Now the upper chambers were shorter: for the galleries were higher than these, than the lower, and than the middlemost of the building.
The upper chambers were shorter - i:e., the building became narrower as it rose in height. The chambers were many: so "in my Father's house are many mansions" ( John 14:2); and besides these there was much "room" still left (cf. Luke 14:22). The chambers, though private, were near the temple. Prayer in our chambers is to prepare us for public devotions, and to help us in improving them.