Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Kings 6:8

8 The door for the middle chamber was in the right side of the house: and they went up with winding stairs into the middle chamber , and out of the middle into the third.

i. e. By which they entred to go up to the middle Chamber or Chambers; to wit, such as were in the middle Story.

i. e. In the South-side, called the right-side here, and in the Hebrew Text, Psal. 89. 12. and in other Authors; because when a man looks towards the East, or Sun-rising, which is esteemed the most Glorious part of the Heavens, and to which Men most frequently look for divers reasons; the South is on his right-hand. Whereby it is implyed, That there was another Door on the left, or the North-side, leading to the Chambers on that side; though for brevity sake it be not mentioned here.

Which were either, 1. Within the thickness of the Temple-wall, as many think, which is not probable, as tending to the great weakning of the Wall; especially in the upper parts, where the Wall was much narrower. And if such care was taken to preserve the Walls intire and unbroken, that there might not be small holes made into it for the fastning of the Beams of the Chambers, ver. 6. it seems very absurd and incredible, that there should be made such great breaches within them, as the Stairs would require. Or rather, 2. Without the Wall, and without the Chambers too, as leading up to the Gallery out of which they went into the several Chambers.

Or rather, into the middle Story, or row of Chambers; and so in the following words, out of the middle Story: for these Stairs could not lead up into each of the Chambers; nor was it needful, or convenient it should do so, but onely into the Story, which was sufficient for the use of all the Chambers.

Marginal references: Heb. shoulder.