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The Court of Israel

A long flight of fifteen steps led up to the Court of Israel, a long and narrow area where the Jewish men assembled during temple services. No women were allowed on this higher level. It may well have been on these steps that Anna the prophetess praised the Lord and where the aged Simeon was filled with joy because he had seen "the light to lighten the Gentiles" (who were walking outside in the Temple court) and "to be the glory of thy people Israel", who were allowed to approach the Holy Place (Luke 2:25--38).

See The Court of the Priests