What is "Chatzer ha'Kohanim"?
What is "ha'Azarah ha'Gedolah"?
'Rashi', Ralbag, Metzudas David, Malbim: It is Ezras Yisrael 1 .
Radak: It is the big Chatzer where Yisrael stood. It is called Azarah, for they were Ne'ezarim (helped) when they prayed there.
In Bayis Sheni, the first 11 Amos of the Azarah (west of Sha'ar Nikanor) were called 'Ezras Yisrael', (and west of that was Ezras Kohanim). Surely the Meforshim do not refer to this! (a) Why would Ezras Yisrael be called "Gedolah"? It is no bigger than Ezras Kohanim! (b) Why would Ezras Yisrael be called an Azarah, and Ezras Kohanim a Chatzer? There was no wall between them! Rather, they call 'Ezras Yisrael' what was called in Bayis Sheni 'Ezras Nashim', i.e. a big Chatzer east of the gate of the Azarah with Kedushas Machaneh Levi. Presumably, also Radak refers to this (refer to 4:9:2:1). Gra (Melachim I, 7:12) says that "Chatzer ha'Gedolah" is Ezras Nashim (although seemingly, it refers to a Chatzer of Shlomo's house, like Ralbag and Abarvenel explain there. - PF)
