first and surrounded with lattice-work, that the women might see from
above and the men from beneath, lest they should be mixed. And fifteen
steps corresponding to the fifteen steps in the Psalms, ascended from it
to the court of Israel; upon them the Levites chanted. They were not
angular, but deflected like the half of a round threshing-floor.

6. And under the court of Israel were chambers open to the court of the
women. There the Levites deposited their harps, and psalteries, and
cymbals, and all instruments of music. The court of Israel was 135 cubits
long, and eleven broad; and likewise the court of the priests was 135
cubits long, and eleven broad. And pointed rails separated the court of
Israel from the court of the priests. Rabbi Eleazar, the son of Jacob,
said, "there was a step a cubit high, and a dais placed over it. And in it
were three steps each half a cubit in height." We find that the priests'
court was two and a half cubits higher than the court of Israel. The whole
court was 187 cubits in length, and 135 cubits in breadth, and the
thirteen places for bowing were there. Abajose, the son of Chanan, said,
"in front of the thirteen gates." In the south near to the west were the
upper gate, the gate of flaming, the gate of the first-born, the water
gate. And why is it called the water gate? Because through it they bring
bottles of water for pouring out during the feast of Tabernacles. Rabbi
Eleazar, the son of Jacob, said, "through it the water returned out, and
in future it will issue from under the threshold of the house." And there
were opposite to them in the north, near to the west, the gate of
Jochania, the gate of the offering, the gate of the women, the gate of
music. And "why was it called the gate of Jochania?" "Because through it
Jochania went out in his captivity." In the east was the gate Nicanor, and
in it were two wickets, one on the right, and one on the left, and two in
the west which were nameless.

OUR BEAUTY BE UPON THEE, O MOUNTAIN OF THE HOUSE.

Chapter III

1. The altar was thirty-two cubits square. It ascended a cubit and receded
a cubit. This was the foundation. It remains thirty cubits square. It
ascended five cubits, and receded one cubit. This is the circumference. It
remains twenty-eight cubits square. The place for the horns was a cubit on
each side. It remains twenty-six cubits square. The place of the path for
the feet of the priests was a cubit on each side. The hea