Commentary for Middot 4:3

וּשְׁלֹשִׁים וּשְׁמֹנָה תָאִים הָיוּ שָׁם, חֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר בַּצָּפוֹן, חֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר בַּדָּרוֹם, וּשְׁמֹנָה בַּמַּעֲרָב. שֶׁבַּצָּפוֹן וְשֶׁבַּדָּרוֹם, חֲמִשָּׁה עַל גַּבֵּי חֲמִשָּׁה, וַחֲמִשָּׁה עַל גַּבֵּיהֶם. וְשֶׁבַּמַּעֲרָב, שְׁלֹשָׁה עַל גַּבֵּי שְׁלֹשָׁה, וּשְׁנַיִם עַל גַּבֵּיהֶם. וּשְׁלֹשָׁה פְתָחִים הָיוּ לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד, אֶחָד לַתָּא מִן הַיָּמִין, וְאֶחָד לַתָּא מִן הַשְּׂמֹאל, וְאֶחָד לַתָּא שֶׁעַל גַּבָּיו. וּבְקֶרֶן מִזְרָחִית צְפוֹנִית הָיוּ חֲמִשָּׁה פְתָחִים, אֶחָד לַתָּא מִן הַיָּמִין, וְאֶחָד לַתָּא שֶׁעַל גַּבָּיו, וְאֶחָד לַמְּסִבָּה, וְאֶחָד לַפִּשְׁפָּשׁ, וְאֶחָד לַהֵיכָל:

There were thirty-eight cells [within the walls of the Sanctuary], fifteen in the north, fifteen in the south, and eight in the west. On the north and on the south, [there were three levels] five cells [built] on top of five cells and five more on top of them. In the west there were three [cells were built] on top of three and two on top of them. Each cell had three openings; one to the cell on the right, one to the cell on the left, and one to the cell on top. [to the cell] in the northeastern corner there was five openings: one to the cell on the right, one to the cell above it, one to the <i>Mesibah</i> [a winding ramp within the walls of the Sanctuary], one to the small doorway, and one to the Sanctuary.

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