יחזקאל, פרק מ׳, פסוק כ״ב

The architecture of the Temple Mount required a careful balance, adapting to the natural, upward slope of the mountain while maintaining a perfectly uniform design across its various gates. Every gate featured specific architectural elements: windows fixed firmly within the gate chambers [מצודת דוד], decorative capitals shaped like palm trees adorning the doorposts and pillars [מצודת דוד, שטיינזלץ, מלבי״ם], and an entrance hall. Commentators differ slightly on the nature of this hall, viewing it either as the solid walls of the entranceway [מצודת דוד, שטיינזלץ] or as the structural pillars themselves [מלבי״ם]. The primary approach among commentators is that all of these components were absolutely identical in size and design to those found at the eastern gate.

Because the terrain naturally rose, approaching the gate required an ascent of seven steps [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. These stairs led visitors from the Women's Courtyard up to the Israelites' Courtyard. This specific number of steps marks a distinct departure from the design of the Second Temple, which featured fifteen steps corresponding to the fifteen Songs of Ascent that the Levites would sing [רד״ק].

Although these steps were also present at the eastern gate, they are only documented at this later stage of the architectural tour. When the prophet first entered the eastern gate, his immediate focus was drawn to measuring the threshold itself. It was only as he progressed to the subsequent gates that he paused to observe the steps and the surrounding environment [מלבי״ם].

The exact placement of the entrance hall in relation to these stairs presents two different pictures. The majority of commentators explain that the walls of the hall were set further inward, requiring a person to climb the stairs before they could enter the structure [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת דוד, שטיינזלץ]. However, a contrasting view suggests the presence of two decorative pillars that stood directly in front of the steps, flanking the approach on either side [מלבי״ם].