Shekalim 6:3-4

Shekalim 6:3

Here’s where they prostrated in the Temple: four places in the north, four in the south, three in the east and two in the west, opposite the 13 gates. The southern gates near the west were called the Upper Gate, the Fuel Gate, The Firstborns’ Gate, and the Water Gate – so called because that’s where they would bring in the pitcher of water for the libation on Succos. Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaakov says that water trickles through this gate and, in the future, will flow under this gate (as per the prophecy in Ezekiel chapter 47). The northern gates near the west were called the Yechoniah Gate, the Offering Gate, the Women’s Gate, and the Song Gate. The Yechoniah Gate was so named because it’s the gate Yechoniah went through to go into exile (see II Kings chapter 24). In the east was the Nicanor Gate, which had two smaller gates, one on either side. The two gates in the west were not given names (because they had no special purpose).

Shekalim 6:4

There were 13 tables in the Temple: eight marble tables in the slaughter area, on which the animals’ innards would be washed; two to the west of the altar’s ramp – one marble and one silver. They would put the animals’ limbs on the marble table and the Temple implements on the silver table. There were two tables in the Hall (Ulam) near the Temple entrance – one marble and one gold. The showbread was placed on the marble table when it was brought in and on the gold table when it was brought out. This is because things ascend in sanctity and do not descend. There was a gold table inside, where the showbread always resided.