יחזקאל, פרק מ׳, פסוק ט״ו

The grand architecture of the future Temple features a massive gateway that serves as the primary entrance to the sacred grounds. Outlined from its exterior facade to its innermost halls, this structure is defined by its role as the central point of arrival and departure for all visitors entering the courtyard [רש״י, מצודת ציון, אברבנאל]. Some specify that this refers to the eastern gate. Because it aligns perfectly with the sanctuary and the Holy of Holies, it is the specific pathway for those arriving to bow and pray [מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. The very name of the gate reflects its function; rooted in an Aramaic term for entering, it embodies the concept of arrival [מנחת שי, רד״ק]. Another perspective suggests the name is a blend of the words for "arrival" and "chamber," subtly hinting at the numerous chambers built directly into the gate's complex design [מלבי״ם].

A striking feature of this gateway is its measurement of fifty cubits, though commentators debate whether this number describes the structure's horizontal length or its towering height. One approach maintains that the measurement refers to the total horizontal length from the outside of the complex up to the inner hall [רד״ק, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This span accounts for the thickness of the outer walls, the interior chambers, and the spaces between them [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Proponents of this view firmly reject the idea of a fifty-cubit height, arguing that historical gates never reached such towering proportions and that the specific terminology used naturally describes surface area rather than elevation [רד״ק].

Conversely, another perspective interprets the fifty cubits as a description of the gate's immense height. In this view, the spatial terms used in the description relate to the "face" or upper portion of the structure, much like a person's face is positioned at the top of their body [רש״י, מצודת ציון, מצודת דוד, אברבנאל]. Rather than measuring from front to back, this indicates that both the outer gate and the inner hall rose to a uniform, towering height of fifty cubits. Consequently, the massive doorposts would have extended far above the actual passageway [רש״י, מצודת דוד]. Supporters of this interpretation point out that terms for length and height are sometimes used interchangeably in the Bible, making this the most accurate reading of the structural description [אברבנאל].