Sha'ar Nikanor
- Nikanor Gate
The Nikanor Gates
led from the Ezrat Nashim to the Azarah. Fifteen semi-circular
steps lead to this gate. On occasion, the Levites
sang as they stood on these steps.
The
Fifteen Steps
At the western end of the Women's Courtyard were
fifteen semi-circular steps. Each was half a cubit
high and half a cubit deep. On occasion, the Levites
sang as they stood on these steps.
Chamber of
Instruments
Near the base of the steps, built into the western
wall of the Women's Courtyard, were two doors that
led underneath the Azarah, which was built on higher
ground than the Women's Courtyard.
The
doors led into a single large underground chamber
called the Chamber of Instruments. Here the Levites
conducted choir rehearsals and stored their instruments.
The Nikanor
Gate
The doorway atop the fifteen semi-circular steps led
into the Azarah. The first eleven cubits along the
eastern side of the Azarah was called the Courtyard
of the Israelites.
The gateway atop the fifteen
steps that led into the Courtyard of the Israelites
were called the Upper Gate, also known as the Nikanor
Gate.
Nikanor was the benefactor who
paid craftsmen in Alexandria, Egypt, to fashion the
two large brass doors used for this gate.
Each door was 5
cubits by 20 cubits. The brass was carved with intricate
designs, and its finish was exceedingly bright.
A
Story:
As these doors were being sent by ship from Egypt
to Judea, a storm broke out. The crew was forced to
cast one of the two brass doors into the sea.
When the danger
continued, the crew decided to toss the second gate
out as well. Hearing their plans, Nikanor declared
that if they throw out the door, they should throw
him out as well. His self-sacrifice called for a miracle
and the storm subsided. When the ship docked, the
door cast overboard was miraculously found floating
in the harbor.
All the Temple
doors were plated with gold except the Nikanor gate.
The rabbis wanted the people to see the "miracle doors"
in their pristine form. Additionally, the brass finish
had the appearance of fine gold.
The heavy doors
required twenty men to open them. The Nikanor Gate
was opened only on the Sabbath, festivals, and
Rosh Chodesh. If the king was present in the Temple,
the doors were also opened in his honor. On all other
days, smaller gateways (to the left and right of Nikanor
gate) were used.