Charles Ellicott Commentary Ezekiel 40:19

"Then he measured the breadth from the forefront of the lower gate unto the forefront of the inner court without, a hundred cubits, [both] on the east and on the north." — Ezekiel 40:19 (ASV)

One hundred cubits eastward.— As the prophet is taken through the outer court, its width is measured from the eastern gate, which he had already examined, and from the northern gate, to which he is next taken (Ezekiel 40:20). Afterwards (Ezekiel 40:27), the same measurement is made to the southern gate, and these all agree, measuring 100 cubits each.

The starting-point of the measurement is clearly defined as “from the forefront of the lower gate,” that is, from the western or innermost extremity of the outer gate-building; but the final point, as given in this verse, “the forefront of the inner court,” leaves open the question of whether this was to the wall of the inner court itself, or only to the outer extremity of its gate. This doubt is removed in Ezekiel 40:23 and Ezekiel 40:27, which expressly state that the measurement was “from gate to gate,” that is, between the nearest points of the gate-buildings.

Ezekiel 40:20–23 describe the north gate, which was exactly like the east, already described. In Ezekiel 40:22 is the first mention of the number of steps leading up to the gates , and in Ezekiel 40:23 the first mention of the gates of the inner court .

Ezekiel 40:24–27 describe the south gate, exactly like the other two and with the same dimensions. The space between the outer and inner gates has now been measured on the east (Ezekiel 40:19), on the north (Ezekiel 40:23), and on the south (Ezekiel 40:27), each being 100 cubits.