Pemikiran Yahudi Yehezkiel 40:10: The Third Beit HaMikdash

“There were three cells of the eastern gateway on one of its sides, and three on the other. All three were of the same measure.”¹Yechezkel 40:10. These cells were located outside the gateway, close to the wall around the courtyard, 2 1/2 cubits away from the inner space of the gateway on either side. This is indicated by the verse²Ibid.:12. that states U’g’vul lifnei ha’ta’os amah echas v’amah echas, “There was a space of one cubit by one cubit before the cells.” In addition, the vestibule would extend 1 1/2 cubits beyond its gateway, as will be explained shortly.³Sec. 5-6. We translated the word g’vul as “space,” based on Rashi who interprets it as meaning “empty space.” The 1 1/2 cubits where the vestibule would extend is also part of the empty space before the cell. Thus, in addition to the 1 1/2 cubits of the vestibule’s frame, there was, as the verse states, “a space of one cubit before the cells.” Thus the cells were located 2 1/2 cubits from the inner space of the gateway.

The simple interpretation of the verses does not appear to support Rashbam’s interpretation. For were there to have been other levels of cells, the prophet would have mentioned them, as he mentioned the three levels of the side-chambers. With regard to the cells, by contrast, the prophet only states: “There were three cells of the eastern gateway on one of its sides, and three on the other,”¹¹Ibid.:10 and “There were 5 cubits between the cells.”¹²Ibid.:7. The intent of the latter verse is that the wall separating the first cell from the second cell, and the second cell from the third cell, was 5 cubits thick. Since we know that the cells were next to each other, why does the verse state, “There were three cells… on one of its sides”? To teach that there was a line of three adjacent cells and no others. Thus, the narrative does not mention other cells built upon these cells as it does regarding the side-chambers, indicating that there were no such cells, as Rashi states (Mahadura Basra).¹³Mahadura basra means “later edition.” Before this text was printed, Tosafos Yom Tov reviewed the galleys. When doing so, new insights came to mind which he added at the back of the text, marking where they should be inserted, In the present printing, we have incorporated them in those designated places.