The whole courtyard was one hundred and eighty seven [amot] long by one hundred and thirty five [amot] wide: From east to west it was one hundred and eighty seven [amot], the place where Israelites were permitted to walk was eleven amot; the place where the Kohanim could walk was eleven amot; the altar was thirty two [amot]; between the vestibule and the altar was twenty two amot; the Sanctuary was one hundred amot and there were eleven amot behind the Holy of Holies.

From north to south [the courtyard] was one hundred and thirty five [amot]: The ramp and the altar [together] were sixty two [amot]; between the altar and the rings were eight amot; the space of the rings was twenty four [amot]; between the rings and the tables were four [amot]; between the tables and the low stone pillars [from where they hung the animals to skin them] were four [amot]; between the low stone pillars and the [northern] wall of the courtyard was eight amot. The remaining [twenty five amot] were taken up by the space between the ramp and the [southern] wall [of the Courtyard] and the space of the low stone pillars.

There were six chambers in the Courtyard, three on the north side and three on the south side. The ones on the north side were the Chamber of Salt; the Chamber of Parvah, and the Chamber of Rinsing. The Chamber of Salt was where they stored the salt for the sacrifices. The Chamber of Parvah was where they would salt the hides of the sacrifices and on its roof was a Room of Immersion, [mikveh], which the Kohen Gadol used on Yom Kippur. The Chamber of Rinsing was where they would rinse the innards of the sacrifices, and within this chamber, a spiral staircase went up to the roof of the [nearby] Chamber of Parvah.

On the south side was the Chamber of Wood, the Chamber of Diaspora and the Chamber of Hewn Stone. [Concerning] the Chamber of Wood, Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaakov said,"I forgot what it was used for." Abba Shaul said, the Chamber of the Kohen Gadolwas behind the two other chambers [the Chamber of Exile and the Chamber of Hewn Stone] and all three roofs were even. In the Chamber of Diaspora there was a well, upon which a wheel was placed and from there they drew [drinking] water to supply [the people] the Courtyard. The Chamber of Hewn Stone was where the Grand Sanhedrin [highest court, charged with deciding cases and appeals that had national significance. It was comprised of 71 scholars who had received the full traditional rabbinical ordination, and its decisions fixed Jewish practice for subsequent generations.] of Israel sat and judged the Kohanim [if they are fit to serve]. A Kohen who was found to be unfit would don a black [robe] and wrap his head in black and leave [the Temple Mount]. If he was found to fit, he would don a white [robe] and wrap his head in white and enter the Courtyard to serve with the other Kohanim. They [those found to be fit] would make a day of celebration [to celebrate] that nobody unfit was found in the children of Aaron the Kohen. And this is what they said: "Blessed is Hashem that nobody unfit was found in the children of Aharon. And Blessed is Hashem who chose Aaron and his children to stand and serve before Hashem in the Holy Temple."