The Leviim sing standing on the Dukhan, each with his instrument; according to R. Eliezer ben Yaakov (Middot 2:6), the Dukhan stands on the step that separates the Ezrat Israel from the Ezrat Kohanim. Never fewer than twelve are counted: at least nine kinorot, two nevalim and a single tziltzal. In the days of Shlomo, the Tanakh shows the singers “clothed in linen.” The tamid tour places twelve of them, facing the Sanctuary, on either side of the axis one follows coming up from the Nikanor Gate; the free visit keeps only two, a kinor and the tziltzal, one on each side. At the tamid, Ben Arza strikes the tziltzal and the Leviim break into song: in the free visit as in the tamid tour, the tziltzal keeps the beat.
Dimensions
- twelve Leviim, never fewer
- nine kinorot, two nevalim, one tziltzal
- standing on the Dukhan, three half-ama steps (R. Eliezer ben Yaakov, Middot 2:6)
- clothed in linen
Sources
Project decisionTour's choice: the Mishna does not say how the Leviim were dressed; the linen comes from the dedication of Shlomo's Temple (II Chronicles 5:12). The white kippa, the place on the top step facing the Sanctuary, the passage left open on the axis and the swaying are also choices. Adopted: the view of R. Eliezer ben Yaakov (Middot 2:6) — a one-ama step separates the Ezrat Israel from the Ezrat Kohanim, and the Dukhan stands on it. According to the first view in the mishna, the two courts are separated only by a row of projections (rashei pispasin). The Levite children, who stood below according to R. Eliezer ben Yaakov (Arakhin 2:6), have their own entry at the foot of the Dukhan in the tamid tour.