יחזקאל, פרק מ׳, פסוק י״ט

The ongoing vision of the future Temple moves to the wide open space on the mountain, an area recognized as the outer court, or the Women's Court. The physical dimensions of this space are calculated from east to west, beginning at the lower gate. This entrance earns its name because it is positioned down the mountain's slope. It sits at a significantly lower elevation than the inner court, also known as the Court of the Israelites, which rests on higher ground and is reached by ascending seven steps [רד״ק, אברבנאל, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The exact starting point of this measurement is carefully placed just past the gate rather than at the entrance itself. Chambers and rooms flanked the immediate area of the gate, taking up considerable space. Only by walking past these structures and stepping fully into the court could the completely open area be measured accurately from one boundary to the next [מלבי״ם]. The measured line extends inward across the courtyard and stops exactly at the exterior edge of the inner court. This specific endpoint ensures that the calculation captures only the empty space between the two courts, completely excluding the physical structure of the inner gate [רד״ק, אברבנאל].

The total distance across this open expanse spans exactly one hundred cubits. This specific dimension is identical on both the eastern and northern sides of the Temple complex. Furthermore, this uniform measurement applies to the southern side as well. While the southern measurement is not explicitly detailed in the immediate account, the outer court completely surrounds the inner Temple buildings, maintaining equal dimensions and perfect symmetry on all of its sides [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].