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.

The Altar was thirty-two [amos] by thirty-two [amos]. [It] ascended one amah and went inward one amah; this [tier] was the base. It is found [to be] thirty by thirty [amos]. [It] ascended five [amos] and went inward one amah; this [tier] was the ledge. It is found [to be] twenty-eight by twenty-eight [amos]. The space for the horns [measured] an amah on this [side] and an amah on this [side]. It is found [to be] twenty-six by twenty-six [amos]. The space where the feet of the Kohanim walked [measured] an amah on this [side] and an amah on this [side]. It is found [to be] twenty-four by twenty-four [amos]; [this is] the space for the pyre.  R’ Yose said: Originally [the Altar] was only twenty-eight by twenty-eight [amos]; it narrowed and ascended in this same manner until it is found [that] the space for the pyre [measured only] twenty by twenty [amos]. But when the exiles ascended, they added to [the Altar] four amos on the south and four amos on the west in the shape of a gamma, as it is stated (Ezekiel 43:16): “And the hearth area is twelve [amos] long by twelve wide, square.” It might be [thought] that [the space for the pyre] was only twelve by twelve [amos]. When [the verse] states ”for its four quadrants,” it teaches that it is from the centerpoint [of the Altar] that [the verse] is measuring twelve amos in each direction.  And a line of red encircled [the Altar] at the halfway point [of its height], to separate between the upper bloods and the lower bloods. And the base traversed the entire north side and the entire west side [of the Altar], and consumes one amah in the south and one amah in the east.

And at the southwest corner there were two holes like two fine nostrils, so that the [sacrificial] bloods which were placed on the western base and on the southern base would drain through them and mix together in the stream, and [the blood-enriched water] would flow out to the Kidron Valley.

Below on the floor at that corner was a [hollow] place [that measured] one amah by one amah, and [on top of this hollow there was] a marble tile with a ring fixed in it, that through it they would descend to the shis to clean it.  And there was a ramp to the south of the Altar, [which measured] thirty-two [amos] by a width of sixteen [amos]. And [the ramp] had an alcove built in to its west [side], for there they would place the unfit bird chatas [-offerings].

Both the stones of the Altar and the stones of the ramp [were quarried] from the valley of Beis Karem. And they would dig beneath virgin soil, and bring from there whole stones which had not been touched by iron, for iron renders unfit [simply] by touching, and by being nicked by anything.  If one of [the stones] was nicked, it is unfit, but the rest of them are [still] fit.  And they would reface [the stones] twice a year, once on Pesach and once on Succos. And the Heichal [was refinished] once [a year], on Pesach. Rebbi says: Every Friday they would clean [the Altar] with a [wet] cloth, on account of the blood.  They would not apply the coat of lime to [the stones] with an iron trowel, lest it touch [the stones] and render [them] unfit. For iron was created to shorten the life of man, while the Altar was created to lengthen the life of man; it is not right that the “shortener” should be lifted up upon the “lengthener.”

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.