What is the meaning of "Ki Meshulashos Henah v'Ein Lahen Amudim"?
Rashi: I do not understand this at all.
Hagahah in Rashi (3): Builders normally strengthen buildings via pillars until two thirds of [the height of] the wall. After that, they taper the wall. Therefore, the third is not narrow, for it does not need pillars to support it.
Radak: There were three cells, one on top of another. [The top ones were narrower, for] the ceilings did not rest on pillars. Rather, they rested on the walls, which were made like domes.
Vilna Gaon: There were three levels of chambers, one on top of another, and they did not have pillars to support them, like is normally done in Chatzeros. (Therefore, they needed Atikim to strengthen them.)
Malbim (5): Before it taught that the Atikim were Meshulashim (three stories). Now it teaches that the chambers on which they were built were Meshulashim - Lishkos ha'Me'ah, Lishkos ha'Esrim and Lishkos ha'Ritzpah. It explains why they did not put the floor of the Atikim on pillars, like is done for Atikim in Chatzeros (they rest the floor beams on the pillars). They did not, lest they diminish the width of the path between the chambers.
How were they unlike "Amudei ha'Chatzeros"?
Hagahah in Rashi (3): The pillars of these chambers are unlike other pillars next to a wall to support it. These are in the thickness of the wall, and jut outside and inside, therefore they consume from [the interior of] the building.
Refer to 42:6:1:3-5.
Why does it say "Ne'etzal"?
Hagahah in Rashi (3): Targum Yonasan is Dechikan (is pressed). They are in the thickness of the wall, and jut outside and inside, and strengthen the chambers.
Radak: It is separated, like "v'Atzalti" (Bamidbar 11:17).
Vilna Gaon: It was elevated from the ground. There, it was thickest. This is like "Shesh Amos Atzilah" (41:18).
Malbim: Each time (level), the chamber was diminished, and [the lack] was added to the Atik.
What is the meaning of "meha'Tachtonos umeha'Tichonos meha'Aretz"?
Hagahah in Rashi (3): On the side of (towards) the ground.
Radak: The place of the top [chambers] was pressed and separated from the bottom ones "meha'Aretz" ? from below, towards the ground. There they were wide, and above they were narrow.
Malbim: There was taken from the roofs of the bottom and middle chambers, from their ground, i.e. the floor of the Atik which was the roof of a chamber.
