דברי הימים ב, פרק ג׳, פסוק ד׳

The entrance hall of the Temple served as a grand gateway leading into the inner sanctuary, combining architectural power with impressive height. In determining its layout, the larger measurement is always defined as the length, while the smaller is the width [רש״י, רד״ק]. Measuring twenty cubits from north to south, the hall perfectly matched the width of the main Temple building. As a result, the length of the hall was positioned directly across the width of the main structure [רש״י, מצודת דוד, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This specific proportion aligns the hall's dimensions with both the length of the innermost Holy of Holies and the width of the main building [מלבי״ם].

A striking feature of this structure is its towering height of one hundred and twenty cubits. This presents a contrast with earlier historical records, which state that the Temple was only thirty cubits high. Commentators offer several ways to understand this difference. One approach explains that the thirty-cubit measurement refers only to the primary ground floor space, from the ground to the first ceiling. Above this level, additional upper stories were stacked, adding ninety cubits and bringing the total height to one hundred and twenty cubits [רש״י, מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. Alternatively, this massive height might not describe the entire Temple at all, but rather just the entrance hall. In this view, the hall stood like a tall tower rising above the rest of the sanctuary, and the upper stories were located specifically within it [מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. Another perspective blends these ideas, noting that the entrance hall lacked an internal ceiling. A person standing inside could look directly up to the highest roof, meaning the towering height reflects the actual experience of standing within the space [מלבי״ם].

Beyond its size, the structure was defined by a pure gold overlay. The primary approach among commentators is that this gold plating was not applied to the entrance hall itself, but rather to the inner spaces of the Temple, specifically the main sanctuary and the Holy of Holies [רש״י, מצודת דוד, רלב״ג, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This is supported by the fact that the pillars and items placed in the entrance hall were made of copper, following a general rule that items outside the inner sanctuary were not plated with gold [רלב״ג]. The actual process of adding the gold was highly detailed. The stone walls were first covered with cypress wood panels, which were carved with shapes of trees and cherubs. The gold was then secured to this wooden layer with nails to ensure it held firmly in place [רש״י]. However, a minority view argues that the historical record here introduces a new detail, suggesting that the interior of the entrance hall itself was indeed covered in pure gold [מלבי״ם].