And there were rings to the north of the Altar, six rows of four rings each; and some say: four rows of six rings each. For by [these rings] they would slaughter the [offerings of] kodashim.  The butchering area was to the north of the Altar, and upon it [were] eight dwarf pillars, and square blocks of cedar [were set] upon [these pillars], and hooks of iron were affixed in [the cedar blocks]. And each [block] had three rows [of hooks], upon which they would hang [the animals] and skin [them] upon marble tables which stood between the [dwarf] pillars.

The Laver was [located] between the Antechamber and the Altar and was drawn toward the south.  Between the Antechamber and the Altar [were] twenty-two amos and there were twelve steps there; [the] height of [each] step [was] half an amah, and its tread [was] one amah. One amah, one amah, and a landing [of] three amos; and one amah, one amah, and a landing [of] three [amos]; and the uppermost [set]: one amah, one amah [etc.], and a landing [of] four [amos]. R’ Yehudah says: The [steps of the] uppermost [set were] one amah, one amah [etc.], and a landing [of] five amos.

[The] entrance of the Antechamber, its height [was] forty amos and its width [was] twenty amos, and five decorated oak beams were above [the entrance].  The bottom [beam] was wider than the entrance [by] one amah on this side and one amah on this side; the [beam] above it was wider than [the first beam by] one amah on this side and one amah on this side. It is found [that] the uppermost [beam was] thirty amos, and a row of stones was between each and every [beam].

And beams of cedar were fixed between the wall of the Heichal and the wall of the Antechamber so that [the wall] should not buckle.  And chains of gold were attached to the ceiling of the Antechamber, which young Kohanim [would] climb up and see the crowns, as it is stated (Zechariah 6:14): “The crowns will be a remembrance for Helem, for Tobijah, for Jedaiah, and for Chen, son of Zephaniah, in the Heichal of Hashem.”  [A] golden grapevine stood at the entrance of the Heichal and [it was] suspended upon wooden poles. Anyone who donated a leaf or a single grape or a cluster of grapes, would bring [their donation] and hang it upon [the golden vine]. R’ Eliezer the son of R’ Tzadok said: There was once an incident where three hundred Kohanim were appointed on its account.