The Mishnah in Massechet Middot begins by describing the dimensions and layout of the Beit HaMikdash, the Holy Temple. The Temple Mount, known as Har HaBayit or Har Moriah, was the property upon which the Beit HaMikdash was built. Its dimensions were 500 cubits by 500 cubits, totaling 250,000 square cubits. A cubit is approximately two feet, making the area roughly 1,000 feet by 1,000 feet.
This measurement is derived from the portable Tabernacle, the Mishkan. The Mishkan itself was 100 cubits by 50 cubits, but the text explicitly mentions "50 by 50" for the courtyard. This extra mention of "50" teaches us that the Mishkan was one-fiftieth the size of the Har HaBayit. Since the Mishkan was 5,000 square cubits (50 by 100), the Har HaBayit, at 250,000 square cubits, is indeed fifty times larger. This vast area encompassed the entire sacred complex.
The Azara, the main courtyard, was not centrally located within the Har HaBayit; it was positioned more towards the south. The majority of the offices within the Beit HaMikdash were situated in the southern area, with the next most populated area being the east, followed by the north. The western side had less pedestrian traffic. The placement of offices in the south made logical sense, as this was also where most of the Temple service took place, ensuring workers were close to their duties.
When entering the Har HaBayit, one would always turn right and proceed around the complex. Upon exiting, one would turn left. This meant entering on the right and exiting on the left. Even if a shorter path was available by turning left immediately, it was not permitted; one always began by turning right. The rule was to always turn or move towards the right. If someone needed to leave the Azara, they would walk backward until they found the gate they wished to exit through. This backward movement meant that their exit path was to the left of the direction of entry.
If asked why they were taking the longer, backward path, a mourner (avel) would respond that they were in mourning. The custom was for mourners to take this unusual path, signaling their status. Those who saw them would offer words of comfort, saying, "May the One who dwells in this house comfort you." Similarly, a person who had been excommunicated (menudeh) would also take a different path. When asked, they would explain their situation, and people would respond, "May the One who dwells in this house put it in the hearts of the judges to remove your excommunication," implying a prayer for their repentance and reconciliation, not that the judges were at fault.
Beyond the outermost wall of the Har HaBayit, there was an open area, and then the Azara, which was the inner area. Inside the Har HaBayit, there was a wall called the Soreg. This was a lattice-like wall, about ten handbreadths high (approximately 30 inches), with openings that one could see through. It was held up by thin metal or wooden poles. When the Greeks (Yevanim) breached the Beit HaMikdash, they created thirteen breaches in the Soreg. The Hasmoneans later repaired these breaches, and in commemoration, thirteen places were established in the Azara where people would bow.
The Soreg encircled the entire Azara and the Ezrat Nashim (Women's Courtyard). According to some opinions, like that of Abaye and the Gra, there was a space between the Soreg and the next wall, called the Heil. Other opinions suggest the Heil was flush against the Soreg. The Heil itself was a wall enclosing the Azara, the Ezrat Nashim, and the Heichal (Sanctuary). It was ten cubits high and ten cubits wide on the eastern side.
To ascend from the Heil into the Azara, there were twelve steps. Each step was half a cubit high (the riser) and half a cubit deep (the tread), making the total height of the ascent six cubits. All steps in the Beit HaMikdash, except for those leading into the Ulam (the Hall preceding the Sanctuary), had these same dimensions. The steps leading into the Ulam were also half a cubit high, but the tread was a full cubit wide, making them wider and more substantial.
The gates of the Beit HaMikdash were generally very tall, measuring 20 cubits high (approximately 40 feet) and 10 cubits wide (20 feet). The gate of the Ulam was even larger, double the height and width, making it 40 cubits high and 20 cubits wide. These immense gates required very thick walls, as evidenced by the massive stones seen at the Kotel (Western Wall), which are part of the original structure.
All gates in the Beit HaMikdash had doors, except for the Tadi gate. All gates had windows, except for the Tadi gate. The Tadi gate was unique, formed by two inclined rocks meeting at the top like a teepee, creating an archway without a rounded top. Initially, most gates were made of wood and plated with copper. Later, during the Second Temple era, when the Jewish people had more resources, they upgraded these gates to gold. However, the gate of Nicanor remained copper-plated due to a miracle associated with its transport to Jerusalem. Some say its copper was so bright and shiny that it appeared like gold, negating the need for an upgrade.
The walls within the Har HaBayit were exceptionally tall, often extending far above the gates themselves. While the gates were 20 cubits high, the walls could reach up to 100 cubits or even 200 feet. All walls were tall, except for the eastern wall, which was intentionally built lower. This lower height allowed the High Priest (Kohen Gadol) to see the Heichal from the Mount of Olives (Har HaZeitim) when performing the ritual of the Red Heifer (Parah Adumah), as he needed to sprinkle its blood towards the Heichal.
The Ezrat Nashim measured 135 cubits by 135 cubits. Within this courtyard, there were four offices, located in the corners: the office of the Nazirites (Lishkat HaNezirim), the office of the Wood (Lishkat HaEitzim), the office of the Lepers (Lishkat HaMetzoraim), and the office of the Oils (Lishkat HaShemanim). These offices had no roofs, a detail mentioned in the prophecy of Yechezkel regarding the Third Temple. The lack of a roof in the Lishkat HaNezirim was so that the smoke from cooking the Nazirite's peace offering (shelamim) could escape, and their hair, which was to be burned, could be placed under the pot. The Lishkat HaEitzim was used to inspect wood for worms, as worm-infested wood was unfit for the altar. The Lishkat HaMetzoraim was where lepers would immerse in a ritual bath (mikveh) and then place their hands and feet into the Azara to be sprinkled with blood and oil as part of their purification process. The Lishkat HaShemanim was for storing wine and oil.
Originally, the Ezrat Nashim was a flat area where men and women mixed, leading to inappropriate interactions. To address this, a significant ordinance (takana) was instituted: balconies were built for the women, allowing them to observe the Temple service from above, while the men remained below. This separation prevented mixing and inappropriate behavior, which the Mishnah describes as "blinking" and "making motions."
From the Ezrat Nashim to the Ezrat Yisrael (Courtyard of Israelites), there were fifteen steps. Each step had the same incline as the others, so fifteen steps at half a cubit each resulted in a total height difference of seven and a half cubits. These fifteen steps were where the Levites (Leviim) would stand and sing the "Songs of Ascent" (Shir HaMa'alot), playing their musical instruments. These steps were not straight but semicircular, like a half-moon or sickle. Beneath the Ezrat Yisrael, adjacent to the Ezrat Nashim, were storage rooms for musical instruments.
The Ezrat Yisrael measured 135 cubits from north to south, but only 11 cubits from east to west, making it a narrow strip. This was the boundary beyond which women could not pass. To delineate the border between the Ezrat Yisrael and the Ezrat Kohanim (Courtyard of Priests), there was a step. The Ezrat Kohanim was two and a half cubits higher than the Ezrat Yisrael, achieved through three steps. On top of these, there was a platform (dukhan) with three more steps where the Levites would stand to perform their musical service.
The entire Azara, encompassing the Ezrat Nashim, Ezrat Yisrael, and Ezrat Kohanim, measured 187 cubits from east to west and 135 cubits from north to south. In this area, there were thirteen places for bowing. While some say these were established in memory of the thirteen breaches in the Soreg, others, like Abaye Yosef ben Hanan, say they corresponded to the thirteen gates of the Azara.
These thirteen gates included four on the southern side, close to the west: Sha'ar Elyon, Sha'ar HaDelek, Sha'ar HaBikurot, and Sha'ar HaMayim. The Sha'ar HaMayim was where water was brought for the Temple service. It is also prophesied that in the future, a spring will emerge from beneath the threshold of the Beit HaMikdash, flowing out through the Sha'ar HaMayim, eventually growing into a river that will bring healing to Jerusalem, signaling the coming of the Messiah.
On the northern side, opposite the southern gates, were Sha'ar Yechonya, Sha'ar HaKorban, Sha'ar HaNashim, and Sha'ar HaShir. Sha'ar HaNashim was a new gate added for women bringing their offerings. Sha'ar Yechonya was also known as Sha'ar HaNitzotz because it was the gate through which King Yechonya and the Jewish people were exiled by Nebuchadnezzar, marking the beginning of the Babylonian exile. On the eastern side, flanking the main Sha'ar Nicanor, were two smaller gates. The western side had gates known simply as the Western Gates (Sha'arei Ma'aravi), without specific names. The design ensured that people would not turn their backs to the Kodesh HaKodashim (Holy of Holies) when entering or exiting.