The kohanim keep watch in the Temple in three places, the Leviim in twenty-one: five at the five gates of the Temple Mount, four at its inner corners, five at the gates of the Azara, four at its outer corners, and three at the chambers. The man of the Temple Mount makes his rounds with torches before him; a guard he finds asleep he strikes with his staff, and he may burn his garment. The free visit places a Levite outside the Nikanor Gate, on the steps, facing the Ezrat Nashim.
Dimensions
- twenty-one Levite posts
- five at the gates of the Azara
- the rounds of the man of the Temple Mount
Sources
- Middot 1:1“וְהַלְוִיִּם בְּעֶשְׂרִים וְאֶחָד מָקוֹם. חֲמִשָּׁה, עַל חֲמִשָּׁה שַׁעֲרֵי הַר הַבַּיִת. אַרְבָּעָה, עַל אַרְבַּע פִּנּוֹתָיו מִתּוֹכוֹ. חֲמִשָּׁה, עַל חֲמִשָּׁה שַׁעֲרֵי הָעֲזָרָה. אַרְבָּעָה, עַל אַרְבַּע פִּנּוֹתֶיהָ מִבַּחוּץ”
- Middot 1:2“אִישׁ הַר הַבַּיִת הָיָה מְחַזֵּר עַל כָּל מִשְׁמָר וּמִשְׁמָר, וַאֲבוּקוֹת דּוֹלְקִין לְפָנָיו… נִכָּר שֶׁהוּא יָשֵׁן, חוֹבְטוֹ בְמַקְלוֹ”
- Tamid 1:1“בִּשְׁלשָׁה מְקוֹמוֹת הַכֹּהֲנִים שׁוֹמְרִים בְּבֵית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ. בְּבֵית אַבְטִינָס, בְּבֵית הַנִּיצוֹץ וּבְבֵית הַמּוֹקֵד”
Project decisionTour's choice: the Nikanor Gate for this post, one of the five; the Mishna's watch is at night, and the tour shows him by day. His linen kutonet is a choice, as for the singers.