יחזקאל, פרק מ״ב, פסוק י״ד

The architecture of the Temple includes specific transition zones designed to preserve the strict boundaries of holiness and purity. Because the priests frequently move between the sacred areas of their service and the public spaces, they must undergo a physical and symbolic change of clothing to protect their sacred garments from coming into contact with the ordinary world. There are different perspectives on what brings the priests to these transitional chambers. Some explain that they enter these rooms specifically to eat the meat of the holy sacrifices [רש"י, מצודת דוד], while others view this simply as their general arrival at the Temple [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Alternatively, this movement represents the phase immediately following their service, where they use the chambers as a designated transition station before leaving [רד"ק, מלבי"ם, אברבנאל].

Regardless of their initial purpose, the priests are strictly forbidden from leaving the inner, sacred courtyard and entering the outer courtyard of the Israelites while still wearing their official priestly garments [מצודת דוד, רד"ק, אברבנאל]. Instead of walking directly outside, they must leave the clothes used for their holy work in these middle chambers [מלבי"ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The primary approach among commentators is that these garments possess a very high level of purity. It is absolutely forbidden for them to come into contact with the everyday clothing of the general public, which is considered impure in comparison to the sacred garments [רש"י, מצודת דוד, רד"ק, אברבנאל].

To maintain this purity, the priests must dress in standard, everyday clothing before proceeding into the public domain [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. These chambers effectively serve as a two-way checkpoint. Just as the priests remove their holy garments on their way out, they return to these same rooms to put them back on when heading back to their service [מלבי"ם]. Only after this change of clothes is complete are the priests permitted to enter the public areas. Dressed in ordinary attire, they can safely mix with the crowd and touch the clothing of the people without any concern [רש"י, מצודת דוד, רד"ק].

This careful separation was necessary because the Israelites were prohibited from entering the inner courtyard of the priests, except for very specific ritual actions like placing their hands on a sacrifice, slaughtering it, or waving it. Consequently, any free interaction between the priests and the public could only take place in the outer courtyard, which required the priests to fully adapt themselves to the ordinary, mundane environment [רד"ק, אברבנאל].