Then he measured the breadth from the fore front of the lower
gate
That is, from the front of the inner eastern gate before mentioned, ( Ezekiel 40:7 ) , called the lower gate, in respect of the gate opposite to it, which led into the inner court, to which there was an ascent of eight steps; and which the Targum calls the middle gate, because it lay between the eastern outward gate, and the gate of the inward court. Now there were from hence, unto the fore front of the inner court without, an hundred cubits;
to the outside of the gate was such a length, or fifty eight yards and one foot: eastward and northward;
as so it was from east to west, so from north to south, and from south to north; there was just the same distance from the gate that led into the outward court to that which led into the inward court, on all sides; see ( Ezekiel 40:23 Ezekiel 40:27 ) a man may be a long while an outward court worshipper before he is an inward court worshipper; the passage through the one to the other is long.