THE WALL AND OUTER GATES

5 Now there was a wall surrounding the outside of the temple.b The measuring rod in the man’s hand was six units of twenty-one inches;A each unit was the standard length plus three inches.B He measured the thickness of the wall structure; it was 10½ feet,* and its height was the same. 6 Then he came to the gate that faced east and climbed its steps.c He measured the threshold of the gate; it was 10½ feet deep—one threshold was 10½ feet deep. 7 Each recess was 10½ feet long and 10½ feet deep, and there was a space of 8¾ feet* between the recesses. The inner threshold of the gate on the temple side next to the gate’s portico was 10½ feet. 8 Next he measured the gate’s portico; 9 it* was 14 feet,F and its jambs were 3½ feet.G The gate’s portico was on the temple side.

10 There were three recesses on each side of the east gate, each with the same measurements, and the jambs on either side also had the same measurements. 11 Then he measured the width of the gate’s entrance; it was 17½ feet,H while the widthI of the gate was 22¾ feet.J 12 There was a barrier of 21 inches* in front of the recesses on both sides, and the recesses on each side were 10½ feetL square. 13 Then he measured the gate from the roof of one recess to the roof of the opposite one; the distance was 43¾ feet.* The openings of the recesses faced each other. 14 Next, he measured the porch—105 feet.N,O 15 The distance from the front of the gate at the entrance to the front of the gate’s portico on the inside was 87½ feet.* 16 The recesses and their jambs had beveled windows all around the inside of the gate.d The porticoes also had windows all around on the inside. Each jamb was decorated with palm trees.e

17 Then he brought me into the outer court,f and there were chambers and a paved surface laid out all around the court.g Thirty chambers faced the pavement, 18 which flanked the courtyard’s gates and corresponded to the length of the gates; this was the lower pavement. 19 Then he measured the distance from the front of the lower gate to the exterior front of the inner court; it was 175 feet.* This was the east; next the north is described.

20 He measured the gate of the outer court facing north, both its length and width. 21 Its three recesses on each side, its jambs, and its portico had the same measurements as the first gate: 87½ feet long and 43¾ feet wide. 22 Its windows, portico, and palm trees had the same measurements as those of the gate that faced east. Seven steps led up to the gate, and its portico was ahead of them. 23 The inner court had a gate facing the north gate, like the one on the east. He measured the distance from gate to gate; it was 175 feet.

24 He brought me to the south side, and there was also a gate on the south. He measured its jambs and portico; they had the same measurements as the others. 25 Both the gate and its portico had windows all around, like the other windows. It was 87½ feet long and 43¾ feet wide. 26 Its stairway had seven steps, and its portico was ahead of them. It had palm trees on its jambs, one on each side. 27 The inner court had a gate on the south. He measured from gate to gate on the south; it was 175 feet.