Kaisipang Hudyo sa Ezekiel 41:7: The Third Beit HaMikdash

“There were side-chambers, one side-chamber on top of another, 33 in number.”¹Yechezkel 41:6. We have described three of these side-chambers previously.²See sec. 62. I.e., the side-chambers on the western side. Here, we will explain the thirty others. Since the verse states,³Yechezkel 41:7. “[The side-chambers] became progressively wider. There was a spiral [stairwell]…. From the lowest level, one would ascend to the highest level, via the middle level,” it is apparent that there will be three levels of side-chambers.

According to Radak and Rav Yitzchak Abarbanel, the winding stairwell is mentioned explicitly in Scripture. These commentaries interpret the word ונסבה,¹⁰Yechezkel 41:7. as referring to a winding stairwell. In contrast to this, Rashi and the Targum interpret the word ונסבה as meaning a ladder that was used to ascend to the upper levels, as will be explained.

“[The side-chambers] became wider and the spiral stairwell ascended higher and higher to [the higher level of] the side-chambers, for the House was surrounded by [side-chambers] on higher and higher levels, all around the House; therefore, the widest level of the structure was the highest.”¹⁸Yechezkel 41:7. The prophet’s use of the words וְרָחֲבָה and וְנָסְבָה, imply separate concepts. As Rashi explains, the vav preceding each word distinguishes between the two concepts. Accordingly, וְרָחֲבָה can be explained as Rashi does, that the side-chambers would progressively widen on their higher levels. Therefore, the walls would become narrower as a result of the indentation made to support the side-chambers. Indeed, this is the way high walls are built, somewhat narrower on top, to reduce the weight on the lower levels.