יחזקאל, פרק מ״ו, פסוק י׳

During the festival seasons, the Temple grounds swell with masses of people arriving for the pilgrimage. At these times of mass gathering, the standard routines for the nation's leader shift dramatically, requiring him to blend seamlessly into the movement of the general public.

On ordinary weekdays, Sabbaths, and the New Moon, the leader arrives alone, entering and leaving through the eastern gate. However, during the festivals, he must act like any other person. He enters through either the northern or southern gate and exits through the exact opposite side, walking across the courtyard in a straight line [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. He cannot use his usual eastern gate for this purpose, as the Temple courtyard lacks a corresponding western gate to allow for a direct, straight exit [רש״י].

Commentators offer several reasons for why the leader must join the crowd. Walking together with the nation highlights the principle that a ruler's true glory is most visible when he is surrounded by his people during their pilgrimage [רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. Furthermore, by surrendering his exclusive path and walking the same route as the public, the leader shows deep respect for the nation [מלבי״ם]. This shared path creates a powerful, unified movement, as all the people and their leader cross from one side of the courtyard to the other as a single entity [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The exact manner of this movement reflects a careful balance of honor. When arriving at the Temple, the leader steps forward and enters first. However, when the time comes to leave, he does not lead the departure. Instead, he merges with the crowd, and they all exit together as one unified group [מלבי״ם, רד״ק]. While a rare manuscript tradition suggests a solitary exit, the universally accepted tradition emphasizes this shared departure, ensuring the leader and the people leave as equals [מנחת שי].