods were wood was inspected to make sure it was kosher for the Altar) and on the northwestern corner was the Lishkat haMetzoraim (Chamber of the Lepers). This chamber had a mikveh below it. Each of these four chambers were 40 cubits by 40 cubits and were open in the roof. At the western end were 15 steps leading up to the Shaar Nikanor. The contour of the steps was semi-circular. At the top were the Shaar Nikanor with the two wickets (smaller Gates on each side). These gates had the Kedusha of the Ezrat Nashim rather than the Azarah. Two doorways were on each side of the stairway on the western wall at ground level going under the Azarah (specifically Ezrat Yisrael) were the musicians stored their instruments. Next to the eastern gate on the interior was a stairway leading up to a balcony for the women and children during Sukkot.

This is just a brief outline of the buildings and layout of the Temple. Later postings will get into more specific detail.

The Holy Temple is the Throne of Hashem on the earth, it is the Eye of the Universe and much more. The Temple is a place of miracles and manifestations of the might of the Holy One. All of this is true, yet the Temple was a place that functioned. Just as a Doctor learns how the human body functions in order to treat the body, so too we must learn how the Temple functioned. The Levites were keys to this administration. The Azarah was the highest courtyard and the location where the Temple building and the Altar stood. Around its perimeter were several key structures. On the southwestern corner was the Beit Otzrot (House of the Treasury). This building was known as the Southern Building. The Shaar haElyon (the Upper Gate) went through the building. On the Southeastern corner was the Beit Avtinas (House of Avtinas). This was known as the Eastern Building. The shaar haMayim (Water Gate) went through this building. On the Northeastern Corner was the Beit haNitzotz (House of the Spark). This was known as the Northern Building. The Shaar haNitzotz went through this building. On the Northwestern corner was the Beit haMokeid (House of the Hearth). This was known as the Western Building. The Shaar Yekonia (Gate of Yehoiachin) went through this building. Learn the function of these buildings and you will start to learn of the Temple.

During the Festival of Shavuot a special bread offering known as the Sh’tai haLechem. `The priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits as a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs. They shall be holy to the LORD for the priest. (Lev 23:20 NKJ). These two loaves were of a peculiar shape and are unique in that they are the only Mincha (Bread Offering) that have leaven. The two lambs are waved (tenufah) to the six directions in the middle of the two loaves. The tenufah was performed before the slaughtering of the lambs and then again following their slaughter and the animals being offered on the Altar. The legs of the lambs are waved in the second tenufah between the loaves of the bread.