יחזקאל, פרק מ׳, פסוק כ״ג

The vision of the Temple reveals a precise and deeply ordered design, focusing specifically on the arrangement and alignment of its various courtyards. The layout involves an inner area, known as the Court of the Israelites, and an outer area, known as the Women's Court. The gates of these two courts were designed to face each other perfectly [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. To confirm this layout, a measurement was taken from the lower outer gate to the upper inner gate. The resulting distance of exactly one hundred cubits represents the width of the open space within the Women's Court [רש״י, מצודת דוד]. This exact alignment between the inner and outer gates was maintained on both the northern and eastern sides of the Temple complex.

A practical question arises regarding the method used to verify this alignment. Rather than simply relying on visual observation, a physical measurement was taken between the gates. This was necessary because of the structural differences between the eastern and northern sides of the Temple. On the eastern side, the gates were positioned exactly in the center of their respective walls, making their alignment obvious to anyone looking at them.

In contrast, the northern side featured a more complex, asymmetrical design. Because of this layout, the outer northern gate could not simply be placed in the center of its wall if it was to remain perfectly aligned with the inner gate [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד]. Due to this visual complexity, it was impossible to confirm by sight alone whether the northern gates were truly facing one another. The solution was the physical measurement. By stretching a measuring line from one gate to the other, the exact distance of one hundred cubits served as definitive proof of their alignment. Had the gates been even slightly offset, the resulting diagonal line would have necessarily measured longer than one hundred cubits [מלבי״ם].