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.