יחזקאל, פרק מ״א, פסוק י״ד

Measuring the Temple continues by moving to the eastern front of the building, mapping out the exact layout from one end of the courtyard to the other. The measurement stretches across the front facade from south to north [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This south-to-north line establishes the total width of the structure, distinct from the length that is measured from east to west [מלבי״ם].

The total width of the eastern front reaches exactly one hundred cubits. To achieve this size, the front of the Temple was built significantly wider than the rest of the structure. The main entrance hall extended outward by fifteen cubits to the north and another fifteen cubits to the south, protruding past the width of the main sanctuary and the side chambers located behind it. These extensions were not simply open spaces inside the entrance hall. Rather, they were additional attached structures, known as the slaughterhouse chambers, which flanked the main hall on both sides and completed the full one-hundred-cubit width [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם].

Identifying the specific structures that make up this facade sparked discussion. One approach suggests that the distinct, separated section of the building refers to the entrance hall itself, which stood squarely between the side chambers at the front [מצודת דוד]. Another view argues that the primary building is the main sanctuary, while the distinct section is actually the upper chamber built directly above it. This perspective challenges the idea of treating the sanctuary and the separated section as a single unit, pointing out that they are clearly listed as two different elements [רד ק החולק על רש״י]. Ultimately, these various wings and chambers formed a wide, grand facade that blended perfectly into a single, complete measurement.