3,854. Pishposh

Hilchos Beis HaBechirah 4:5

From north to south was 100 cubits, as follows: The width of the entry hall wall was five cubits, and there were ten cubits from that wall to the wall of the Kodesh. The Kodesh had six walls, each inside the next, with five empty spaces between them. Between the outermost wall and the next wall was five cubits; from the second to the third wall was three cubits; from the third to the fourth, five cubits; from the fourth to the fifth, six cubits; from the fifth to the sixth wall was six cubits. Altogether, these walls and spaces equaled 40 cubits on each side of the Temple. The width of the Temple inside was 20 cubits for a total of 100 cubits.

Hilchos Beis HaBechirah 4:6

A pishposh* (wicket) is a small gate. The Heichal had two such entries on the sides of the large gate in the middle – one on the north and the other on the south. No one ever used the entry on the south, as per Ezekiel 44:2: “This gate shall remain closed; it may not be opened.” The kohanim would come in through the northern entry. They would walk between the two walls until they reached the opening for the Kodesh on their left. They would enter the Heichal, go to the large gate, and open it.

*No joke, that’s the Hebrew word, or at least the way some versions render it. Other versions have פשיפש.