The Court Between the Gates
40:17-19
- The court between the inner and the outer gate house structures is
given a specific measure, "an hundred cubits" wide. It is the
main courtyard of the sanctuary of the LORD's "house."
- This court is most often simply called "the outer court."
It is the area of the sanctuary for the congregation of the people. See
42:14 and 46:21.
- "The way" is the 8 cubit wide pathway, or promenade, which
connects the main porches of the gates; and presumably this "way"
passes the entrances of the 30 chambers which are also upon the pavement
of these respective gates.
- The remaining frontage of the lower pavement may be divided into 30
equal parts. Since no dimensions are given for the 30 chambers, their equal
size is also assumed, as is their design. There is about 34 cubits of frontage
allowed for each of the 30 chambers. (Allowing 18" for a cubit's measure,
each chamber would be about 50 feet wide at the front).
- Placement of the chambers beside the gate's surrounding court (and
between gate houses) leaves an open area at each corner of the Outer Court.
- These "corner courts" at every corner of the court are noted
at 46:21-24.