THEOSISTheodoret of Cyrus
It is decreed that the gates facing the east remain closed for six days each week; however, on the Sabbath, they shall be open throughout the day. On that day, the high priest is to stand at this gate while the priests present sacrifices on his behalf. After the offerings are completed, he will bow in the vestibule and then depart, while the congregation stands before the gate to worship God both on the Sabbath and during the new moon celebrations. The high priest is to offer the burnt sacrifices on the Sabbaths, for he is referred to by the prophet as an elder. Additionally, he is responsible for counting the priests and instructing them on what sacrifices to present during new moons. He designates the offering as semidalah: manaah, as translated by the Syrian interpreter.
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He further instructs that those entering the outer court for worship must exit through the opposite gate to maintain order, whether they enter by the northern or southern gate. This practice ensures that worship of God is conducted without confusion. The high priest must be present to ensure that worship is carried out with utmost reverence. On Sabbaths and other festivals, the eastern gate is to be opened for the congregation. If the high priest wishes to make a voluntary offering to God from his surplus, he may open the gate any day he chooses, as such a sacrifice is akin to that of the Sabbath. If the high priest grants a portion of his land to one of his sons, that son shall hold the right to it indefinitely. Conversely, if it is given to a servant, the servant's possession lasts only until the summer of remission, at which point, during the year of the Sabbath, the land must be returned to the high priest. This land is designated for one priestly lineage, making it inappropriate to disadvantage the people by depriving children of their parental inheritance and reallocating land to other priests. Thus, the rightful heir to the land assigned to the priests must be the clan.