יחזקאל, פרק מ״ב, פסוק א׳

Ezekiel's visionary tour of the Temple shifts direction as his angelic guide leads him away from the inner sanctums. The prophet is brought out from the inner courtyard, or perhaps from the Sanctuary itself [מצודת דוד], and directed toward the outer courtyard, which some identify as the Women's Courtyard [רד"ק, אברבנאל].

The journey proceeds along a northern route, passing through the northern gate. This specific path is a logistical necessity. Because the massive central structure of the Temple completely blocked the width of the inner courtyard on the east, one could not walk directly through to reach the chambers. The only way to access them was by taking a detour through the northern outer courtyard [רש"י].

Upon arriving, the guide brings Ezekiel to a chamber. The primary approach among commentators is that this refers to an entire complex of chambers situated on the northern side, rather than a single room [רש"י, מצודת דוד]. Alternatively, another perspective maintains that the prophet is brought to one specific chamber located on the eastern side. The entrance to this room aligned perfectly with the main hall, allowing anyone standing inside to look directly at the Sanctuary entrance and even prepare minor holy offerings there. From this particular room, Ezekiel is led outside to the north through a narrow back door [מלבי"ם].

These northern chambers ran parallel to the entire hundred-cubit length of the Temple [רש"י], standing at a distance of twenty cubits from it [רש"י, מצודת דוד]. They were positioned directly opposite two main architectural features. The first was the central, towering structure of the Temple that housed the Sanctuary and the Holy of Holies [מצודת ציון, שטיינזלץ]. The second consisted of the auxiliary buildings attached to the Temple, which included side cells, chambers, and a winding staircase [מצודת ציון, שטיינזלץ, מלבי"ם].