What do we learn from "v'Rachacah v'Nasevah l'Ma'alah"?
Rashi: This is like I explained, that the cells became wider above. The second story cells were an Amah wider than the bottom cells, and the top cells were an Amah wider than the second story cells.
Vilna Gaon: The thickness of the outer wall of the cells recessed, and the protrusions formed a ramp via which one could ascend to the top cells.
Malbim: Refer to 41:7:3:1.
What is the meaning of "v'Nasevah l'Ma'alah l'Ma'alah"?
Rashi: There was a spiral staircase built from rocks, like a pillar. One who ascends appears to circle a pillar. It says about this in Bayis Rishon "uv'Lulim Ya'alu Al ha'Tichonah 1 " (Melachim I, 6:8). There Yonason translates uvi'Msabasa, like here. He ascends from the bottom to the middle, and from the middle to the top.
Radak: It says in Midos (4:5) 'there was a Mesibah (path) from the northeast corner to the northwest corner, via which they ascended to the roofs of the cells. After reaching the west, he turned south. After reaching the south, he turned east, until he reached the opening of the Aliyah; it was open to the south.'
Rashi brings that in Bayis Rishon, they ascended via Lulin (openings in the ceiling). If so, why does it say "Saviv Saviv"?
Malbim: The future Bayis will be different. Rocks of the wall will stick our two or three Amos outside, like a ramp going up. Via it, they ascend to the top cell
What is the meaning of "Ki Mosav ha'Bayis l'Ma'alah l'Ma'alah?"?
Rashi: This that we said that the higher cells were wider, this was all around the Bayis.
Why does it say "Saviv Saviv"?
Vilna Gaon: In order to ascend, he goes around.
Why does it say "Al Ken?"?
Radak: This refers to the previous verse. Because the beams "Achuzim b'Kir ha'Bayis", the higher cells were wider.
What do we learn from "v'Chen ha'Tachtonah Ya'aleh Al ha'Elyonah la'Tichonah"?
Rashi citing Targum Yonasan: Similarly, they ascend via a staircase from the ground [cells] to the highest via the middle [cells].
Vilna Gaon: In order to ascend to the highest he needed to ascend first to the middle; this was all via the inclined path.
Malbim: When one ascends on the external ramp from the ground cells to the highest, he enters the middle cell, i.e. the third of the five from east to west.
