Kaisipang Hudyo sa Ezekiel 42:9: The Third Beit HaMikdash

Lower [on the mountain] than these chambers, as one comes from the east, approaching from the Outer Courtyard, along the width of the eastern wall of the courtyard, facing the edifice and the building, there were chambers. There was a passageway before them whose appearance was like the appearance of the chambers on the north, resembling their length, their width, all their exits, their dimensions, and their entrances resembling the entrances of the chambers to the south. There was an entrance at the beginning of the passageway, the passageway before the platform of the musicians, on the east, as one approaches.¹Yechezkel 42:9-12.

Why did Scripture describe the entrance to these chambers by comparing them to the chambers on south[west], which, unlike those in the north[west], were not discussed previously in the narrative? Indeed, in sec. 71, it was necessary to bring proofs that there were such chambers in the south[west].¹¹See pp. 235-236. Moreover, even when describing these lower chambers, the narrative refers to the northern chambers, stating,¹²Yechezkel 42:9. “Lower [on the mountain] than these chambers.” The southern chambers were not mentioned or even alluded to until this verse. Only in the following verse¹³Ibid. 42:13. does the narrative mention these chambers, speaking of “the northern chambers and the southern chambers.” Moreover, the fact that there is a courtyard 50 cubits long in front of this chamber is derived from the fact that there was such a space in the north, as the verse states,¹⁴Ibid. 42:11. “There was a passageway before them whose appearance was resembled that of the chambers on the north.” Why, then, weren’t the entrances also associated with those of the northern chambers?