## The Third Beit HaMikdash Chapter 3

###### The Third Beit HaMikdash 3:1
[The Third Beit HaMikdash 3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Third%20Beit%20HaMikdash/r/3:1)

**"וַיָּמָד** אֶת סַף הַשַּׁעַר", פֵּרוּשׁ מְזוּזַת הַשַּׁעַר הַמְכַסָּה עֹבִי הַחוֹמָה, קָנֶה אֶחָד רֹחַב, וְאֵת סַף אֶחָד, קָנֶה אֶחָד רֹחַב (מ, ו). "וַיָּמָד אֶת רֹחַב פֶּתַח הַשַּׁעַר עֶשֶׂר אַמּוֹת" (מ, יא).

**The Third Beis HaMikdash, trans. by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, Moznaim Pub Corp. 2016:**
The narrative in *Yechezkel* continues,¹ 40:6. “And he measured the threshold of the gateway,” i.e., the width of the doorposts that cover the thickness of the wall. “It was one measuring rod wide and the [other] threshold was one measuring rod wide.” “And he measured the width of the entrance to the gateway; it was 10 cubits.”²11.

footnotes:
¹ Yechezkel
² Ibid.:


###### The Third Beit HaMikdash 3:2
[The Third Beit HaMikdash 3:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Third%20Beit%20HaMikdash/r/3:2)

**"וְעַל** פְּנֵי הַשַּׁעַר הָאִיתוֹן [וְגוֹ'] חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה" (יחזקאל מ, טו), וּפֵרֵשׁ רַשִׁ"י וְעַל פְּנֵי – גָּבְהוֹ, וּמִגֹּבַהּ שְׁאָר הַשְּׁעָרִים שֶׁבָּעִנְיָן, שֶׁהֵם חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה, אֲנִי לָמֵד שֶׁ'עַל פְּנֵי' הָאָמוּר כָּאן, הוּא חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה, עכ"ל. וְכֵן כָּתַב¹ בִּמְלָכִים א' (ז, ו) "וְאוּלָם עַל פְּנֵיהֶם", פֵּרוּשׁ אוּלָם גָּבוֹהַּ עָשָׂה עַל כָּל הַבַּיִת.

footnotes:
¹ הכוונה שרש”י מפרש שם על פניהם – גובה.

**The Third Beis HaMikdash, trans. by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, Moznaim Pub Corp. 2016:**
The narrative continues:³15. *V’al pnei HaShaar HaEisun…chamishim amah. Rashi* explains that the words *v’al pnei* mean “and the height”. Thus, the verse should be translated as, “And the height of the Entrance Gate was 50 cubits.” He states: “From the fact that the other gateways mentioned in the narrative were 50 cubits high, I derived that the words *al pnei* here refer to a height of 50 cubits.” *Rashi* also interprets the term *al* as referring to height in *I Melachim* 7:6, וְאוּלָם עַל פְּנֵיהֶם, which he understands as meaning, “He made a high vestibule above the entire building.”

footnotes:
³ Ibid.:


###### The Third Beit HaMikdash 3:3
[The Third Beit HaMikdash 3:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Third%20Beit%20HaMikdash/r/3:3)

וְכָתַב הָרַדַ"ק (יחזקאל מ, טו): וַאֲנִי תָּמֵהַּ עַל פֵּרוּשׁוֹ, כִּי בְּכָל הָעִנְיָן אֵינוֹ אוֹמֵר עַל גֹּבַהּ הַשְּׁעָרִים מִדָּה. וְכֵן בְּבִנְיַן בַּיִת שֵׁנִי לֹא הָיָה שַׁעַר שֶׁהָיָה גָּבוֹהַּ חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה, כִּי כָּל הַשְּׁעָרִים רָחְבָּן עֶשֶׂר וְגָבְהָן עֶשְׂרִים, חוּץ מִשֶּׁל אוּלָם (פ"ב מ"ג) שֶׁהָיָה גָּבְהוֹ אַרְבָּעִים (פ"ג מ"ז). וְאָנָה מָצָא לְשׁוֹן אֹרֶךְ¹ שֶׁעִנְיָנוֹ גֹּבַהּ, אֵין זֶה כִּי אֹרֶךְ מִדַּת הַשֶּׁטַח, וְגֹבַהּ הוּא מִדַּת הָרוּם אוֹ הָעֹמֶק.

footnotes:
¹ השגת הרד”ק למעיין שם הוא על מה שפרש”י (מ, לו) על אורך השער חמשים אמה שהכוונה הוא לגובה השער.

**The Third Beis HaMikdash, trans. by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, Moznaim Pub Corp. 2016:**
Concerning the height of this gateway, *Radak* writes:⁴ 40:15. I am amazed at [*Rashi’s*] interpretation, for nowhere in the narrative is a measure for the height of the gateways mentioned. Similarly, in the Second *Beis HaMikdash*, there was no gateway that was 50 cubits high. All of the gateways were 10 cubits wide and 20 cubits high, except for the gateway to the *Ulam* (the Entrance Hall),⁵ 2:3. which was 40 cubits high. [Moreover,] where [in Scripture] is the term *orech* used to refer to height?⁶ 40:36, *Rashi* interprets the words *orech chamishim amah* as referring to a height of 50 cubits. *Orech* always refers to one of the coordinates of area. The term *govah,* by contrast, refers to height or depth.

footnotes:
⁴ In his commentary to Yechezkel
⁵ Middos
⁶ Further in the narrative, in his commentary to Yechezkel


###### The Third Beit HaMikdash 3:4
[The Third Beit HaMikdash 3:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Third%20Beit%20HaMikdash/r/3:4)

וּמַה שֶּׁאָמַר בְּמִדַּת הָעַמּוּדִים בְּבִנְיַן שְׁלֹמֹה, שֶׁאָמַר בְּסֵפֶר מְלָכִים א (ז,טו) קוֹמָה, וּבְדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים ב' (ג, טו) אֹרֶךְ, כְּבָר פֵּרַשְׁנוּ שָׁם כִּי בְּדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים סָפַר מִדָּתָן בְּעֵת יְצִיקָתָן בַּקַּרְקַע שֶׁהִיא מִדַּת הַשֶּׁטַח, לְפִיכָךְ אָמַר אֹרֶךְ. וּבָעֵת שֶׁהֶעֱמִידָן וְסָפַר מִדָּתָן אָמַר קוֹמָה כִּי כֵן הָיָה, עכ"ל.

**The Third Beis HaMikdash, trans. by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, Moznaim Pub Corp. 2016:**
The fact that the measure of the pillars used in the *Beis HaMikdash* built by King Shlomoh is referred to as *komah* in the book of *Melachim,*⁷ 7:15. but as *orech* in *Divrei HaYamim*⁸ 3:15. does not contradict the above. In *Divrei HaYamim,* the pillars were measured as they lay on the ground [before being erected in the building]. Therefore, they are described by the term *orech,* “length.” [In contrast, in *Melachim,*] the pillars are described as they stood, therefore, the term *komah,* “stature,” is used.

footnotes:
⁷ I Melachim
⁸ II Divrei HaYamim


###### The Third Beit HaMikdash 3:5
[The Third Beit HaMikdash 3:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Third%20Beit%20HaMikdash/r/3:5)

וְהַנִּרְאֶה לְיַשֵּׁב פֵּרוּשׁ רַשִׁ"י הוּא שֶׁלָּמַד מִלְּשׁוֹן "וְעַל פְּנֵי", שֶׁפֵּרוּשׁוֹ בְּגָבְהוֹ כְּמוֹ הַפָּנִים שֶׁהוּא בְּגֹבַהּ הָאָדָם.

**The Third Beis HaMikdash, trans. by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, Moznaim Pub Corp. 2016:**
*Rashi’s* interpretation can be explained as follows: *Rashi* interprets the first words of the verse, *al pnei*, as meaning “the height of”. Thus, the verse is discussing height, and the term *orech* must similarly mean height. Why does *Rashi* interpret *al pnei* as “the height of”? *Pnei* is derived from the word *panim*, which is often translated as “face” or “surface.” Since a person’s face is part of the upper portion of his body, *Rashi* understood that this verse is referring to height.


###### The Third Beit HaMikdash 3:6
[The Third Beit HaMikdash 3:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Third%20Beit%20HaMikdash/r/3:6)

אוֹ יִתָּכֵן הֱיוֹתוֹ מִלְּשׁוֹן פִּנָּה, כְּמוֹ הַפִּנּוֹת הַגְּבֹהוֹת בִּצְפַנְיָה (א, טז). וּפֵרֵשׁ הָרַדַ"ק שֶׁהֵם הַמִּגְדָּלִים, וּבְשָׁרָשָׁיו¹ כָּתַב הַטַּעַם שֶׁבַּפִּנּוֹת בּוֹנִין הָאֲבָנִים הַגְּבוֹהוֹת.

footnotes:
¹ בספר השרשים להרד”ק (שרש פנה) כתב שפנה היינו זוית. וכתב שם וז”ל: ולפי שחוזק הבית הפנות אמר על המגדלים החזקים פנות: על הערים הבצורות ועל הפנות הגבוהות (צפניה א, טו). ולפי שפנות הבית מן האבנים הגדולות כנה האנשים הגדולים והאצילים בפנות: גשו הלום כל פנות העם (שמ”א יד לח), ויתיצבו פנות כל העם (שופטים כ ב) עכ”ל.

**The Third Beis HaMikdash, trans. by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, Moznaim Pub Corp. 2016:**
Alternatively, the word *pnei* can be derived from the term *pinah,* “corner.” Thus the prophet Tzephania⁹ 1:16. speaks of *pinos hagevohos,* which *Radak* interprets as meaning, “the high towers.” In his *Shorashim,*¹⁰ *Radak* justifies his interpretation by explaining that towers are built with tall stones.

footnotes:
⁹ Tzephania
¹⁰ Sefer HaShorashim, shoresh pen.


###### The Third Beit HaMikdash 3:7
[The Third Beit HaMikdash 3:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Third%20Beit%20HaMikdash/r/3:7)

**וּמַה** שֶּׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב בְּכֻלָּן אָרְכּוֹ חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה (מ, כה כט לג לו), וַהֲרֵי הָאֹרֶךְ הוּא מִדַּת הַשֶּׁטַח כְּדִבְרֵי הָרַדַ"ק, אֲנִי אוֹמֵר שֶׁלְּכָךְ אָמַר אָרְכּוֹ לְפִי שֶׁהַמְּדִידָה שֶׁל הַגֹּבַהּ הָיְתָה נִמְדֶּדֶת בְּשֶׁטַח הָאָרֶץ. וְזֶהוּ שֶׁהָיָה "פְּתִיל פִּשְׁתִּים בְּיָדוֹ וּקְנֵה הַמִּדָּה" (מ, ג) וּפֵרֵשׁ הָרַדַ"ק שֶׁבַּפְּתִיל מָדַד מִדָּה מְרֻבָּה בַּקַּרְקַע.

**The Third Beis HaMikdash, trans. by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, Moznaim Pub Corp. 2016:**
Based on *Radak*’s explanation that *orech* refers to length, the recurring statement that the *orech* of the structure’s different elements was 50 cubits¹¹ 40:25, 29, 33, 36. can be explained as follows: As I understand it, the height of all the structures was measured when they were lying on the ground.¹² is reconciling *Radak’s* interpretation with that of *Rashi.* Ultimately, both commentaries are discussing the height of the structures. *Radak* uses the term “length,” however, because the height of the structures were measured when they were lying on the ground, as *Tosafos Yom Tov* proceeds to explain. Thus, when explaining the statement that the angel speaking to Yechez­kel held “a linen cord in his hand and a measuring rod,”¹³ 40:3. *Radak* comments that the cord was used to measure large measures of length on the ground.

footnotes:
¹¹ Yechezkel
¹² With this paragraph, Tosafos Yom Tov
¹³ Yechezkel


###### The Third Beit HaMikdash 3:8
[The Third Beit HaMikdash 3:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Third%20Beit%20HaMikdash/r/3:8)

וַאֲנַחְנוּ נֹאמַר שֶׁהַפְּתִיל הָיָה בְּיָּדוֹ, שֶׁיִּמְדֹּד [בּוֹ] גֹּבַהּ כָּל דָּבָר וְדָבָר בְּפַעַם אַחַת. לֹא שֶׁיִּצְטָרֵךְ לִמְדֹּד פְּעָמִים רַבּוֹת בַּקָּנֶה הַדָּבָר הַגָּבוֹהַּ יוֹתֵר מִקָּנֶה אֶחָד, לְפִי שֶׁהוּא טֹרַח רַב, כִּי יִצְטָרֵךְ בְּכָל פַּעַם לִרְשֹׁם מָקוֹם שֶׁכָּלָה שָׁם מִדָּתוֹ לְהָשִׂים עָלָיו הַקָּנֶה, וְלִמְדֹּד מִמֶּנּוּ וּלְהַלָּן. וְאַף כִּי הָיָה מַלְאָךְ הַדּוֹבֵר בּוֹ, וְהַכֹּל בְּמַרְאֶה וּבְחִידָה, לֹא בְּחוּשׁ וּבְמִדָּה, עִם כָּל זֶה בְּוַדַּאי הֶרְאָהוּ בְּאֹפֶן הַיּוֹתֵר נָאוֹת וּמִתְקַבֵּל וּמִתְקָרֵב אֶל הַמּוּחָשׁ. וְהָיָה הַפְּתִיל אָרֹךְ מְאֹד לִמְדֹּד בּוֹ בְּפַעַם אַחַת הַמִּדָּה הַיּוֹתֵר גָּבוֹהַּ שֶׁבַּבִּנְיָן. וּלְאַחַר שֶׁשִּׁעֵר בַּפְּתִיל שִׁעוּר הַגֹּבַהּ, הִשְׁכִּיב הַחֶבֶל אָרְצָה וּמָדַד בִּקְנֵה הַמִּדָּה כַּמָּה קָנִים הוּא גָּבוֹהַּ, וּבִמְדִידָה עַל הָאָרֶץ נָקֵל לְמָדְדוֹ בִּקְנֵה הַמִּדָּה מֵהַמְּדִידָה שֶׁבַּגֹּבַהּ, כַּמְּפֹרָשׁ.

**The Third Beis HaMikdash, trans. by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, Moznaim Pub Corp. 2016:**
We interpret that verse as meaning that the angel held the cord in his hand so that he could easily take accurate measures of the objects’ heights. It would have been much more difficult to measure objects that were more than one measuring rod high when the objects were upright, and might have required the angel to measure them several times. The angel would have to mark the place where the measure ended so that he could place the measuring rod there, and measure it again, repeating the process several times. Measuring the structures with the cord avoided this repetitive process. True, an angel was speaking to Yechezkel, and Yechezkel was witnessing a vision from above; there was no actual physical measuring done. Nevertheless, it can be assumed that the vision reflected the most practical way of measuring the structures. Therefore the cord was very long so that it could be used to measure even the highest structures at one time. Afterwards, the cord was laid on the ground and its length was measured with the measuring rod. Measuring the length of the cord on the ground is a far easier process than measuring an object’s height.


###### The Third Beit HaMikdash 3:9
[The Third Beit HaMikdash 3:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Third%20Beit%20HaMikdash/r/3:9)

**וְאַף אִם** זֶה הַטַּעַם לֹא יַסְפִּיק, וְלֹא יַכְרִיחַ לִהְיוֹת הַמְּדִידָה שֶׁבַּגֹּבַהּ בְּשִׁטְחִית, עִם כָּל זֶה נוּכַל לוֹמַר שֶׁהָיְתָה כָּךְ שִׁטְחִית כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ, וְהָיָה זֶה לְשׁוּם סִבָּה נֶעֱלֶמֶת וְטַעַם נִסְתָּר, אַחַר כִּי כֵן כָּל הַמַּרְאֶה הַנּוֹרָא הַהוּא, בִּלְתִּי סָפֵק אֵין בּוֹ דָּבָר קָטָן אוֹ גָּדוֹל מִבְּלִי טַעַם עָמֹק עָמֹק מִי יִמְצָאֶנּוּ, וְשֶׁלְּפִיכָךְ אָמַר הַכָּתוּב מִדַּת הַגֹּבַהּ בְּשֵׁם אֹרֶךְ, לְפִי שֶׁהָיְתָה הַמְּדִידָה שִׁטְחִית.

**The Third Beis HaMikdash, trans. by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, Moznaim Pub Corp. 2016:**
If this explanation does not sufficiently explain why the term “length” is used to describe a measurement of height, we can still accept *Rashi’s* explanation despite the textual anomaly. There was certainly a deep, hidden reason why the text was written this way, for there is neither a small nor a large element in this awesome vision that does not have an underlying reason of untold depth.


###### The Third Beit HaMikdash 3:10
[The Third Beit HaMikdash 3:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Third%20Beit%20HaMikdash/r/3:10)

אָמְנָם נִשְׁאָר עַל רַשִׁ"י ז"ל הַתְּמִיָּה בְּמַה שֶּׁכָּתַב גֹּבַהּ שְׁאָר הַשְּׁעָרִים שֶׁבָּעִנְיָן כוּ', וְלֹא נִמְצָא שֶׁכֵּן הוּא בְּכָל הָעִנְיָן.

**The Third Beis HaMikdash, trans. by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, Moznaim Pub Corp. 2016:**
Nevertheless, there is still a question regarding *Rashi’s* interpretation. *Rashi* writes that all the gateways in the narrative were this height, yet the text does not support this statement.


###### The Third Beit HaMikdash 3:11
[The Third Beit HaMikdash 3:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Third%20Beit%20HaMikdash/r/3:11)

וְהָרִי"א ז"ל (יחזקאל מ, טו) עִם שֶׁהוֹכִיחַ כְּקֻשְׁיּוֹת הָרַדַ"ק, עִם כָּל זֶה כָּתַב שֶׁמַּה שֶּׁפֵּרֵשׁ רַשִׁ"י הוּא יוֹתֵר נָכוֹן בְּעֵינָיו כְּפִי מִלּוֹת הַכָּתוּב.

**The Third Beis HaMikdash, trans. by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, Moznaim Pub Corp. 2016:**
Rav Yitzchak Abarbanel justifies the questions raised by *Radak*, but ultimately agrees that *Rashi’s* interpretation is more compatible with the simple meaning of the text.


###### The Third Beit HaMikdash 3:12
[The Third Beit HaMikdash 3:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/The%20Third%20Beit%20HaMikdash/r/3:12)

**וּתְנַן** (פ"ב מ"ג) שֶׁלְּכָל הַשְּׁעָרִים דְּלָתוֹת חוּץ מִשֶּׁל אוּלָם.

**The Third Beis HaMikdash, trans. by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, Moznaim Pub Corp. 2016:**
It was taught:¹⁴ 2:3. “All the gateways had gates except the gateway to the *Ulam.*”

footnotes:
¹⁴ Middos