Inside of [the Temple Mount wall was] the Soreg, ten handbreadths high, and there were thirteen breaches in it, breached by the Greek kings. [The Jews] once again fenced in [those breaches] and decreed thirteen prostrations corresponding to them.  Inside of [the Soreg was] the Cheil, ten amos [long], and there were twelve steps there, the height of each step half an amah, and its tread half an amah.  All the steps that were there [in the Temple], the height of each step [was] half an amah, and its tread [was] half an amah, except for those of the Antechamber.  All the entryways and gateways that were there, their height [was] twenty amos, and their width [was] ten amos, except for that of the Antechamber.  All the entryways that were there had doors, except for that of the Antechamber.  All the gateways that were there had lintels, except for [the] Tadi Gate, for there were two stones leaning upon each other.  All the [doors of the] gateways that were there were changed to gold, except for those of the Nikanor Gate because a miracle occurred with them; and some say, because their copper shone.

All the walls that were there were [very] high, ex-cept for the eastern wall, so that the Kohen who burned the parah [adumah] could stand atop the Mount of Olives and direct his gaze through the Heichal Entrance at the time of the sprinkling of the blood.

The Women’s Courtyard was one hundred thirty-five [amos] in length by one hundred thirty-five [amos] in width. And there were four chambers at its four corners, [each] with a length of forty amos. [These chambers] were not roofed, and that is how they are [destined] to be. For it is stated (Ezekiel 46:21-22): “[The angel] brought me out into the Outer Courtyard, and led me past the four corners of the Courtyard, and behold, an enclosure at one corner of the Courtyard, an enclosure at one corner of the Courtyard; at the four corners of the Courtyard [were] enclosures that were ‹keturos’ ”; and [the term] “keturos” denotes nothing other than the fact that they were unroofed.  And what were their functions? [The] southeastern chamber —- it was the Chamber of the Nezirim, for there the nezirim would cook their shelamim offerings and shave their hair and cast [the shorn hair] beneath the cauldron. [The] northeastern chamber —- it was the Chamber of the Wood, for there the Kohanim who were physically blemished would sort out the wormy pieces of wood, and any [piece of] wood in which a worm was found was disqualified from [being used] upon the Altar. [The] northwestern chamber —- it was the Chamber of the Metzoraim. [Regarding the] southwestern chamber, R’ Eliezer ben Yaakov said: I forgot what function it served.  Abba Shaul says: They used to place wine and oil there, [and] it was called “the Chamber Housing the Oils.” It was originally smooth, and they surrounded it with a balcony so that the women should watch from above and the men from below, so that they should not be intermingled.  And fifteen steps ascended from within [the Women’s Courtyard] to the Israelites’ Courtyard, corresponding to the fifteen Songs of Ascents that are [found] in Psalms; for upon [these steps] the Leviim would utter song. [These fifteen steps] were not straight; rather, [they were] rounded, like half a circular threshing floor.

And there were chambers beneath the Israelites’ Courtyard which were open to the Women’s Courtyard; there the Leviim would place harps, lyres, cymbals, and all [other] musical instruments.  The Israelites’ Courtyard was one hundred thirty-five amos in length by eleven [amos] in width. And similarly, the Kohanim’s Courtyard was one hundred thirty-five [amos] in length by eleven [amos] in width. And the ends of beams separated between the Israelites’ Courtyard and the Kohanim’s Courtyard. R’ Eliezer ben Yaakov says: There was a step [there], one amah high, and the Platform rested upon it, and in [the Platform were] three steps, each with a height of half an amah. It is found [that] the Kohanim’s Courtyard is higher than the Israelites’ Courtyard [by] 21/2 amos.  The entire Courtyard was one hundred eighty-seven [amos] in length by one hundred thirty-five [amos] in width, and there were thirteen prostrations there. Abba Yose ben Chanan says: Corresponding to [the] thirteen gateways [of the Courtyard]. The southern gateways, adjacent to the west: the Upper Gate, the Kindling Gate, the Gate of the Firstborns, and the Water Gate. And why was its name called the Water Gate? Because through it they would bring in the flask of water for the libations during Succos. R’ Eliezer ben Yaakov says: And because there the [stream of] water is as [wide as that which issues] from a flask, and in the future will emerge from under the threshold of the Temple.  And opposite [the southern gateways], in the north, adjacent to the west: the Gate of Yechoniah, the Gate of the Offering, the Women’s Gate, the Gate of the Song. And why was it called the Gate of Yechoniah? Because through it Yechoniah exited [the Courtyard] when he was exiled.  In the east [was] the Nikanor Gate. And [the Nikanor Gate] had two minor doorways, one to its right and one to its left. And there were two [gateways] in the west that did not have any name.