יחזקאל, פרק מ״ב, פסוק ח׳

The architectural layout of the Temple courtyards follows a highly precise and tiered design, where the specific location of each chamber directly dictates its size and its relationship to the main complex. In the front area of the outer courtyard, directly facing the courtyard of the Israelites, the chambers span a distance of fifty cubits from north to south [רש״י, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The full extent of this measurement is not entirely visible to an observer, as the wall of the inner courtyard conceals exactly one cubit of the structure [מצודת דוד].

Moving deeper into the complex, the dimensions change for the structures running parallel to the Sanctuary. Commentators offer two complementary ways to understand this shift in size. One approach focuses strictly on the chambers themselves, noting a clear architectural distinction: while the chambers facing the courtyard of the Israelites measure fifty cubits, those located in the outer courtyard directly opposite the Sanctuary are built to double that size, stretching a full hundred cubits [מלבי״ם]. A second perspective steps back to view the broader space, explaining that a fence extends from these chambers, running parallel to the Sanctuary from east to west for a hundred cubits [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

In this context, the reference to the Sanctuary does not mean only the central hall. Rather, it serves as a comprehensive name for the entire sacred edifice, which measures exactly a hundred cubits in length. This unified complex encompasses the entrance hall, the main Sanctuary, the Holy of Holies, as well as the rear side chambers and their enclosing wall [רש״י, מצודת דוד].