‫מסכת מדות‬

‫ פרק א‬Chapter 1
.‫ ּו ְבבֵית הַ ּמֹוקֵ ד‬,‫ ּו ְבבֵית הַ ּנִיצֹוץ‬,‫ ְּבבֵית ַאבְטִ ינָס‬,‫ּבִׁשְ לׁשָ ה מְ קֹומֹות הַ ּכ ֹהֲ נִים ׁשֹומְ ִרים ְּבבֵית הַ ּמִ קְ ּדָ ׁש‬
‫ַארּבַע ּפִ ּנֹותָ יו‬
ְ ‫ עַ ל‬,‫ַארּבָעָ ה‬ ְ .‫ עַ ל חֲ מִ ּׁשָ ה ׁשַ עֲ ֵרי הַ ר הַ ַּבי ִת‬,‫ חֲ מִ ּׁשָ ה‬.‫ו ְהַ ְלוִּיִם ּבְעֶ ׂשְ ִרים ו ְאֶ חָ ד מָ קֹום‬
‫ ו ְאֶ חָ ד ְּבלִׁשְ ּכַת‬.‫ַארּבַע ִּפּנֹותֶ יהָ מִ ּבַחּוץ‬
ְ ‫ עַ ל‬,‫ַארּבָעָ ה‬ ְ .‫ עַ ל חֲ מִ ּׁשָ ה ׁשַ עֲ ֵרי הָ עֲ ז ָָרה‬,‫ חֲ מִ ּׁשָ ה‬.‫מִ ּתֹוכֹו‬
:‫חֹורי בֵית הַ ּכַּפ ֶֹרת‬ֵ ֲ‫ ו ְאֶ חָ ד לַא‬,‫ ו ְאֶ חָ ד ְּבלִׁשְ ּכַת הַ ּפָ רֹכֶת‬,‫הַ ּקָ ְרּבָן‬

In three places the priests keep watch in the Temple: in the chamber of Avtinas,
in the chamber of the spark, and in the fire chamber. And the Levites in twenty-
one places: Five at the five gates of the Temple Mount; Four at its four corners
on the inside; Five at five of the gates of the courtyard; Four at its four corners on
the outside; One at the offering chamber; One at the chamber of the curtain, And
one behind the place of the kapporet.

,‫ וְכָל מִ ׁשְ מָ ר ׁשֶ אֵ ינֹו עֹומֵ ד‬,‫ ו ַאֲ בּוקֹות ּדֹולְקִ ין לְפָ נָיו‬,‫אִ יׁש הַ ר הַ ַּבי ִת הָ י ָה מְ חַ ּזֵר עַ ל ּכָל מִ ׁשְ מָ ר ּומִ ׁשְ מָ ר‬
‫ּורׁשּות הָ י ָה לֹו לִׂשְ ר ֹף אֶ ת‬ ְ .‫ חֹובְטֹו בְמַ קְ לֹו‬,‫ נִּכָר ׁשֶ הּוא י ָׁשֵ ן‬.‫ ׁשָ לֹום עָ לֶיָך‬,‫אֹומֵ ר לֹו אִ יׁש הַ ר הַ ַּבי ִת‬
‫ ַרּבִי‬.‫ ׁשֶ ּיָׁשֵ ן לֹו עַ ל מִ ׁשְ מָ רֹו‬,‫ קֹול ּבֶן ֵלו ִי לֹוקֶ ה ּו ְבגָדָ יו נִׂשְ ָרפִ ין‬.‫ מַ ה ּקֹול ּבָעֲ ז ָָרה‬,‫ ו ְהֵ ם אֹומְ ִרים‬.‫ּכְסּותֹו‬
:‫ ו ְׂשָ ְרפּו אֶ ת ּכְסּותֹו‬,‫ ּפַ עַ ם ַאחַ ת מָ צְאּו אֶ ת אֲ חִ י אִ ּמָ א י ָׁשֵ ן‬,‫אֱ לִיעֶ זֶר ּבֶן י ַעֲ ק ֹב אֹומֵ ר‬

The officer of the Temple Mount used to go round to every watch, with lighted
torches before him, and if any watcher did not rise [at his approach] and say to
him, “Shalom to you, officer of the Temple Mount, it was obvious that he was
asleep. Then he used to beat him with his rod. And he had permission to burn his
clothes. And the others would say: What is the noise in the courtyard? It is the
cry of a Levite who is being beaten and whose clothes are being burned,
because he was asleep at his watch. Rabbi Eliezer ben Jacob said: once they
found my mother's brother asleep, and they burnt his clothes.

‫ קִ יפֹונֹוס מִ ן‬.‫ מְ ׁשַ ּמְ ׁשִ ין ְּכנִיסָ ה ו ִיצִיָאה‬,‫ ׁשְ נֵי ׁשַ עֲ ֵרי חֻ לְּדָ ה מִ ן הַ ּדָ רֹום‬.‫חֲ מִ ּׁשָ ה ׁשְ עָ ִרים הָ יּו לְהַ ר הַ ַּבי ִת‬
‫ עָ לָיו ׁשּוׁשַ ן‬,‫ ׁשַ עַ ר הַ ּמִ ז ְָרחִ י‬.‫ ֹלא הָ י ָה מְ ׁשַ ּמֵ ׁש ּכְלּום‬,‫ טָ דִ י מִ ן הַ ּצָפֹון‬.‫ מְ ׁשַ ּמֵ ׁש ְּכנִיסָ ה ו ִיצִיָאה‬,‫הַ ּמַ עֲ ָרב‬
:‫ּׂשֹורף אֶ ת הַ ּפָ ָרה ּופָ ָרה וְכָל מְ סַ עֲ דֶ יהָ יֹוצְאִ ים לְהַ ר הַ ּמִ ׁשְ חָ ה‬
ֵ ַ‫ ׁשֶ ּבֹו כ ֹהֵ ן ּגָדֹול ה‬,‫צּורה‬ָ ‫ִירה‬ ָ ‫הַ ּב‬

There were five gates to the Temple Mount: The two Huldah gates on the south
were used both for entrance and exit; The Kiponus gate on the west was used
both for entrance and exit. The Taddi gate on the north was not used at all. The
Eastern gate over which was a representation of the palace of Shushan and
through which the high priest who burned the red heifer and all who assisted with
it would go out to the Mount of Olives.
‫ ׁשֵ נִי‬.‫ ׁשַ עַ ר הַ ּדֶ לֶק‬,‫ ׁשֶ ּבַּדָ רֹום‬.‫ ׁשְ לׁשָ ה ַבּצָפֹון ּוׁשְ לׁשָ ה בַּדָ רֹום ו ְאֶ חָ ד ּבַּמִ ז ְָרח‬,‫ׁשִ בְעָ ה ׁשְ עָ ִרים הָ יּו בָעֲ ז ָָרה‬
‫ ַאחַ ת‬,‫ ּוׁשְ ּתֵ י לְׁשָ כֹות הָ יּו לֹו‬,‫ ׁשַ עַ ר נִּקָ נֹור‬,‫ ׁשֶ ּבַּמִ ז ְָרח‬.‫ ׁשַ עַ ר הַ ּמָ י ִם‬,‫ ׁשְ לִיׁשִ י לֹו‬.‫ ׁשַ עַ ר הַ ּבְכֹורֹות‬,‫לֹו‬
:‫ ו ְַאחַ ת לִׁשְ ּכַת עֹוׂשֵ י חֲ בִּתִ ין‬,‫ ַאחַ ת לִׁשְ ּכַת ּפִ נְחָ ס הַ ּמַ ְלּבִיׁש‬,‫מִ ימִ ינֹו ו ְַאחַ ת מִ ּׂשְ מ ֹאלֹו‬

There were seven gates in the courtyard: three in the north and three in the south
and one in the east. In the south: the Gate of Kindling, and next to it the Gate of
the First-borns, and then the Water Gate. In the east: the Gate of Nicanor. It had
two chambers, one on its right and one on its left. One was the chamber of
Pinchas the dresser and one the other the chamber of the griddle cake makers.

‫ ׁשֶ הַ ּכ ֹהֲ נִים ׁשֹומְ ִרים מִ לְמַ עְ לָן‬,‫ ו ַעֲ ִלּיָה בְנּוי ָה עַ ל ַּגּבָיו‬,‫ ּוכְמִ ין ַאכְסַ דְ ָרה הָ י ָה‬.‫ ׁשַ עַ ר הַ ּנִיצֹוץ‬,‫ו ְׁשֶ ַּבּצָפֹון‬
:‫ ּבֵית הַ ּמֹוקֵ ד‬,‫ ׁשְ לִיׁשִ י לֹו‬.‫ ׁשַ עַ ר הַ ּקָ ְרּבָן‬,‫ ׁשֵ נִי לֹו‬.‫ ּופֶ תַ ח הָ י ָה לֹו לַחֵ יל‬,‫ו ְהַ ְלוִּיִם מִ ּלְמַ ּטָ ן‬

On the north was the Gate of the Sparks which was shaped like a portico. It had
an upper chamber built on it, and the priests used to keep watch above and the
Levites below, and it had a door opening into the Hel. Next to it was the Gate of
the Sacrifice and next to that the fire chamber.

‫ ו ְָראׁשֵ י‬,‫ ׁשְ ּתַ י ִם ּבַּק ֹדֶ ׁש ּוׁשְ ּתַ י ִם ּבַח ֹל‬,‫ ּכְקִ יטֹונֹות ּפְתּוחֹות לִטְ ַרקְ לִין‬,‫ְַארּבַע לְׁשָ כֹות הָ יּו ְּבבֵית הַ ּמֹוקֵ ד‬ ְ ‫ו‬
‫ הִ יא הָ י ְתָ ה לִׁשְ ּכַת טְ לָאֵ י‬,‫ מַ עֲ ָרבִית ּדְ רֹומִ ית‬.‫ ּומֶ ה הָ יּו מְ ׁשַ ּמְ ׁשֹות‬.‫פִסְ ּפָ סִ ין מַ בְּדִ ילִין ּבֵין ק ֹדֶ ׁש לַח ֹל‬
‫ ּבָּה ָּגנְזּו ְבנֵי‬,‫ מִ ז ְָרחִ ית צְפֹונִית‬.‫ הִ יא הָ י ְָתה לִׁשְ ּכַת עֹוׂשֵ י לֶחֶ ם הַ ּפָ נִים‬,‫ ּדְ רֹומִ ית מִ ז ְָרחִ ית‬.‫קָ ְרּבָן‬
:‫יֹורדִ ים ְלבֵית הַ ּטְ בִילָה‬ ְ ‫ ּבָּה‬,‫ צְפֹונִית מַ עֲ ָרבִית‬.‫חַ ׁשְ מֹונַאי אֶ ת ַא ְבנֵי הַ ּמִ ְזּבֵחַ ׁשֶ ּׁשִ ּקְ צּום מַ ְלכֵי יָו ָן‬

There were four chambers inside the fire chamber, like sleeping chambers
opening into a hall, two in sacred ground and two in non-holy, and there was a
row of mosaic stones separating the holy from the non-holy. For what were they
used? The one on the southwest was the chamber of sacrificial lambs, The one
on the southeast was the chamber of the showbread. In the one to the northeast
the Hasmoneans deposited the stones of the altar which the kings of Greece had
defiled. Through the one on the northwest they used to go down to the bathing
place.

‫ זֶה ׁשֶ הָ י ָה‬,‫ ָאמַ ר ַרּבִי י ְהּודָ ה‬.‫ אֶ חָ ד ּפָ תּוחַ לַחֵ יל ו ְאֶ חָ ד ּפָ תּוחַ לָעֲ ז ָָרה‬,‫ׁשְ נַי ִם ׁשְ עָ ִרים הָ יּו ְלבֵית הַ ּמֹוקֵ ד‬
:‫ ׁשֶ ּבֹו נִ ְכנָסִ ין ִלבְֹלׁש אֶ ת הָ עֲ ז ָָרה‬,‫ ּפִ ׁשְ ּפָ ׁש קָ טָ ן הָ י ָה לֹו‬,‫פָ תּוחַ לָעֲ ז ָָרה‬

The fire chamber had two gates, one opening on to the Hel and one on to the
courtyard. Rabbi Judah says: the one that opened on to the courtyard had a
small opening through which they went in to search the courtyard.

‫ ּומַ ְפּתְ חֹות‬,‫ וְזִקְ נֵי בֵית ָאב י ְׁשֵ נִים ׁשָ ם‬,‫ מֻ ּקָ ף רֹובָדִ ין ׁשֶ ל אֶ בֶן‬,‫ ּו ַבי ִת ּגָדֹול הָ י ָה‬,‫ ּכִּפָ ה‬,‫ּבֵית הַ ּמֹוקֵ ד‬
ֶ ‫ אִ יׁש ּכִסְ ּתֹו ב‬,‫ּופִרחֵ י כְהֻ ּנָה‬
:‫ָָארץ‬ ְ ,‫הָ עֲ ז ָָרה ְּבי ָדָ ם‬

The fire chamber was vaulted and it was a large room surrounded with stone
projections, and the elders of the clan [serving in the Temple] used to sleep
there, with the keys of the Temple courtyard in their hands. The priestly initiates
used to place their bedding on the ground.

‫ ו ְׁשַ לְׁשֶ לֶת ׁשֶ הַ ּמַ ְפּתְ חֹות‬,‫ ו ְטַ ְבלָא ׁשֶ ל ׁשַ י ִׁש ו ְטַ ּבַעַ ת הָ י ְתָ ה קְ בּועָ ה בָּה‬,‫ אַ ּמָ ה עַ ל אַ ּמָ ה‬,‫ּומָ קֹום הָ י ָה ׁשָ ם‬
,‫ הִ ְגּבִיּהַ אֶ ת הַ ּטַ ְבלָא ּבַּטַ ּבַעַ ת וְנָטַ ל אֶ ת הַ ּמַ פְ ּתְ חֹות מִ ן הַ ּׁשַ לְׁשֶ לֶת‬,‫ הִ ּגִיעַ זְמַ ן הַ ּנְעִ ילָה‬.‫הָ יּו תְ לּויֹות ּבָּה‬
‫ הֶ חֱ זִיר אֶ ת הַ ּמַ פְ ּתְ חֹות לַּׁשַ לְׁשֶ לֶת ו ְאֶ ת‬,‫ ּגָמַ ר מִ ִּלנְע ֹל‬.‫ ּובֶן ֵלו ִי י ָׁשֵ ן לֹו מִ ּבַחּוץ‬,‫וְנָעַ ל הַ ּכ ֹהֵ ן מִ ּבִפְ נִים‬
‫ יֹוצֵא ו ְהֹולְֵך לֹו בַּמְ סִ ּבָה הַ הֹו ֶלכֶת‬,‫ אֵ ַרע קֶ ִרי ּבְַאחַ ד מֵ הֶ ם‬.‫ י ָׁשֵ ן לֹו‬, ָ‫ נ ַָתן ּכְסּותֹו עָ לֶיה‬,‫הַ ּטַ ְבלָא לִמְ קֹומָ ּה‬
‫ ַרּבִי אֱ לִיעֶ זֶר ּבֶן י ַעֲ ק ֹב‬.‫ עַ ד ׁשֶ הּוא מַ ּגִיעַ ְלבֵית הַ ּטְ בִילָה‬,‫ ו ְהַ ּנֵרֹות ּדֹולְקִ ים מִ ּכָאן ּומִ ּכָאן‬,‫ִירה‬ ָ ‫ַּתחַ ת הַ ּב‬
:‫ ּבַּמְ סִ ּבָה הַ הֹו ֶלכֶת ַּתחַ ת הַ חֵ יל יֹוצֵא ו ְהֹולְֵך לֹו ּבְטָ דִ י‬,‫אֹומֵ ר‬

There was a place there [in the fire chamber] one cubit square on which was a
slab of marble. In this was fixed a ring and a chain on which the keys were hung.
When closing time came, the priest would raise the slab by the ring and take the
keys from the chain. Then the priest would lock up within while the Levite was
sleeping outside. When he had finished locking up, he would replace the keys on
the chain and the slab in its place and put his garment on it and sleep there. If
one of them had a seminal emission, he would go out by the winding stair which
went under the Birah, and which was lighted with lamps on both sides, until he
reached the bathing place. Rabbi Eliezer ben Jacob says: he descended by the
winding stair which went under the Hel and he went out by the Taddi gate.

Chapter 2 ‫פרק ב‬
‫ ׁשְ לִיׁשִ י‬,‫ ׁשֵ נִי לֹו מִ ן הַ ּמִ ז ְָרח‬,‫ ֻרּבֹו מִ ן הַ ּדָ רֹום‬,‫הַ ר הַ ַּבי ִת הָ י ָה חֲ מֵ ׁש מֵ אֹות אַ ּמָ ה עַ ל חֲ מֵ ׁש מֵ אֹות אַ ּמָ ה‬
:‫ ׁשָ ם הָ י ָה ר ֹב ַּתׁשְ מִ יׁשֹו‬,‫ מְ קֹום ׁשֶ הָ י ָה ר ֹב מִ ּדָ תֹו‬.‫ מִ עּוטֹו מִ ן הַ ּמַ עֲ ָרב‬,‫לֹו מִ ן הַ ּצָפֹון‬

The Temple Mount was five hundred cubits by five hundred cubits. The greater
part of it was on the south; next to that on the east; next to that on the north; and
the smallest part on the west. The part which was most extensive was the part
most used.

‫ ׁשֶ הּוא‬,‫ חּוץ מִ ּמִ י ׁשֶ אֵ ְרעֹו דָ בָר‬,‫ּכָל הַ ּנִ ְכנָסִ ין לְהַ ר הַ ַּבי ִת נִ ְכנָסִ ין ּדֶ ֶרְך י ָמִ ין ּומַ ּקִ יפִ ין ו ְיֹוצְאִ ין ּדֶ ֶרְך ׂשְ מ ֹאל‬
‫ הַ ּׁשֹוכֵן‬,‫ ׁשֶ אֲ נִי מְ נֻּדֶ ה‬.ָ‫ הַ ּׁשֹוכֵן ַּב ַּבי ִת הַ ּזֶה יְנַחֲ מֶ ּך‬,‫ ׁשֶ אֲ נִי ָאבֵל‬,‫ מַ ה ּלְָך מַ ּקִ יף לִׂשְ מ ֹאל‬.‫מַ ּקִ יף לִׂשְ מ ֹאל‬
.‫ עֲ ׂשִ יתָ ן ּכְאִ ּלּו עָ בְרּו עָ לָיו אֶ ת הַ ּדִ ין‬,‫ ָאמַ ר לֹו ַרּבִי יֹוסֵ י‬.‫ ּדִ ב ְֵרי ַרּבִי מֵ אִ יר‬,‫ַּב ַּבי ִת הַ ּזֶה י ִּתֵ ן ְּב ִלּבָם ו ִיקָ ְרבּוָך‬
:‫ הַ ּׁשֹוכֵן ַּב ַּבי ִת הַ ּזֶה י ִּתֵ ן ְּב ִלּבְָך ו ְתִ ׁשְ מַ ע לְדִ ב ְֵרי חֲ ב ֵֶריָך ו ִיקָ ְרבּוָך‬,‫אֶ ּלָא‬

All who entered the Temple Mount entered by the right and went round [to the
right] and went out by the left, save for one to whom something had happened,
who entered and went round to the left. [He was asked]: “Why do you go round to
the left?” [If he answered] “Because I am a mourner,” [they said to him], “May He
who dwells in this house comfort you.” [If he answered] “Because I am
excommunicated” [they said]: “May He who dwells in this house inspire them to
draw you near again,” the words of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yose to him: you make it
seem as if they treated him unjustly. Rather [they should say]: “May He who
‫‪dwells in this house inspire you to listen to the words of your colleagues so that‬‬
‫”‪they may draw you near again.‬‬

‫ּפְרצּום מַ ְלכֵי יָו ָן‪ .‬חָ זְרּו‬

‫פְרצֹות הָ יּו ׁשָ ם‪ׁ ,‬שֶ ָ‬ ‫סֹורג‪ּ ,‬גָבֹוּהַ עֲ ׂשָ ָרה טְ פָ חִ ים‪ּ .‬וׁשְ לׁש עֶ ׂשְ ֵרה ָ‬ ‫ִל ְפנִים מִ ּמֶ ּנּו‪ֵ ,‬‬
‫ּוגְדָ רּום‪ ,‬ו ְ ָגזְרּו ְכנֶגְּדָ ם ׁשְ לׁש עֶ ׂשְ ֵרה הִ ׁשְ ּתַ חֲ ו ָיֹות‪ .‬לִפְ נִים מִ ּמֶ ּנּו‪ ,‬הַ חֵ יל‪ ,‬עֶ ׂשֶ ר אַ ּמֹות‪ּ .‬וׁשְ ּתֵ ים עֶ ׂשְ ֵרה‬
‫מַ עֲ לֹות הָ יּו ׁשָ ם‪ .‬רּום הַ ּמַ עֲ לָה חֲ צִי אַ ּמָ ה‪ ,‬ו ְׁשִ לְחָ ּה חֲ צִי אַ ּמָ ה‪ּ .‬כָל הַ ּמַ עֲ לֹות ׁשֶ הָ יּו ׁשָ ם‪ ,‬רּום מַ עֲ לָה חֲ צִי‬
‫ּפְתחִ ים ו ְהַ ּׁשְ עָ ִרים ׁשֶ הָ יּו ׁשָ ם‪ָּ ,‬גבְהָ ן עֶ ׂשְ ִרים אַ ּמָ ה‪,‬‬
‫אַ ּמָ ה‪ ,‬ו ְׁשִ לְחָ ּה חֲ צִי אַ ּמָ ה‪ ,‬חּוץ מִ ּׁשֶ ל אּולָם‪ּ .‬כָל הַ ָ‬
‫ו ְָרחְ ּבָן עֶ ׂשֶ ר אַ ּמֹות‪ ,‬חּוץ מִ ּׁשֶ ל אּולָם‪ּ .‬כָל הַ ּפְ ָתחִ ים ׁשֶ הָ יּו ׁשָ ם‪ ,‬הָ יּו לָהֶ ן ּדְ לָתֹות‪ ,‬חּוץ מִ ּׁשֶ ל אּולָם‪ּ .‬כָל‬
‫הַ ּׁשְ עָ ִרים ׁשֶ הָ יּו ׁשָ ם‪ ,‬הָ יּו לָהֶ ן ׁשְ קֹופֹות‪ ,‬חּוץ מִ ּׁשַ עַ ר טָ דִ י‪ׁ ,‬שֶ הָ יּו ׁשָ ם ׁשְ ּתֵ י אֲ ָבנִים מֻ ּטֹות זֹו עַ ל ּגַב זֹו‪.‬‬
‫ּכָל הַ ּׁשְ עָ ִרים ׁשֶ הָ יּו ׁשָ ם‪ ,‬נִׁשְ ּתַ ּנּו לִהְ יֹות ׁשֶ ל זָהָ ב‪ ,‬חּוץ מִ ּׁשַ עַ ר נִּקָ נֹור‪ ,‬מִ ּפְ נֵי ׁשֶ ּנַעֲ ׂשָ ה בָהֶ ן נֵס‪ .‬וְי ֵׁש‬
‫אֹומְ ִרים‪ ,‬מִ ּפְ נֵי ׁשֶ ּנְחֻ ׁשְ ָּתן מַ צְהִ יב‪:‬‬

‫‪Within it was the Soreg, ten handbreadths high. There were thirteen breaches in‬‬
‫‪it, which had been originally made by the kings of Greece, and when they‬‬
‫‪repaired them they enacted that thirteen prostrations should be made facing‬‬
‫‪them. Within this was the Hel, which was ten cubits [broad]. There were twelve‬‬
‫‪steps there. The height of each step was half a cubit and its tread was half a‬‬
‫‪cubit. All the steps in the Temple were half a cubit high with a tread of half a‬‬
‫‪cubit, except those of the Porch. All the doorways in the Temple were twenty‬‬
‫‪cubits high and ten cubits broad except those of the Porch. All the doorways‬‬
‫‪there had doors in them except those of the Porch. All the gates there had lintels‬‬
‫‪except that of Taddi which had two stones inclined to one another. All the original‬‬
‫‪gates were changed for gates of gold except the gates of Nicanor, because a‬‬
‫‪miracle happened with them. Some say: because their copper gleamed like gold.‬‬

‫ּׂשֹורף אֶ ת הַ ּפָ ָרה עֹומֵ ד ּבְר ֹאׁש‬

‫ּכָל הַ ּכ ְָתלִים ׁשֶ הָ יּו ׁשָ ם‪ ,‬הָ יּו גְבֹוהִ ים‪ ,‬חּוץ מִ ּכ ֶֹתל הַ ּמִ ז ְָרחִ י‪ׁ ,‬שֶ הַ ּכ ֹהֵ ן הַ ֵ‬
‫הַ ר הַ ּמִ ׁשְ חָ ה‪ּ ,‬ומִ תְ ַּכּוֵן ו ְרֹואֶ ה בְפִ תְ חֹו ׁשֶ ל הֵ יכָל ּבִׁשְ עַ ת הַ ָּזי ַת הַ ּדָ ם‪:‬‬

‫‪All the walls that were there [in the Temple] were high except the eastern wall, for‬‬
‫‪the priest who burned the red heifer would stand on the top of the Mount of‬‬
‫‪Olives and direct his gaze carefully to see the opening of the Sanctuary at the‬‬
‫‪time of the sprinkling of the blood.‬‬

‫ְַארּבַע לְׁשָ כֹות הָ יּו‬ ‫עֶ ז ְַרת הַ ּנָׁשִ ים הָ י ְָתה א ֶֹרְך מֵ ָאה ּוׁשְ לׁשִ ים ו ְחָ מֵ ׁש עַ ל ר ֹחַ ב מֵ ָאה ּוׁשְ ֹלׁשִ ים ו ְחָ מֵ ׁש‪ .‬ו ְ‬
‫ַארּבָעִ ים אַ ּמָ ה‪ .‬ו ְֹלא הָ יּו מְ קֹורֹות‪ .‬וְכְָך הֵ ם עֲ תִ ידִ ים לִהְ יֹות‪ׁ ,‬שֶ ּנֶאֱ מַ ר‬ ‫ַארּבָעִ ים ְ‬ ‫ְַארּבַע מִ קְ צֹועֹותֶ יהָ ‪ׁ ,‬שֶ ל ְ‬
‫ב ְ‬
‫ַארּבַעַ ת מִ קְ צֹועֵ י הֶ חָ צֵר ו ְהִ ּנֵה חָ צֵר ּבְמִ קְ צ ֹעַ‬
‫ִירנִי אֶ ל ְ‬ ‫(יחזקאל מו)‪ ,‬ו ַּיֹוצִיאֵ נִי אֶ ל הֶ חָ צֵר הַ חִ יצֹונָה וַּיַעֲ ב ֵ‬
‫ְַארּבַעַ ת מִ קְ צ ֹעֹות הֶ חָ צֵר חֲ צֵרֹות קְ טֻ רֹות‪ .‬ו ְאֵ ין קְ טֻ רֹות אֶ ּלָא ׁשֶ אֵ ינָן‬ ‫הֶ חָ צֵר‪ ,‬חָ צֵר ּבְמִ קְ צ ֹעַ הֶ חָ צֵר‪ּ ,‬ב ְ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫הַ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫הַ‬ ‫הִ‬
‫ית ז ְָר ית‪ ,‬יא הָ י ְָתה לִׁשְ ּכַת ּנְזִירים‪ׁ ,‬שֶ ּׁשָ ם ּנְזִירים מְ בַּׁשְ לִין‬ ‫חִ‬ ‫מִ‬ ‫רֹומִ‬ ‫מְ קֹורֹות‪ּ .‬ומֶ ה הָ יּו מְ ׁשַ ּמְ ׁשֹות‪ּ .‬דְ‬
‫אֶ ת ׁשַ לְמֵ יהֶ ן‪ּ ,‬ומְ ַגּלְחִ ין אֶ ת ׂשְ עָ ָרן‪ּ ,‬ומְ ׁשַ ּלְחִ ים ַּתחַ ת הַ ּדּוד‪ .‬מִ ז ְָרחִ ית צְפֹונִית‪ ,‬הִ יא הָ י ְתָ ה לִׁשְ ּכַת‬
‫הָ עֵ צִים‪ׁ ,‬שֶ ּׁשָ ם הַ ּכ ֹהֲ נִים ּבַעֲ לֵי מּומִ ין מַ תְ לִיעִ ין הָ עֵ צִים‪ .‬וְכָל עֵ ץ ׁשֶ ּנִמְ צָא בֹו תֹולַעַ ת‪ּ ,‬פָ סּול מֵ עַ ל ַּגּבֵי‬
‫הַ ּמִ ְזּבֵחַ ‪ .‬צְפֹונִית מַ עֲ ָרבִית‪ ,‬הִ יא הָ י ְָתה לִׁשְ ּכַת מְ צ ָֹרעִ ים‪ .‬מַ עֲ ָרבִית ּדְ רֹומִ ית‪ָ ,‬אמַ ר ַרּבִי אֱ לִיעֶ זֶר ּבֶן‬
‫י ַעֲ ק ֹב‪ׁ ,‬שָ כַחְ ּתִ י מֶ ה הָ י ְָתה מְ ׁשַ ּמֶ ׁשֶ ת‪ .‬אַ ּבָא ׁשָ אּול אֹומֵ ר‪ׁ ,‬שָ ם הָ יּו נֹותְ נִין יַי ִן ו ָׁשֶ מֶ ן‪ ,‬הִ יא הָ י ְתָ ה נִקְ ֵראת‬
‫לִׁשְ ּכַת ּבֵית ׁשְ מַ נְי ָה‪ .‬ו ַחֲ לָקָ ה הָ י ְָתה ּב ִָראׁשֹונָה‪ ,‬ו ְהִ ּקִ יפּוהָ כְצֹוצ ְָרה‪ׁ ,‬שֶ הַ ּנָׁשִ ים רֹואֹות מִ לְמַ עְ לָן‪ ,‬ו ְהָ אֲ נָׁשִ ים‬
‫מִ ּלְמַ ּטָ ן‪ּ ,‬כְדֵ י ׁשֶ ֹּלא י ְהּו מְ ע ָֹרבִין‪ .‬ו ַחֲ מֵ ׁש עֶ ׂשְ ֵרה מַ עֲ לֹות עֹולֹות מִ ּתֹוכָּה לְעֶ ז ְַרת י ִׂשְ ָראֵ ל‪ְּ ,‬כנֶגֶד חֲ מֵ ׁש‬
‫ אֶ ּלָא מֻ ּקָ פֹות ּכַחֲ צִי ג ֶֹרן‬,‫ ֹלא הָ יּו טְ רּוטֹות‬.‫ ׁשֶ עֲ לֵיהֶ ן הַ ְלוִּיִם אֹומְ ִרים ּבַּׁשִ יר‬,‫עֶ ׂשְ ֵרה מַ עֲ לֹות ׁשֶ ּבַּתְ הִ ּלִים‬
:‫עֲ ֻגּלָה‬

The courtyard of the women was a hundred and thirty-five cubits long by a
hundred and thirty-five wide. It had four chambers in its four corners, each of
which was forty cubits. They were not roofed, and so they will be in the time to
come, as it says, “Then he brought me forth into the outer court, and caused me
to pass by the four corners of the court, and behold in every corner of the court
there was a court. In the four corners of the court there were keturot courts”
(Ezekiel 46:21-22) and keturot means that they were not roofed. For what were
they used? The southeastern one was the chamber of the Nazirites where the
Nazirites used to boil their shelamim and shave their hair and throw it under the
pot. The northeastern one was the wood chamber where priests with physical
defects used to pick out the wood which had worms, every piece with a worm in it
being unfit for use on the altar. The northwestern one was the chamber of those
with skin disease. The southwestern one: Rabbi Eliezer ben Jacob said: I forget
what it was used for. Abba Shaul says: they used to store there wine and oil, and
it was called the chamber of oil. It [the courtyard of the women] had originally
been smooth [without protrusions in the walls] but subsequently they surrounded
it with a balcony so that the women could look on from above while the men were
below, and they should not mix together. Fifteen steps led up from it to the
courtyard of Israel, corresponding to the fifteen [songs of] ascents mentioned in
the Book of Psalms, and upon which the Levites used to sing. They were not
rectangular but circular like the half of a threshing floor.

‫ ׁשֶ ּׁשָ ם הַ ְלוִּיִם נֹותְ נִים ּכִּנֹורֹות ּונְ ָבלִים‬,‫ ּופְ תּוחֹות לְעֶ ז ְַרת הַ ּנָׁשִ ים‬,‫ּולְׁשָ כֹות הָ יּו ַתחַ ת עֶ ז ְַרת י ִׂשְ ָראֵ ל‬
.‫ עֶ ז ְַרת י ִׂשְ ָראֵ ל הָ י ְָתה א ֶֹרְך מֵ ָאה אַ ּמָ ה ּוׁשְ לׁשִ ים ו ְחָ מֵ ׁש עַ ל ר ֹחַ ב ַאחַ ת עֶ ׂשְ ֵרה‬.‫ְּתי ִם וְכָל ְּכלֵי ׁשִ יר‬ ַ ‫ּומְ ִצל‬
‫ ו ְָראׁשֵ י פִסְ ּפָ סִ ין מַ בְּדִ ילִין ּבֵין‬.‫וְכֵן עֶ ז ְַרת ּכ ֹהֲ נִים הָ י ְָתה א ֶֹרְך מֵ ָאה ּוׁשְ לׁשִ ים ו ְחָ מֵ ׁש עַ ל ר ֹחַ ב ַאחַ ת עֶ ׂשְ ֵרה‬
‫ ו ְהַ ּדּוכָן‬,‫ ּוגְבֹוהָ ה אַ ּמָ ה‬,‫ מַ עֲ לָה הָ י ְתָ ה ׁשָ ם‬,‫ ַרּבִי אֱ לִיעֶ זֶר ּבֶן י ַעֲ ק ֹב אֹומֵ ר‬.‫עֶ ז ְַרת י ִׂשְ ָראֵ ל לְעֶ ז ְַרת הַ ּכ ֹהֲ נִים‬
‫ נִמְ צֵאת עֶ ז ְַרת הַ ּכ ֹהֲ נִים ּגְבֹוהָ ה מֵ עֶ ז ְַרת י ִׂשְ ָראֵ ל‬.‫ ּובָּה ׁשָ לׁש מַ עֲ לֹות ׁשֶ ל חֲ צִי חֲ צִי אַ ּמָ ה‬, ָ‫נָתּון עָ לֶיה‬
.‫ ּכָל הָ עֲ ז ָָרה הָ י ְָתה א ֶֹרְך מֵ ָאה ּוׁשְ מֹונִים ו ָׁשֶ בַע עַ ל ר ֹחַ ב מֵ ָאה ּוׁשְ לׁשִ ים ו ְחָ מֵ ׁש‬.‫ׁשְ ּתֵ י אַ ּמֹות ּומֶ חֱ צָה‬
‫ ׁשְ עָ ִרים‬.‫ ְּכנֶגֶד ׁשְ ֹלׁשָ ה עָ ׂשָ ר ׁשְ עָ ִרים‬,‫ אַ ּבָא יֹוסֵ י בֶן חָ נָן אֹומֵ ר‬.‫ּוׁשְ ֹלׁש עֶ ׂשְ ֵרה הִ ׁשְ ַּתחֲ ו ָיֹות הָ יּו ׁשָ ם‬
‫ וְלָּמָ ה נִקְ ָרא ׁשְ מֹו‬,‫ ׁשַ עַ ר הַ ּמָ י ִם‬,‫ ׁשַ עַ ר הַ ּבְכֹורֹות‬,‫ ׁשַ עַ ר הַ ּדֶ לֶק‬,‫ ׁשַ עַ ר הָ עֶ לְיֹון‬,‫ּדְ רֹומִ ּיִים סְ מּוכִים לַּמַ עֲ ָרב‬
‫ ּובֹו הַ ּמַ י ִם‬,‫ ַרּבִי אֱ לִיעֶ זֶר ּבֶן י ַעֲ ק ֹב אֹומֵ ר‬.‫ ׁשֶ ּבֹו מַ ְכנִיסִ ין צְלֹוחִ ית ׁשֶ ל מַ י ִם ׁשֶ ל נִּסּוְך ּבֶחָ ג‬.‫ׁשַ עַ ר הַ ּמַ י ִם‬
,‫ ׁשַ עַ ר י ְ ָכנְי ָה‬,‫ ּולְעֻ ּמָ תָ ן ַּבּצָפֹון סְ מּוכִים לַּמַ עֲ ָרב‬.‫פְּתן הַ ָּבי ִת‬
ַ ִ‫ ו ַעֲ תִ ידִ ין לִהְ יֹות יֹוצְאִ ין מִ ּתַ חַ ת מ‬,‫מְ פַ ּכִים‬
.‫ ׁשֶ ּבֹו יָצָא י ְ ָכנְי ָה ְּבגָלּותֹו‬,‫ וְלָּמָ ה נִקְ ָרא ׁשְ מֹו ׁשַ עַ ר י ְ ָכנְי ָה‬.‫ ׁשַ עַ ר הַ ּׁשִ יר‬,‫ ׁשַ עַ ר הַ ּנָׁשִ ים‬,‫ׁשַ עַ ר הַ ּקָ ְרּבָן‬
‫ ֹלא הָ י ָה‬,‫ ּוׁשְ נַי ִם ּבַמַ עֲ ָרב‬.‫ אֶ חָ ד מִ ימִ ינֹו ו ְאֶ חָ ד מִ ּׂשְ מ ֹאלֹו‬,‫ ּוׁשְ נֵי פִ ׁשְ ּפָ ׁשִ ים הָ יּו לֹו‬.‫ ׁשַ עַ ר נִּקָ נֹור‬,‫ׁשֶ ּבַּמִ ז ְָרח‬
:‫לָהֶ ם ׁשֵ ם‬

There were chambers underneath the Court of Israel which opened into the
Court of Women, where the Levites used to keep lyres and lutes and cymbals
and all kinds of musical instruments. The Court of Israel was a hundred and
thirty-five cubits in length by eleven in breadth. Similarly the Court of the Priests
 was a hundred and thirty-five cubits in length by eleven in breadth. And a row of
mosaic stones separated the Court of Israel from the Court of the Priests. Rabbi
Eliezer ben Jacob says: there was a step a cubit high on which a platform was
placed, and it had three steps each of half a cubit in height. In this way the Court
of the Priests was made two and a half cubits higher than that of Israel. The
whole of the Court was a hundred and eighty-seven cubits in length by a hundred
and thirty-five in breadth. And thirteen prostrations were made there. Abba Yose
ben Hanan says: they were made facing the thirteen gates. On the south
beginning from the west there were the upper gate, the gate of burning, the gate
of the firstborn, and the water gate. And why was it called the water gate?
Because they brought in through it the pitcher of water for libation on the festival.
Rabbi Eliezer ben Jacob says: in it the water welled up, and in the time to come
from there it will come out from under the threshold of the Temple.
Corresponding to them in the north beginning in the west were the gate of
Yehoniah, the gate of the offering, the women's gate, the gate of song. Why was
it called the gate of Yehoniah? Because Yehoniah went forth into captivity
through it. On the east was the gate of Nicanor; it had two doors, one on its right
and one on its left. There were further two gates in the west which had no special
name Chapter 3 ‫פרק ג‬
‫ נִמְ צָא ׁשְ ֹלׁשִ ים‬.‫ זֶה הַ י ְסֹוד‬,‫ עָ לָה אַ ּמָ ה ו ְ ָכנַס אַ ּמָ ה‬.‫הַ ּמִ ְזּבֵחַ הָ י ָה ׁשְ ֹלׁשִ ים ּוׁשְ ַּתי ִם עַ ל ׁשְ ֹלׁשִ ים ּוׁשְ ַּתי ִם‬
‫ מְ קֹום‬.‫ נִמְ צָא עֶ ׂשְ ִרים ּוׁשְ מֹנֶה עַ ל עֶ ׂשְ ִרים ּוׁשְ מֹנֶה‬.‫ זֶה הַ ּסֹובֵב‬.‫ עָ לָה חָ מֵ ׁש ו ְ ָכנַס אַ ּמָ ה‬.‫עַ ל ׁשְ ֹלׁשִ ים‬
,‫ מְ קֹום הִ ּלּוְך ַר ְגלֵי הַ ּכ ֹהֲ נִים‬.‫ נִמְ צָא עֶ ׂשְ ִרים ו ָׁשֵ ׁש עַ ל עֶ ׂשְ ִרים ו ָׁשֵ ׁש‬.‫הַ ּקְ ָרנֹות אַ ּמָ ה מִ ּזֶה ו ְאַ ּמָ ה מִ ּזֶה‬
,‫ ָאמַ ר ַרּבִי יֹוסֵ י‬.‫ מְ קֹום הַ ּמַ עֲ ָרכָה‬,‫ְַארּבַע‬ ְ ‫ְַארּבַע עַ ל עֶ ׂשְ ִרים ו‬ ְ ‫ נִמְ צָא עֶ ׂשְ ִרים ו‬.‫אַ ּמָ ה מִ ּזֶה ו ְאַ ּמָ ה מִ ּזֶה‬
‫ עַ ד ׁשֶ ּנִמְ צָא מְ קֹום‬,‫ ּכֹונֵס ו ְעֹולֶה ּבְמִ ּדָ ה זֹו‬,‫מִ ּתְ חִ ּלָה ֹלא הָ י ָה אֶ ּלָא ׁשְ מֹנֶה ו ְעֶ ׂשְ ִרים עַ ל ׁשְ מֹנֶה ו ְעֶ ׂשְ ִרים‬
ְ ‫ַארּבַע אַ ּמֹות מִ ן הַ ּדָ רֹום ו‬
‫ְַארּבַע‬ ְ ‫ הֹוסִ יפּו עָ לָיו‬,‫ ּוכְׁשֶ עָ לּו ְבנֵי הַ ּגֹולָה‬.‫הַ ּמַ עֲ ָרכָה עֶ ׂשְ ִרים עַ ל עֶ ׂשְ ִרים‬
‫ ו ְהָ אֲ ִריאֵ ל ׁשְ ּתֵ ים עֶ ׂשְ ֵרה א ֶֹרְך ּבִׁשְ ּתֵ ים עֶ ׂשְ ֵרה‬,)‫ ׁשֶ ּנֶאֱ מַ ר (יחזקאל מג‬,‫ ּכְמִ ין ּגַּמָ א‬,‫אַ ּמֹות מִ ן הַ ּמַ עֲ ָרב‬
‫ַארּבַעַ ת‬
ְ ‫ ּכְׁשֶ הּוא אֹומֵ ר (שם) אֶ ל‬,‫ י ָכֹול ׁשֶ אֵ ינֹו אֶ ּלָא ׁשְ ּתֵ ים עֶ ׂשְ ֵרה עַ ל ׁשְ ּתֵ ים עֶ ׂשְ ֵרה‬. ַ‫ר ֹחַ ב ָרבּוע‬
,‫ ו ְחּוט ׁשֶ ל סִ קְ ָרא חֹוגְרֹו בָאֶ מְ צַע‬. ַ‫ מְ לַּמֵ ד ׁשֶ ּמִ ן הָ אֶ מְ צַע הּוא מֹודֵ ד ׁשְ ּתֵ ים עֶ ׂשְ ֵרה אַ ּמָ ה ְלכָל רּוח‬,‫ְרבָעָ יו‬
‫ ו ְהַ י ְסֹוד הָ י ָה מְ הַ ּלְֵך עַ ל ּפְ נֵי כָל הַ ּצָפֹון ו ְעַ ל ְּפנֵי כָל‬.‫לְהַ בְּדִ יל ּבֵין הַ ּדָ מִ ים הָ עֶ לְיֹונִים לַּדָ מִ ים הַ ּתַ חְ ּתֹונִים‬
:‫ ּובַּמִ ז ְָרח אַ ּמָ ה אֶ חָ ת‬,‫ ו ְאֹוכֵל ּבַּדָ רֹום אַ ּמָ ה ַאחַ ת‬,‫הַ ּמַ עֲ ָרב‬

The altar was thirty-two cubits by thirty-two. It rose a cubit and went in a cubit,
and this formed the foundation, leaving thirty cubits by thirty. It then rose five
cubits and went in one cubit, and this formed the surround, leaving twenty-eight
cubits by twenty-eight. The horns extended a cubit in each direction, thus leaving
twenty-six by twenty-six. A cubit on every side was allowed for the priests to go
round, thus leaving twenty-four by twenty-four as the place for the wood pile [for
the altar fire]. Rabbi Yose said: Originally, the complete area [occupied by the
altar] was only twenty-eight cubits by twenty-eight, and it rose with the
dimensions mentioned until the space left for the altar pile was only twenty by
twenty. When, however, the children of the exile returned, they added four cubits
on the north, and four on the west like a gamma, since it is said: “Now the hearth
shall be twelve cubits long by twelve broad, square” (Ezekiel 43:16). Is it possible
that it was only twelve cubits by twelve? When it says, “With four equal sides”
(ibid), this shows that he was measuring from the middle, twelve cubits in every
direction. A line of red paint ran round it in the middle to divide between the upper
and the lower blood. The foundation ran the whole length of the north and of the
west sides, and it took up one cubit on the south and one on the east.

‫ ׁשֶ הַ ּדָ מִ ים הַ ּנִּתָ נִין עַ ל י ְסֹוד מַ עֲ ָרבִי‬,‫ ּכְמִ ין ׁשְ נֵי חֳ טָ מִ ין ּדַ ּקִ ין‬,‫ּובְקֶ ֶרן מַ עֲ ָרבִית ּדְ רֹומִ ית הָ יּו ׁשְ נֵי נְקָ בִים‬
:‫ ו ְיֹוצְאִ ין ְלנַחַ ל קִ דְ רֹון‬,‫יֹורדִ ין ּבָהֶ ן ּומִ תְ עָ ְרבִין ּבָאַ ּמָ ה‬
ְ ,‫ו ְעַ ל י ְסֹוד ּדְ רֹומִ י‬

At the southwestern corner [of the foundation] there were two openings like two
small nostrils through which the blood which was poured on the western side of
the foundation and on the southern side flowed down till the two streams became
mingled in the channel, through which they made their way out to the Kidron
wadi.

‫ ו ְטַ ּבַעַ ת הָ י ְתָ ה‬,‫ ו ְטַ ְבלָא ׁשֶ ל ׁשַ י ִׁש‬,‫ מָ קֹום הָ י ָה ׁשָ ם אַ ּמָ ה עַ ל אַ ּמָ ה‬,‫ְאֹותּה הַ ּקֶ ֶרן‬ ָ ‫לְמַ ּטָ ה ב ִָרצְפָ ה ּב‬
‫ ׁשְ ֹלׁשִ ים ּוׁשְ ַּתי ִם עַ ל ר ֹחַ ב‬, ַ‫ ו ְ ֶכבֶׁש הָ י ָה לִדְ רֹומֹו ׁשֶ ל מִ ְזּבֵח‬.‫יֹורדִ ין לַּׁשִ ית ּומְ נַּקִ ין אֹותֹו‬
ְ ‫ ׁשֶ ּבֹו‬,‫קְ בּועָ ה בָּה‬
:‫ ׁשֶ ּׁשָ ם הָ יּו נֹותְ נִים ּפְ סּולֵי חַ ּטַ את הָ עֹוף‬,‫ּורבּובָה הָ י ְָתה לֹו ּבְמַ עֲ ָרבֹו‬ ְ ,‫ׁשֵ ׁש עֶ ׂשְ ֵרה‬

On the floor beneath at that corner there was a place a cubit square on which
was a marble slab with a ring fixed in it, and through this they used to go down to
the pit to clean it out. There was an ascent on the south side of the altar, thirty-
two cubits [long] by sixteen broad. It had a square window in its western side
where disqualified sin-offerings of birds were placed.

‫ ּומְ בִיאִ ים מִ ּׁשָ ם‬,‫ְחֹופְרין לְמַ ּטָ ה מֵ הַ ּבְתּולָה‬

ִ ‫ ו‬.‫ מִ ּבִקְ עַ ת ּבֵית ּכ ֶָרם‬, ַ‫אֶ חָ ד ַא ְבנֵי הַ ֶּכבֶׁש ו ְאֶ חָ ד ַא ְבנֵי הַ ּמִ ְזּבֵח‬
‫ נִ ְפּגְמָ ה ַאחַ ת‬.‫ ּובִפְ גִימָ ה ְלכָל ּדָ בָר‬.‫ ׁשֶ הַ ּב ְַרזֶל ּפֹוסֵ ל ִּבנְגִיעָ ה‬,‫ ׁשֶ ֹּלא הּונַף עֲ לֵיהֶ ן ּב ְַרזֶל‬,‫אֲ ָבנִים ׁשְ לֵמֹות‬
,‫ ו ְהַ הֵ יכָל‬.‫ ַאחַ ת ּבַּפֶ סַ ח ו ְַאחַ ת ּבֶחָ ג‬,‫אֹותן ּפַ עֲ מַ י ִם ּבַּׁשָ נָה‬
ָ ‫ ּומְ ַל ְּבנִים‬.‫ הִ יא פְ סּולָה ו ְ ֻכּלָן ּכְׁשֵ רֹות‬,‫מֵ הֶ ן‬
‫ ֹלא הָ יּו סָ ין אֹותָ ן‬.‫ ּכָל עֶ ֶרב ׁשַ ּבָת מְ ל ְּבנִים אֹותֹו ב ּפָ ה ּפְ נֵי ּדָ ים‬,‫ ַרּבִי אֹומֵ ר‬.‫ ּבַּפֶ סַ ח‬,‫ּפַ עַ ם ַאחַ ת‬
ִ‫ד‬ ִ‫מ‬ ַ‫ה‬ ִ‫מ‬ ַ‫ְמ‬ ַ
‫ ו ְהַ ּמִ ְזּבֵחַ נִב ְָרא לְהַ אֲ ִריְך‬,‫ ׁשֶ הַ ּב ְַרזֶל נִב ְָרא לְקַ ּצֵר י ָמָ יו ׁשֶ ל ָאדָ ם‬,‫ ׁשֶ ּמָ א יִּגַע וְי ִפְ ס ֹל‬,‫ְּב ָכ ִפיס ׁשֶ ל ּב ְַרזֶל‬
:‫ אֵ ינֹו בַדִ ין ׁשֶ ּיּונַף הַ מְ קַ ּצֵר עַ ל הַ ּמַ אֲ ִריְך‬,‫י ָמָ יו ׁשֶ ל ָאדָ ם‬

The stones both of the ascent and of the altar were taken from the valley of Bet
Kerem. They dug into virgin soil and brought from there whole stones on which
no iron had been lifted, since iron disqualifies by mere touch, though a flaw made
by anything could disqualify. If one of them received a flaw, it was disqualified,
but the rest were not. They were whitewashed twice a year, once at Pesah and
once at Hag, and the Sanctuary was whitewashed once a year, at Pesah. Rabbi
says: they were whitewashed every Friday with a cloth on account of the blood
stains. The plaster was not laid on with an iron trowel, for fear that it might touch
and disqualify. Since iron was created to shorten man's days and the altar was
created to prolong man's days, and it is not right therefore that that which
shortens should be lifted against that which prolongs.
,‫ַארּבָעָ ה ׁשֶ ל ׁשֵ ׁש ׁשֵ ׁש‬
ְ ,‫ וְי ֵׁש אֹומְ ִרים‬,‫ַארּבַע‬ ְ ‫ַארּבַע‬ ְ ‫ ׁשִ ּׁשָ ה סְ דָ ִרים ׁשֶ ל‬, ַ‫ו ְטַ ּבָעֹות הָ יּו ִלצְפֹונֹו ׁשֶ ל מִ ְזּבֵח‬
,‫ ו ְעָ לָיו ׁשְ מֹנָה עַ ּמּודִ ים נַּנָסִ ין‬, ַ‫ ּבֵית הַ ּמִ טְ ּבָחַ י ִם הָ י ָה ִלצְפֹונֹו ׁשֶ ל מִ ְזּבֵח‬.‫ׁשֶ עֲ לֵיהֶ ן ׁשֹוחֲ טִ ין אֶ ת הַ ּקֳ דָ ׁשִ ים‬
‫ ּוׁשְ ֹלׁשָ ה סְ דָ ִרים הָ יּו ְלכָל אֶ חָ ד‬,‫ ו ְאֻ נְקְ לָיֹות ׁשֶ ל ּב ְַרזֶל הָ יּו קְ בּועִ ין ּבָהֶ ם‬,‫ּורבִיעִ ין ׁשֶ ל אֶ ֶרז עַ ל ַּגּבֵיהֶ ן‬ ְ
:‫ ּומַ פְׁשִ יטִ ין עַ ל ׁשֻ לְחָ נֹות ׁשֶ ל ׁשַ י ִׁש ׁשֶ ּבֵין הָ עַ ּמּודִ ים‬.‫ ׁשֶ ּבָהֶ ם ּתֹולִין‬,‫ו ְאֶ חָ ד‬

There were rings to the north of the altar, six rows of four each. And some say,
four rows of six each. Upon them they used to slaughter the sacrificial animals.
The slaughter house was to the north of the altar, and on it were eight small
pillars on top of which were blocks of cedar wood, in which were fixed hooks of
iron, three rows in each, upon which they would hang [the sacrifice] and they
would strip its hide on tables of marble that stood between the pillars.

.‫ עֶ ׂשְ ִרים ּוׁשְ ַּתי ִם אַ ּמָ ה‬, ַ‫ ּבֵין הָ אּולָם וְלַּמִ ְזּבֵח‬.‫ ּומָ ׁשּוְך ְּכלַּפֵ י הַ ּדָ רֹום‬, ַ‫הַ ּכִּיֹור הָ י ָה ּבֵין הָ אּולָם וְלַּמִ ְזּבֵח‬
‫ ו ְאַ ּמָ ה‬,‫ אַ ּמָ ה אַ ּמָ ה ו ְרֹבֶד ׁשָ ֹלׁש‬.‫ ו ְׁשִ לְחָ ּה אַ ּמָ ה‬,‫ רּום מַ עֲ לָה חֲ צִי אַ ּמָ ה‬,‫ּוׁשְ ּתֵ ים עֶ ׂשְ ֵרה מַ עֲ לֹות הָ יּו ׁשָ ם‬
‫ אַ ּמָ ה אַ ּמָ ה ו ְרֹבֶד‬,‫ הָ עֶ לְיֹונָה‬,‫ ַרּבִי י ְהּודָ ה אֹומֵ ר‬.‫ַארּבַע‬ ְ ‫ אַ ּמָ ה אַ ּמָ ה ו ְרֹבֶד‬,‫ ו ְהָ עֶ לְיֹונָה‬.‫אַ ּמָ ה ו ְרֹבֶד ׁשָ ֹלׁש‬
:‫חָ מֵ ׁש‬

The laver was between the porch and the altar, a little to the south. Between the
porch and the altar there were twenty-two cubits. There were twelve steps there,
each step being half a cubit high and a cubit broad. There was a cubit, a cubit
and a level space of three cubits, then a cubit, a cubit and a level space of three
cubits, then at the top a cubit, a cubit and a level space of four cubits. Rabbi
Judah says that at the top there was a cubit, a cubit and a level space of five
cubits.

.‫ ו ְחָ מֵ ׁש מַ לְּתְ ָראֹות ׁשֶ ל מִ ילָת הָ יּו עַ ל ַּגּבָיו‬.‫ ו ְָרחְ ּבֹו עֶ ׂשְ ִרים אַ ּמָ ה‬,‫ַארּבָעִ ים אַ ּמָ ה‬ְ ‫ ָּגבְהֹו‬,‫ּפִתְ חֹו ׁשֶ ל אּולָם‬
‫ ׁשֶ ּלְמַ עְ לָה מִ ּמֶ ּנָה עֹודֶ פֶ ת עָ לֶיהָ אַ ּמָ ה מִ ּזֶה ו ְאַ ּמָ ה‬.‫הַ ַּתחְ ּתֹונָה עֹודֶ פֶ ת עַ ל הַ ּפֶ ַתח אַ ּמָ ה מִ ּזֶה ו ְאַ ּמָ ה מִ ּזֶה‬
:‫ וְנִדְ ּבְָך ׁשֶ ל אֲ ָבנִים הָ י ָה בֵין ּכָל ַאחַ ת ו ְאֶ חָ ת‬.‫ נִמְ צֵאת הָ עֶ לְיֹונָה ׁשְ ֹלׁשִ ים אַ ּמָ ה‬.‫מִ ּזֶה‬

The doorway of the porch was forty cubits high and its breadth was twenty cubits.
Over it were five main beams of ash [wood]. The lowest projected a cubit on
each side beyond the doorway. The one above projected beyond this one a cubit
on each side. Thus the topmost one was thirty cubits long. There was a layer of
stones between each one and the next.

‫ ו ְׁשַ ְרׁשְ רֹות ׁשֶ ל‬.‫ ּכְדֵ י ׁשֶ ֹּלא יִבְעָ ט‬,‫ּוכְלֹונָסֹות ׁשֶ ל אֶ ֶרז הָ יּו קְ בּועִ ין מִ ּכָתְ לֹו ׁשֶ ל הֵ יכָל ְלכָתְ לֹו ׁשֶ ל אּולָם‬
,)‫ ׁשֶ ּנֶאֱ מַ ר (זכריה ו‬,‫ ׁשֶ ּבָהֶ ן ּפ ְִרחֵ י כְהֻ ּנָה עֹולִין ו ְרֹואִ ין אֶ ת הָ עֲ טָ ר ֹת‬,‫זָהָ ב הָ יּו קְ בּועֹות ּבְתִ קְ ַרת הָ אּולָם‬
‫ ּגֶפֶ ן ׁשֶ ל זָהָ ב הָ י ְתָ ה‬.'‫ו ְהָ עֲ טָ ר ֹת ּתִ הְ י ֶה לְחֵ לֶם ּולְטֹו ִבּיָה וְלִידַ עְ י ָה ּולְחֵ ן ּבֶן צְפַ נְי ָה ְל ִזּכָרֹון ּבְהֵ יכַל ה‬
‫ אֹו‬,‫ אֹו ג ְַרּגִיר‬,‫ ּכָל מִ י ׁשֶ הּוא מִ תְ נַּדֵ ב עָ לֶה‬.‫ ּומֻ דְ לָה עַ ל ַּגּבֵי כְלֹונָסֹות‬,‫עֹומֶ דֶ ת עַ ל ּפִתְ חֹו ׁשֶ ל הֵ יכָל‬
‫ וְנִמְ נּו עָ לֶיהָ ׁשְ ֹלׁש מֵ אֹות‬,‫ מַ עֲ ׂשֶ ה הָ י ָה‬,‫ ָאמַ ר ַרּבִי אֱ לִיעֶ זֶר ּב ְַרּבִי צָדֹוק‬.‫ מֵ בִיא ו ְתֹולֶה בָּה‬,‫אֶ ׁשְ ּכֹול‬
:‫ּכ ֹהֲ נִים‬

There were poles of cedar wood stretching from the wall of the Sanctuary to the
wall of the Porch to prevent it from bulging. There were chains of gold fixed in the
roof beams of the Porch by which the priestly initiates used to ascend and see
the crowns, as it says, “And the crowns shall be to Helem and to Toviyah and to
Yedaya and to Hen the son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the Temple of the
Lord” (Zechariah 6:14). A golden vine stood at the door of the Sanctuary trained
on poles, and anyone who offered a leaf or a grape or a bunch used to bring it
and hang it there. Rabbi Eliezer bar Zadok said: on one occasion three hundred
priests were commissioned [to clear it].

‫׳‬Chapter 4 ‫פרק ד‬
‫ ׁשְ ּתַ י ִם ִּב ְפנִים ּוׁשְ ַּתי ִם‬,‫ְַארּבַע ּדְ לָתֹות הָ יּו לֹו‬
ְ ‫ ו‬.‫ ָּגבְהֹו עֶ ׂשְ ִרים אַ ּמָ ה ו ְָרחְ ּבֹו עֶ ׂשֶ ר אַ ּמֹות‬,‫ּפִתְ חֹו ׁשֶ ל הֵ יכָל‬
‫ הַ חִ יצֹונֹות נִפְ ּתָ חֹות לְתֹוְך הַ ּפֶ ַתח‬.‫ ּוׁשְ ַּתי ִם ּדְ לָתֹות לַהֵ יכָל וְלַּק ֹדֶ ׁש‬,)‫ ׁשֶ נֶאֱ מַ ר (יחזקאל מא‬,‫ּבַחּוץ‬
ַ‫ ׁשֶ ּכָל הַ ַּבי ִת טּוח‬,‫ִפְּתחֹות לְתֹוְך הַ ַּבי ִת ְלכַּסֹות ַאחַ ר הַ ּדְ לָתֹות‬ ָ ‫ ו ְהַ ּפְ נִימִ ּיֹות נ‬,‫ְלכַּסֹות עָ בְיֹו ׁשֶ ל ּכ ֹתֶ ל‬
,‫ ּוכְמִ ין אִ צְטְ ָרמִ יטָ ה הָ יּו‬,‫ ּבְתֹוְך הַ ּפֶ תַ ח הָ יּו עֹומְ דֹות‬,‫ ַרּבִי י ְהּודָ ה אֹומֵ ר‬.‫ חּוץ מֵ ַאחַ ר הַ ּדְ לָתֹות‬,‫ְּבזָהָ ב‬
‫ ו ַחֲ צִי‬,‫ חֲ צִי אַ ּמָ ה מְ זּוזָה מִ ּכָאן‬,‫ ו ְאֵ ּלּו ׁשְ ּתֵ י אַ ּמֹות ּומֶ חֱ צָה‬,‫ אֵ ּלּו ׁשְ ּתֵ י אַ ּמֹות ּומֶ חֱ צָה‬,‫חֹוריהֶ ן‬
ֵ ֲ‫וְנִקְ ּפָ לֹות לַא‬
‫ ׁשְ ּתַ י ִם לְדֶ לֶת‬,‫ ּוׁשְ ַּתי ִם ּדְ לָתֹות לַּדְ לָתֹות ׁשְ ּתַ י ִם מּוסַ ּבֹות ּדְ לָתֹות‬,)‫ ׁשֶ ּנֶאֱ מַ ר (שם‬,‫אַ ּמָ ה מְ זּוזָה מִ ּכָאן‬
:‫אֶ חָ ת ּוׁשְ ּתֵ י דְ לָתֹות לַָאחֶ ֶרת‬

The doorway of the Hekhal was twenty cubits high and ten broad. It had four
doors, two on the inner side, and two on the outer, as it says, “And the Hekhal
and the Sanctuary had two doors” (Ezekiel 41:23). The outer ones opened into
the interior of the doorway so as to cover the thickness of the wall, while the inner
ones opened into the Temple so as to cover the space behind the doors,
because the whole of the Temple was overlaid with gold except the space behind
the doors. Rabbi Judah says: they stood within the doorway, and they resembled
folding doors. These were two cubits and a half [of the wall] and these were two
cubits and a half, leaving half a cubit as a doorpost at the one end and half a
cubit as a doorpost at the other end, as it says, “And the doors had two leaves
apiece, two turning leaves, two leaves for the one door and two leaves for the
other” (Ezekiel 41:24).

,‫ ֹלא נִ ְכנַס ּבֹו ָאדָ ם מֵ עֹולָם‬,‫ ׁשֶ ּבַּדָ רֹום‬.‫ ו ְאֶ חָ ד ּבַּדָ רֹום‬,‫ אֶ חָ ד ַּבּצָפֹון‬,‫ּוׁשְ נֵי פִ ׁשְ ּפָ ׁשִ ין הָ יּו לֹו לַּׁשַ עַ ר הַ ּגָדֹול‬
‫ ו ַּי ֹאמֶ ר אֵ לַי ה' הַ ּׁשַ עַ ר הַ ּזֶה סָ גּור י ִהְ י ֶה ֹלא‬,)‫ ׁשֶ ּנֶאֱ מַ ר (שם מד‬,‫ו ְעָ לָיו הּוא מְ פ ָֹרׁש עַ ל י ְדֵ י י ְחֶ זְקֵ אל‬
,‫ נָטַ ל אֶ ת הַ ּמַ פְּתֵ חַ ּופָ תַ ח אֶ ת הַ ִּפׁשְ ּפָ ׁש‬.‫י ִּפָ תֵ חַ ו ְאִ יׁש ֹלא י ָב ֹא בֹו ּכִי ה' אֱ ֹלהֵ י י ִׂשְ ָראֵ ל ּבָא בֹו ו ְהָ י ָה סָ גּור‬
‫ עַ ד ׁשֶ ּנִמְ צָא עֹומֵ ד‬,‫ ּבְתֹוְך עָ בְיֹו ׁשֶ ל ּכ ֹתֶ ל הָ י ָה מְ הַ ּלְֵך‬,‫ ַרּבִי י ְהּודָ ה אֹומֵ ר‬.‫ ּומֵ הַ ָּתא לַהֵ יכָל‬,‫וְנִ ְכנַס לְהַ ָּתא‬
:‫ ּופָ ַתח אֶ ת הַ חִ יצֹונֹות מִ ּבִפְ נִים ו ְאֶ ת הַ ּפְ נִימִ ּיֹות מִ ּבַחּוץ‬,‫ּבֵין ׁשְ נֵי הַ ּׁשְ עָ ִרים‬

The great gate had two small doors, one to the north and one to the south. By
the one to the south no one ever went in, and concerning it was stated explicitly
be Ezekiel, as it says, “And the Lord said to me: this gate shall be shut, it shall
not be opened, neither shall any man enter in by it, for the Lord God of Israel has
entered in by it; therefore it shall be shut” (Ezekiel 44:2). He [the priest] took the
key and opened the [northern] door and went in to the cell, and from the cell he
went into the Hekhal. Rabbi Judah says: he used to walk along in the thickness
of the wall until he came to the space between the two gates. He would open the
outer doors from within and the inner doors from without.

‫ ׁשֶ ַּבּצָפֹון‬.‫ ּוׁשְ מֹנָה ּבַּמַ עֲ ָרב‬,‫ חֲ מִ ּׁשָ ה עָ ׂשָ ר ּבַּדָ רֹום‬,‫ חֲ מִ ּׁשָ ה עָ ׂשָ ר ַּבּצָפֹון‬,‫ּוׁשְ ֹלׁשִ ים ּוׁשְ מֹנָה ָתאִ ים הָ יּו ׁשָ ם‬
‫ ּוׁשְ נַי ִם עַ ל‬,‫ ׁשְ ֹלׁשָ ה עַ ל ַּגּבֵי ׁשְ ֹלׁשָ ה‬,‫ ו ְׁשֶ ּבַּמַ עֲ ָרב‬.‫ ו ַחֲ מִ ּׁשָ ה עַ ל ַּגּבֵיהֶ ם‬,‫ חֲ מִ ּׁשָ ה עַ ל ַּגּבֵי חֲ מִ ּׁשָ ה‬,‫ו ְׁשֶ ּבַּדָ רֹום‬
‫ ו ְאֶ חָ ד‬,‫ ו ְאֶ חָ ד לַּתָ א מִ ן הַ ּׂשְ מ ֹאל‬,‫ַּתא מִ ן הַ ּיָמִ ין‬ ָ ‫ אֶ חָ ד ל‬,‫פְתחִ ים הָ יּו ְלכָל אֶ חָ ד ו ְאֶ חָ ד‬ ָ ‫ ּוׁשְ ֹלׁשָ ה‬.‫ַּגּבֵיהֶ ם‬
‫ ו ְאֶ חָ ד לַּתָ א ׁשֶ עַ ל‬,‫ אֶ חָ ד לַּתָ א מִ ן הַ ּיָמִ ין‬,‫פְתחִ ים‬ ָ ‫ ּובְקֶ ֶרן מִ ז ְָרחִ ית צְפֹונִית הָ יּו חֲ מִ ּׁשָ ה‬.‫ַּתא ׁשֶ עַ ל ַּגּבָיו‬ ָ ‫ל‬
:‫ ו ְאֶ חָ ד לַהֵ יכָל‬,‫ ו ְאֶ חָ ד לַּפִ ׁשְ ּפָ ׁש‬,‫ ו ְאֶ חָ ד לַּמְ סִ ּבָה‬,‫ַּגּבָיו‬

There were thirty-eight cells there, fifteen on the north, fifteen on the south, and
eight on the west. On the north and on the south there were five over five and
five again over these; On the west there were three over three and two over
these. Each had three openings, one to the cell on the right and one to the cell
on the left and one to the cell above. In the [one at the] northeastern corner there
were five openings, one to the cell on the right, one to the cell above, one to the
mesibbah, one to the door, and one to the Hekhal.

,)‫ ׁשֶ ּנֶאֱ מַ ר (מלכים א ו‬,‫ ׁשֶ בַע‬,‫ ו ְהָ עֶ לְיֹונָה‬.‫ ו ְרֹבֶד ׁשֶ בַע‬,‫ ׁשֵ ׁש‬,‫ ו ְהָ אֶ מְ צָעִ ית‬.‫ ו ְרֹבֶד ׁשֵ ׁש‬,‫ חָ מֵ ׁש‬,‫הַ ַּתחְ ּתֹונָה‬
:‫הַ ּיָצִיעַ הַ ַּתחְ ּתֹונָה חָ מֵ ׁש ּבָאַ ּמָ ה ָרחְ ּבָּה ו ְהַ ּתִ יכֹנָה ׁשֵ ׁש ּבָאַ ּמָ ה ָרחְ ּבָּה ו ְהַ ּׁשְ לִיׁשִ ית ׁשֶ בַע ּבָאַ ּמָ ה ָרחְ ּבָה‬

The [chamber] of the lowest [story] was five cubits wide and at the ceiling six
cubits. The [chamber] of the middle [story] was six cubits wide and at the ceiling
of seven. The [chamber] of the top [story] was seven cubits wide, as it says, "The
lowest story was five cubits wide, the middle one 6 cubits wide and the third 7
cubits wide" (I Kings 6:6).

.‫ ׁשֶ ּבָּה הָ יּו עֹולִים ְלגַּגֹות הַ ּתָ אִ ים‬,‫ּומְ סִ ּבָה הָ י ְָתה עֹולָה מִ ּקֶ ֶרן מִ ז ְָרחִ ית צְפֹונִית לְקֶ ֶרן צְפֹונִית מַ עֲ ָרבִית‬
,‫ הִ ּגִיעַ לַּמַ עֲ ָרב‬.‫ עַ ד ׁשֶ הּוא מַ ּגִיעַ לַּמַ עֲ ָרב‬,‫ הָ לְַך עַ ל ּכָל ּפְ נֵי הַ ּצָפֹון‬.‫הָ י ָה עֹולֶה ּבַּמְ סִ ּבָה ּופָ נָיו לַּמַ עֲ ָרב‬
‫ הָ י ָה‬.‫ ו ְהָ פַ ְך ּפָ נָיו לַּמִ ז ְָרח‬,‫ הִ ּגִיעַ לַּדָ רֹום‬.‫ הָ לְַך ּכָל ּפְ נֵי מַ עֲ ָרב עַ ד ׁשֶ הּוא מַ ּגִיעַ לַּדָ רֹום‬.‫ו ְהָ פַ ְך ּפָ נָיו לַּדָ רֹום‬
‫ ּו ְב ִפתְ חָ ּה ׁשֶ ל‬.‫ ׁשֶ ִּפתְ חָ ּה ׁשֶ ל עֲ ִלּיָה ּפָ תּוחַ לַּדָ רֹום‬,‫ עַ ד ׁשֶ הּוא מַ ּגִיעַ ְל ִפתְ חָ ּה ׁשֶ ל עֲ ִלּיָה‬,‫מְ הַ ּלְֵך ּבַּדָ רֹום‬
‫ ו ְָראׁשֵ י ִפסְ ּפָ סִ ין מַ בְּדִ ילִים ּבָעֲ ִלּיָה‬.‫ ׁשֶ ּבָהֶ ן הָ יּו עֹולִין ְל ַגּגָּה ׁשֶ ל עֲ ִלּיָה‬,‫עֲ ִלּיָה הָ יּו ׁשְ נֵי כְלֹונָסֹות ׁשֶ ל אֶ ֶרז‬
‫ ׁשֶ ּבָהֶ ן הָ יּו מְ ׁשַ לְׁשְ לִין‬,‫ ו ְלּולִין הָ יּו פְתּוחִ ין ּבָעֲ ִלּיָה ְלבֵית ק ֹדֶ ׁש הַ ּקֳ דָ ׁשִ ים‬.‫ּבֵין הַ ּק ֹדֶ ׁש ְלבֵין ק ֹדֶ ׁש הַ ּקֳ דָ ׁשִ ים‬
:‫ ּכְדֵ י ׁשֶ ֹּלא י ָזּונּו עֵ ינֵיהֶ ן מִ ּבֵית קָ דְ ׁשֵ י הַ ּקֳ דָ ׁשִ ים‬,‫אֶ ת הָ אֻ ּמָ נִים ּבְתֵ בֹות‬

The mesibbah (a winding walkway) went up from the north-east corner to the
north-west corner by which they used to go up to the roofs of the cells. One
would ascend the messibah facing the west, traversing the whole of the northern
side till he reached the west. When he reached the west he turned to face south
and then traversed whole of the west side till he reached the south. When he
reached the south he turned to face eastwards and then traversed the south side
till he reached the door of the upper chamber, since the door of the upper
chamber opened to the south. In the doorway of the upper chamber were two
columns of cedar by which they used to climb up to the roof of the upper
chamber, and at the top of them was a row of stones showing the division in the
upper chamber between the holy part and the Holy of Holies. There were trap
doors in the upper chamber opening into the Holy of Holies by which the
workmen were let down in baskets so that they should not feast their eyes on the
Holy of Holies.

‫ ו ְאַ ּמָ תַ י ִם‬,‫ אַ ּמָ ה ּכִּיּור‬,‫ַארּבָעִ ים אַ ּמָ ה‬

ְ ‫ ו ְ ָגבְהֹו‬,‫ הָ א ֹטֶ ם ׁשֵ ׁש אַ ּמֹות‬.‫ עַ ל רּום מֵ ָאה‬,‫ו ְהַ הֵ יכָל מֵ ָאה עַ ל מֵ ָאה‬
‫ ו ְאַ ּמָ ַתי ִם ּבֵית‬,‫ ו ְאַ ּמָ ה ּכִּיּור‬,‫ַארּבָעִ ים אַ ּמָ ה‬
ְ ‫ ו ְגֹבַּה ׁשֶ ל עֲ ִלּיָה‬,‫ ו ְאַ ּמָ ה מַ עֲ זִיבָה‬,‫ ו ְאַ ּמָ ה ּתִ קְ ָרה‬,‫ּבֵית ּדִ לְפָ ה‬
‫ ֹלא‬,‫ ַרּבִי י ְהּודָ ה אֹומֵ ר‬,‫עֹורב‬ ֵ ‫ ו ְאַ ּמָ ה ָּכלֵה‬,‫ ו ְׁשָ ֹלׁש אַ ּמֹות מַ עֲ קֶ ה‬,‫ ו ְאַ ּמָ ה מַ עֲ זִיבָה‬,‫ ו ְאַ ּמָ ה ּתִ קְ ָרה‬,‫ּדִ לְפָ ה‬
:‫ַארּבַע אַ ּמֹות הָ י ָה מַ עֲ קֶ ה‬
ְ ‫ אֶ ּלָא‬,‫עֹורב עֹולֶה מִ ן הַ ּמִ ּדָ ה‬ ֵ ‫הָ י ָה ָכלֵה‬

The Hekhal was a hundred cubits by a hundred with a height of a hundred. The
foundation was six cubits, then it rose forty, then a cubit for the ornamentation,
two cubits for the guttering, a cubit for the ceiling and a cubit for the plastering.
The height of the upper chamber was forty cubits, there was a cubit for its
ornamentation, two cubits for the guttering, a cubit for the ceiling, a cubit for the
plastering, three cubits for the parapet and a cubit for the spikes. Rabbi Judah
says the spikes were not included in the measurement, but the parapet was four
cubits.

‫ ו ְתֹוכֹו‬,‫ ּכ ֹתֶ ל הַ הֵ יכָל ׁשֵ ׁש‬,‫ ו ְהָ אּולָם ַאחַ ד עָ ׂשָ ר‬,‫ ּכ ֹתֶ ל הָ אּולָם חָ מֵ ׁש‬,‫מֵ הַ ּמִ ז ְָרח לַּמַ עֲ ָרב מֵ ָאה אַ ּמָ ה‬
,‫ ו ְהַ ּתָ א ׁשֵ ׁש‬,‫ ּכ ֶֹתל הַ הֵ יכָל ׁשֵ ׁש‬,‫ ו ְעֶ ׂשְ ִרים אַ ּמָ ה ּבֵית ק ֹדֶ ׁש הַ ּקֳ דָ ׁשִ ים‬,‫ אַ ּמָ ה טְ ַרקְ סִ ין‬,‫ַארּבָעִ ים אַ ּמָ ה‬ ְ
‫ ּכ ֹתֶ ל הַ ּתָ א‬,‫ ו ְהַ ּמְ סִ ּבָה ׁשָ ֹלׁש‬,‫ ּכ ֶֹתל הַ ּמְ סִ ּבָה חָ מֵ ׁש‬,‫ מִ ן הַ ּצָפֹון לַּדָ רֹום ׁשִ בְעִ ים אַ ּמָ ה‬.‫ו ְכ ֶֹתל הַ ָּתא חָ מֵ ׁש‬
‫ ו ְכ ֶֹתל הַ ּתָ א‬,‫ ו ְהַ ּתָ א ׁשֵ ׁש‬,‫ ּכ ֹתֶ ל הַ הֵ יכָל ׁשֵ ׁש‬,‫ ו ְתֹוכֹו עֶ ׂשְ ִרים אַ ּמָ ה‬,‫ ּכ ֶֹתל הַ הֵ יכָל ׁשֵ ׁש‬,‫ ו ְהַ ָּתא ׁשֵ ׁש‬,‫חָ מֵ ׁש‬
‫ הָ אּולָם עֹודֵ ף עָ לָיו חֲ מֵ ׁש עֶ ׂשְ ֵרה אַ ּמָ ה‬.‫ ו ְהַ ּכ ֶֹתל חָ מֵ ׁש אַ ּמֹות‬,‫הֹורדַ ת הַ ּמַ י ִם ׁשָ ֹלׁש אַ ּמֹות‬ ָ ‫ ּובֵית‬,‫חָ מֵ ׁש‬
‫ ׁשֶ ּׁשָ ם ּגֹונְזִים אֶ ת‬,‫ ו ְהּוא הָ י ָה נִקְ ָרא ּבֵית הַ חֲ לִיפֹות‬,‫ ו ַחֲ מֵ ׁש עֶ ׂשְ ֵרה אַ ּמָ ה מִ ן הַ ּדָ רֹום‬,‫מִ ן הַ ּצָפֹון‬
‫ הֹוי אֲ ִריאֵ ל אֲ ִריאֵ ל‬,)‫ ׁשֶ ּנֶאֱ מַ ר (ישעיה כט‬,‫ ו ְדֹומֶ ה לַאֲ ִרי‬,‫ ו ְָרחָ ב מִ ּלְפָ נָיו‬,‫ ו ְהַ הֵ יכָל צַר מֵ ַאחֲ ָריו‬.‫הַ ּסַ ּכִינִים‬
:‫ ַאף הַ הֵ יכָל צַר מֵ ַאחֲ ָריו ו ְָרחָ ב מִ ּלְפָ נָיו‬,‫ מָ ה הָ אֲ ִרי צַר מֵ ַאחֲ ָריו ו ְָרחָ ב מִ ּלְפָ נָיו‬,‫קִ ְרי ַת חָ נָה דָ ו ִד‬

From east to west was a hundred cubits: The wall of the porch five cubits, the
porch itself eleven, the wall of the Hekhal six cubits and its interior forty, a cubit
for the space between, and twenty cubits for the Holy of Holies, the wall of the
Hekhal six cubits, the cell six cubits and the wall of the cell five. From north to
south was seventy cubits: The wall of the mesibbah five cubits, the mesibbah
itself three, the wall of the cell five and the cell itself six, the wall of the Hekhal six
cubits and its interior twenty, then the wall of the Hekhal again six and the cell six
and its wall five, then the place of the water descent three cubits and its wall five
cubits. The Porch extended beyond this fifteen cubits on the north and fifteen
cubits on the south, and this space was called the House of the slaughter-knives
where they used to store the knives. The Hekhal was narrow behind and broad in
front, resembling a lion, as it says, "Ah, Ariel, Ariel, the city where David
encamped" (Isaiah 29:1): Just as a lion is narrow behind and broad in front, so
the Hekhal was narrow behind and broad in front.
 Chapter 5 ‫פרק ה‬
‫ מִ ן הַ ּמִ ז ְָרח לַּמַ עֲ ָרב מֵ ָאה‬.‫ּכָל הָ עֲ ז ָָרה הָ י ְָתה א ֶֹרְך מֵ ָאה ּוׁשְ מֹונִים ו ָׁשֶ בַע עַ ל ר ֹחַ ב מֵ ָאה ּוׁשְ ֹלׁשִ ים ו ְחָ מֵ ׁש‬
,‫ מְ קֹום ּדְ ִריסַ ת הַ ּכ ֹהֲ נִים ַאחַ ת עֶ ׂשְ ֵרה אַ ּמָ ה‬,‫ מְ קֹום ּדְ ִריסַ ת י ִׂשְ ָראֵ ל ַאחַ ת עֶ ׂשְ ֵרה אַ ּמָ ה‬,‫ּוׁשְ מֹונִים ו ָׁשֶ בַע‬
‫ ו ְַאחַ ת עֶ ׂשְ ֵרה‬,‫ הַ הֵ יכָל מֵ ָאה אַ ּמָ ה‬,‫ ּבֵין הָ אּולָם וְלַּמִ ְזּבֵחַ עֶ ׂשְ ִרים ּוׁשְ ַּתי ִם אַ ּמָ ה‬,‫הַ ּמִ ְזּבֵחַ ׁשְ ֹלׁשִ ים ּוׁשְ ַּתי ִם‬
:‫חֹורי בֵית הַ ּכַּפ ֶֹרת‬ֵ ֲ‫אַ ּמָ ה לַא‬

The whole of the courtyard was a hundred and eighty-seven cubits long by a
hundred and thirty-five broad. From east to west it was a hundred and eighty-
seven. The space in which the Israelites could go was eleven cubits. The space
in which the priests could go was eleven cubits. The altar took up thirty-two.
Between the Porch and the altar was twenty-two cubits. The Hekhal took up a
hundred cubits, and there were eleven cubits behind the kapporet.

‫ מִ ן הַ ּמִ ְזּבֵחַ לַּטַ ּבָעֹות ׁשְ מֹנֶה‬.‫ הַ ֶּכבֶׁש ו ְהַ ּמִ ְזּבֵחַ ׁשִ ּׁשִ ים ּוׁשְ ּתַ י ִם‬,‫מִ ן הַ ּצָפֹון לַּדָ רֹום מֵ ָאה ּוׁשְ ֹלׁשִ ים ו ְחָ מֵ ׁש‬
ְ ‫ מִ ן הַ ּׁשֻ לְחָ נֹות ו ְ ַלּנַּנָסִ ין‬,‫ַארּבַע‬
.‫ַארּבַע‬ ְ ‫ מִ ן הַ ּטַ ּבָעֹות לַּׁשֻ לְחָ נֹות‬,‫ְַארּבַע‬ ְ ‫ מְ קֹום הַ ּטַ ּבָעֹות עֶ ׂשְ ִרים ו‬,‫אַ ּמֹות‬
:‫ּמֹותר ּבֵין הַ ֶּכבֶׁש לַּכ ֹתֶ ל ּומְ קֹום הַ ּנַּנָסִ ין‬
ָ ַ‫ ו ְה‬,‫מִ ן הַ ּנַּנָסִ ין לְכ ֹתֶ ל הָ עֲ ז ָָרה ׁשְ מֹנֶה אַ ּמֹות‬

From north to south was a hundred and thirty-five cubits.The ascent and the altar
took up sixty-two; From the altar to the rings was eight cubits. The rings took up
twenty-four cubits. From the rings to the tables was four cubits, From the tables
to the dwarf pillars four, And from the dwarf pillars to the wall of the courtyard
eight cubits, And the remainder was between the ascent and the wall and the
space occupied by the dwarf pillars.

‫ לִׁשְ ּכַת‬,‫ לִׁשְ ּכַת הַ ּפַ ְרו ָה‬,‫ לִׁשְ ּכַת הַ ּמֶ לַח‬,‫ ׁשֶ ַּבּצָפֹון‬.‫ ׁשָ ֹלׁש ַּבּצָפֹון ו ְׁשָ ֹלׁש ּבַּדָ רֹום‬,‫ׁשֵ ׁש לְׁשָ כֹות הָ יּו בָעֲ ז ָָרה‬
‫ ׁשָ ם הָ יּו מֹולְחִ ין עֹורֹות‬,‫ לִׁשְ ּכַת הַ ּפַ ְרו ָה‬.‫ ׁשָ ם הָ יּו נֹותְ נִים מֶ לַח לַּקָ ְרּבָן‬,‫ לִׁשְ ּכַת הַ ּמֶ לַח‬.‫הַ מְ דִ יחִ ים‬
‫ ׁשֶ ּׁשָ ם הָ יּו מְ דִ יחִ ין‬,‫ לִׁשְ ּכַת הַ מְ דִ יחִ ין‬.‫ִּפּורים‬
ִ ‫ ו ְעַ ל ַּגּגָּה הָ י ָה בֵית הַ ּטְ בִילָה לְכ ֹהֵ ן ּגָדֹול ּבְיֹום הַ ּכ‬,‫קָ דָ ׁשִ ים‬
: ‫ ּומִ ּׁשָ ם מְ סִ ּבָה עֹולָה ְלגַג ּבֵית הַ ּפַ ְרו ָה‬.‫קִ ְרבֵי הַ ּקֳ דָ ׁשִ ים‬

There were six chambers in the courtyard, three on the north and three on the south.
On the north were the salt chamber, the parvah chamber and the washer's chamber. In
the salt chamber they used to keep the salt for the offerings. In the parvah chamber
they used to salt the skins of the animal-offerings. On its roof was the bath used by the
high priest on Yom Kippur. In the washers’ chamber they used to wash the entrails of
the sacrificial animals, and from it a winding way went up to the roof of the parvah
.chamber

,‫ ָאמַ ר ַרּבִי אֱ לִיעֶ זֶר ּבֶן י ַעֲ ק ֹב‬,‫ לִׁשְ ּכַת הָ עֵ ץ‬.‫ לִׁשְ ּכַת הַ ָּגזִית‬,‫ לִׁשְ ּכַת הַ ּגֹולָה‬,‫ לִׁשְ ּכַת הָ עֵ ץ‬,‫ׁשֶ ּבַּדָ רֹום‬
‫ וְגַג‬,‫חֹורי ׁשְ ּתֵ יהֶ ן‬
ֵ ֲ‫ ו ְהִ יא הָ י ְתָ ה א‬,‫ לִׁשְ ּכַת ּכ ֹהֵ ן ּגָדֹול‬,‫ אַ ּבָא ׁשָ אּול אֹומֵ ר‬.‫ׁשָ כַחְ ּתִ י מֶ ה הָ י ְָתה מְ ׁשַ ּמֶ ׁשֶ ת‬
‫ ּומִ ּׁשָ ם מַ סְ ּפִ יקִ ים מַ י ִם ְלכָל‬,‫ ו ְהַ ַּג ְלּגַל נָתּון עָ לָיו‬, ַ‫ ׁשָ ם הָ י ָה בֹור קָ בּוע‬,‫ לִׁשְ ּכַת הַ ּגֹולָה‬.‫ׁשְ לָׁשְ ָּתן ׁשָ ו ֶה‬
‫ ו ְכ ֹהֵ ן‬,‫ ׁשָ ם הָ י ְָתה סַ נְהֶ דְ ִרי גְדֹולָה ׁשֶ ל י ִׂשְ ָראֵ ל יֹוׁשֶ בֶת ו ְדָ נָה אֶ ת הַ ּכְהֻ ּנָה‬,‫ לִׁשְ ּכַת הַ ָּגזִית‬.‫הָ עֲ ז ָָרה‬
‫ לֹובֵׁש‬,‫ ו ְׁשֶ ֹּלא נִמְ צָא בֹו פְסּול‬.‫ ו ְיֹוצֵא ו ְהֹולְֵך לֹו‬,‫חֹורים‬ ִ ְ‫חֹורים ּומִ תְ עַ ּטֵ ף ׁש‬
ִ ְ‫ לֹובֵׁש ׁש‬,‫ׁשֶ ּנִמְ צָא בֹו פְ סּול‬
‫ ׁשֶ ֹּלא נִמְ צָא ְפסּול‬,‫ ו ְיֹום טֹוב הָ יּו עֹוׂשִ ים‬.‫ נִ ְכנָס ּומְ ׁשַ ּמֵ ׁש עִ ם אֶ חָ יו הַ ּכ ֹהֲ נִים‬,‫ְל ָבנִים ּומִ תְ עַ ּטֵ ף ְל ָבנִים‬
‫ ׁשֶ ֹּלא נִמְ צָא פְסּול ְּבז ְַרעֹו ׁשֶ ל‬,‫ ּבָרּוְך הַ ּמָ קֹום ּבָרּוְך הּוא‬,‫ וְכְָך הָ יּו אֹומְ ִרים‬,‫ְּבז ְַרעֹו ׁשֶ ל ַאהֲ רֹן הַ ּכ ֹהֵ ן‬
:‫ ׁשֶ ּבָחַ ר ּבְַאהֲ רֹן ּו ְב ָבנָיו לַעֲ מ ֹד לְׁשָ ֵרת לִפְ נֵי ה' ְּבבֵית קָ דְ ׁשֵ י הַ ּקֳ דָ ׁשִ ים‬,‫ ּובָרּוְך הּוא‬.‫ַאהֲ רֹן‬

On the south were the wood chamber, the chamber of the exile and the chamber
of hewn stones. The wood chamber: Rabbi Eliezer ben Jacob says: I forget what
it was used for. Abba Shaul says: It was the chamber of the high priest, and it
was behind the two of them, and one roof covered all three. In the chamber of
the exile there was a fixed cistern, with a wheel over it, and from there water was
provided for all of the courtyard. In the chamber of hewn stone the great
Sanhedrin of Israel used to sit and judge the priesthood. A priest in whom was
found a disqualification used to put on black garments and wrap himself in black
and go away. One in whom no disqualification was found used to put on white
garments and wrap himself in white and go in and serve along with his brother
priests. They used to make a feast because no blemish had been found in the
seed of Aaron the priest, and they used to say: Blessed is the Omnipresent,
blessed is He, for no blemish has been found in the seed of Aaron. Blessed is He
who chose Aaron and his sons to stand to minister before the Lord in the Holy of
Holies.

‫הדרן עלך מסכת מדות‬