יחזקאל, פרק מ״ב, פסוק ו׳

Designing the chambers of the Temple presented a unique architectural challenge. The builders needed to support a tall, multi-level structure without blocking the necessary pathways around it. The primary approach among commentators is that these chambers were constructed three stories high, stacked directly on top of one another. Because of this considerable height, the entire building required significant engineering reinforcement. However, the structure was not supported by standard external pillars.

The reasons for avoiding traditional pillars vary. Some explain that regular external columns simply would not have provided effective support for a building of this specific design [מצודת דוד]. Instead, the ceilings rested directly on walls that were built in a dome shape [רד״ק]. Alternatively, omitting pillars was a deliberate design choice to save space. Placing large columns outside would have narrowed the walkways between the chambers, restricting movement [מלבי״ם].

Without external pillars, an alternative structural solution was necessary to hold up the upper levels. The builders solved this by creating internal projections, ledges, or inner supports that reduced and squeezed the actual interior space of the chambers. Support was drawn directly from the lower and middle floors, starting from the ground and moving upward. To achieve this, the walls were built much thicker at the base and gradually became narrower higher up [רד״ק].

These structural ledges took away usable space inside the chambers near the floor. However, the projections decreased in size closer to the ceiling, as the upper sections of the building were already sufficiently stable and required less reinforcement [מצודת דוד]. Through this method, the roof of the bottom chamber naturally functioned as the floor and a solid support base for the chamber directly above it. The same principle applied to the middle floor. Ultimately, the upper levels rested securely on these built-in supports, which were cleverly subtracted from the interior space of the rooms below [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].