יחזקאל, פרק מ׳, פסוק ט׳

The measurements of the structure reveal a precise architectural vision, where every distance and location serves both a practical and an aesthetic purpose. The focus here centers on the inner space of the entrance gate and its supporting pillars.

The length of the entrance hall, or the extent to which it projected into the courtyard, measured eight cubits. Adjacent to this space stood the entrance pillars, or doorposts, positioned at the opening of the hall. Crafted from cut stone, these pillars were notably round and thick, resembling the sturdy trunk of a large tree like an oak or a terebinth [רש״י, מצודת ציון]. The thickness of these pillars, or their inward projection, measured two cubits. Together, the hall and its pillars formed a continuous entrance space extending a total of ten cubits inward [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם].

A unique feature of this design is the orientation of the hall. In typical construction, an entrance hall functions as an outer gatehouse and is built to project outward. In this structure, however, the hall was built on the inner side of the gate, facing directly into the courtyard [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The primary approach among commentators is that this unusual architectural choice was made specifically for beauty and splendor. Because the halls of the inner courtyard projected outward, building this outer hall to face inward resulted in perfect architectural symmetry, positioning the halls exactly opposite one another [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם].