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Bible Encyclopedias
Hall
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or occurs in the A.V. of the N.T. three times; twice (Matthew 27:27; Mark 15:16) in reference to the πραίτωριον , praetorium, or residence of the Roman governor at Jerusalem, which was either the palace built by the elder Herod, or the tower of Antonia; his usual abode was at Csesarea (Acts 23:23). Mark adds to the word αὐλή, as he is wont in other cases, an explanatory phrase, ὅ ἐστι πραιτώριον (Vulg. atrium praetorii). In Luke 22:55, αύλή) means the open court or quadrangle belonging to the high priest's house, such as was common to Oriental dwellings. It has the same meaning in Matthew 26:69, and Mark 14:66, and in both passages is incorrectly rendered "palace" in the A.V., as the adverbs ἔξω and κάτω plainly distinguish the αύλή from the οῖκος to which it was attached (Luke 22:54). So in Luke 11:21. In John 10:1; John 10:16, it means a "sheep-fold," and in Revelation 11:2, the outer "court" of the Temple. The αὐλή was entered from the street by a προαύλιον or vestibule (Mark 14:68), through a πυλών or portal (Matthew 26:71), in which was a θύρα or wicket (John 18:16; Acts 12:13). — Kitto. s.v. Αὐλή is the equivalent for חָצֵר, an enclosed or fortified space (Gesenius, Tesaur. p. 512), in many places in the O.T. where the Vulg. and A. Vers. have respectively villa or viculus, "village," or atritum," court," chiefly of the tabernacle or Temple. See Coar. The hall or court of a house or palace would probably be an enclosed but uncovered space, implucium, on a lower level than the apartments of the lowest floor which looked into it. (See HOUSE).
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Hall'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/h/hall.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
