Ezekiel 42:3

The breadth of the block having been mentioned in Ezekiel 42:2; Ezekiel 42:3 adds in what directions this breadth extended or lay on either hand (N. and S.), viz. towards the 20 cubits of the separate place (Fig. 3, H) on the S., and toward the pavement running round the wall of the outer court (Ezekiel 40:17) on the N. (cf. Ezekiel 42:1), Fig. 3, B. The term "gallery" is obscure, but here it seems to mean a passage running round the chambers, in front of them, and so taking away from their area.

in threestories] More naturally: in the third story, lit. in the thirds, i.e. third chambers (Genesis 6:16). What is meant by "gallery over against gallery" is rather obscure. Most naturally the galleries or gangways round the highest story would be supposed to lie towards the interior of both wings, i.e. on the "walk" of so cubits running between the wings (Fig. 3, O), because if they lay toward the outside of the wings respectively it is difficult to see how they could be said to lie "over against" or to face one another, for in that case both wings of the chambers in the third story would lie between them. It is altogether unnatural to suppose that by the second "gallery" any galleries in the chambers of the outer court on the one side, or any galleries in the structure of the house proper on the other, are referred to.

4 6 may be read: "And before the chambers was a walk of 10 cubits breadth inward, with a length of 100 cubits; and their doors were toward the north. 5 Now the upper chambers were shorter; for the galleries took away from them compared with the lower and middle (chambers) in room. 6 For they were in three stories, and they had not pillars like the pillars of those in the outer court; therefore" &c.