Ezekiel 41-44

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Inside the Temple

41 Next he brought me into the great hall and measured the pilasters;^(A) on each side the width of the pilaster was 10½ feet.^{[a][b] 2} The width of the entrance was 17½ feet,^[c] and the side walls of the entrance were 8¾ feet^[d] wide on each side. He also measured the length of the great hall, 70 feet,^[e] and the width, 35 feet.^{[f](B) 3} He went inside the next room and measured the pilasters at the entrance;^(C) they were 3½ feet^[g] wide. The entrance was 10½ feet^[h] wide, and the width of the entrance’s side walls on each side^[i] was 12¼ feet.^{[j] 4} He then measured the length of the room adjacent to the great hall, 35 feet,^[k] and the width, 35 feet.^(D) And he said to me, “This is the most holy place.”^(E)

Outside the Temple

⁵ Then he measured the wall of the temple; it was 10½ feet^[l] thick. The width of the side rooms all around the temple was seven feet.^{[m](F) 6} The side rooms were arranged one above another in three stories of 30 rooms each.^[n] There were ledges on the wall of the temple all around to serve as supports for the side rooms, so that the supports would not be in the temple wall itself.^{(G) 7} The side rooms surrounding the temple widened at each successive story, for the structure surrounding the temple went up by stages. This was the reason for the temple’s broadness as it rose. And so, one would go up from the lowest story to the highest by means of the middle one.^[o](H)

⁸ I saw that the temple had a raised platform surrounding it; this foundation for the side rooms was 10½ feet high.^{[p](I) 9} The thickness of the outer wall of the side rooms was 8¾ feet.^[q] The free space between the side rooms of the temple ¹⁰ and the outer chambers was 35 feet^[r] wide all around the temple.^{(J) 11} The side rooms opened into the free space, one entrance toward the north and another to the south. The area of free space was 8¾ feet^[s] wide all around.

¹² Now the building that faced the temple yard toward the west was 122½ feet^[t] wide. The wall of the building was 8¾ feet^[u] thick on all sides, and the building’s length was 157½ feet.^[v]

¹³ Then the man measured the temple; it was 175 feet^[w] long.^(K) In addition, the temple yard and the building, including its walls, were 175 feet long. ¹⁴ The width of the front of the temple along with the temple yard to the east was 175 feet. ¹⁵ Next he measured the length of the building facing the temple yard to the west, with its galleries^[x] on each side;^(L) it was 175 feet.

Interior Wooden Structures

The interior of the great hall and the porticoes of the court— ¹⁶ the thresholds, the beveled windows,^(M) and the balconies all around with their three levels opposite the threshold—were overlaid with wood on all sides.^(N) They were paneled from the ground to the windows (but the windows were covered), ¹⁷ reaching to the top of the entrance, and as far as the inner temple and on the outside. On every wall all around, on the inside and outside, was a pattern ¹⁸ carved with cherubim and palm trees.^(O) There was a palm tree between each pair of cherubim.^(P) Each cherub had two faces: ¹⁹ a human face turned toward the palm tree on one side,^(Q) and a lion’s face turned toward it on the other. They were carved throughout the temple on all sides. ²⁰ Cherubim and palm trees were carved from the ground to the top of the entrance and on the wall of the great hall.

²¹ The doorposts of the great hall were square,^(R) and the front of the sanctuary had the same appearance. ²² The altar was^[y] made of wood, 5¼ feet^[z] high and 3½ feet^[aa] long.^[ab] It had corners, and its length^[ac] and sides were of wood.^(S) The man told me, “This is the table that stands before the Lord.”^(T)

²³ The great hall and the sanctuary each had a double door,^{(U) 24} and each of the doors had two swinging panels.^(V) There were two panels for one door and two for the other. ²⁵ Cherubim and palm trees were carved on the doors of the great hall like those carved on the walls. There was a wooden canopy^[ad](W) outside, in front of the portico. ²⁶ There were beveled windows and palm trees on both sides,^(X) on the side walls of the portico, the side rooms of the temple, and the canopies.^[ae]

The Priests’ Chambers

42 Then the man led me out by way of the north gate into the outer court.^(Y) He brought me to the group of chambers opposite the temple yard and opposite the building^(Z) to the north. ² Along the length of the chambers, which was 175 feet,^[af](AA) there was an entrance on the north; the width was 87½ feet.^{[ag] 3} Opposite the 35 foot space^[ah] belonging to the inner court and opposite the paved surface^(AB) belonging to the outer court, the structure rose gallery by gallery^(AC) in three tiers. ⁴ In front of the chambers was a walkway toward the inside,^(AD) 17½ feet^[ai] wide and 175 feet^[aj] long,^[ak] and their entrances were on the north. ⁵ The upper chambers were narrower because the galleries took away more space from them than from the lower and middle stories of the building. ⁶ For they were arranged in three stories and had no pillars like the pillars of the courts;^(AE) therefore the upper chambers were set back from the ground more than the lower and middle stories. ⁷ A wall on the outside ran in front of the chambers, parallel to them, toward the outer court; it was 87½ feet^[al] long. ⁸ For the chambers on the outer court were 87½ feet long, while those facing the great hall were 175 feet^[am] long.^{(AF) 9} At the base of these chambers there was an entryway on the east side as one enters them from the outer court.^(AG)

¹⁰ In the thickness of the wall of the court toward the south,^[an] there were chambers facing the temple yard^(AH) and the western building, ¹¹ with a passageway in front of them, just like the chambers that faced north.^(AI) Their length and width, as well as all their exits, measurements, and entrances, were identical. ¹² The entrance at the beginning of the passageway, the way in front of the corresponding^[ao] wall as one enters on the east side, was similar to the entrances of the chambers that were on the south side.

¹³ Then the man said to me, “The northern and southern chambers that face the temple yard are the holy chambers where the priests who approach the Lord will eat^(AJ) the most holy offerings.^(AK) There they will deposit the most holy offerings—the grain offerings, sin offerings, and restitution offerings—for the place is holy.^{(AL) 14} Once the priests have entered, they must not go out from the holy area to the outer court until they have removed the clothes they minister in, for these are holy.^(AM) They are to put on other clothes before they approach the public area.”^(AN)

Outside Dimensions of the Temple Complex

¹⁵ When he finished measuring inside the temple complex, he led me out by way of the gate that faced east and measured all around the complex.^(AO)

²⁰ He measured the temple complex on all four sides. It had a wall all around it,^(AP) 875 feet long and 875 feet^(AQ) wide, to separate the holy from the common.^(AR)

Return of the Lord’s Glory

43 He led me to the gate,^(AS) the one that faces east, ² and I saw the glory of the God of Israel^(AT) coming from the east.^(AU) His voice sounded like the roar of mighty waters,^(AV) and the earth shone with His glory.^{(AW) 3} The vision I saw^(AX) was like the one I had seen when He^[az] came to destroy the city,^(AY) and like the ones I had seen by the Chebar Canal.^(AZ) I fell facedown.^{(BA) 4} The glory of the Lord entered the temple by way of the gate that faced east.^{(BB) 5} Then the Spirit lifted me up^(BC) and brought me to the inner court, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.^(BD)

⁶ While the man was standing beside me, I heard someone speaking to me from the temple.^{(BE) 7} He said to me: “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place for the soles of My feet,^(BF) where I will dwell among the Israelites forever.^(BG) The house of Israel and their kings will no longer defile My holy name by their religious prostitution and by the corpses^[ba](BH) of their kings at their high places.^{[bb](BI) 8} Whenever they placed their threshold next to My threshold and their doorposts beside My doorposts, with only a wall between Me and them, they were defiling My holy name by the detestable acts they committed.^(BJ) So I destroyed them in My anger. ⁹ Now let them remove their prostitution and the corpses^[bc](BK) of their kings far from Me, and I will dwell among them forever.^(BL)

¹⁰ “As for you, son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel,^(BM) so that they may be ashamed of their iniquities.^(BN) Let them measure its pattern,^{(BO) 11} and they will be ashamed of all that they have done. Reveal^[bd] the design of the temple to them—its layout with its exits and entrances^(BP)—its complete design along with all its statutes, design specifications, and laws. Write it down in their sight^(BQ) so that they may observe its complete design and all its statutes and may carry them out.^{(BR) 12} This is the law of the temple: all its surrounding territory on top of the mountain^(BS) will be especially holy. Yes, this is the law of the temple.

The Altar

¹³ “These are the measurements of the altar^(BT) in units of length (each unit being the standard length plus three inches^(BU)):^[be] the gutter is 21 inches^[bf] deep and 21 inches wide, with a rim of nine inches^[bg] around its edge. This is the base^[bh] of the altar. ¹⁴ The distance from the gutter on the ground to the lower ledge is 3½ feet,^[bi] and the width of the ledge is 21 inches.^[bj] There are seven feet^[bk] from the small ledge to the large ledge, whose width is also 21 inches. ¹⁵ The altar hearth^[bl] is seven feet^[bm] high, and four horns^(BV) project upward from the hearth. ¹⁶ The hearth is square, 21 feet^[bn] long by 21 feet wide.^{(BW) 17} The ledge is 24½ feet^[bo] long by 24½ feet wide, with four equal sides.^(BX) The rim all around it is 10½ inches,^[bp] and its gutter is 21 inches^[bq] all around it. The altar’s steps face east.”^(BY)

¹⁸ Then He said to me: “Son of man,^(BZ) this is what the Lord God says: These are the statutes for the altar on the day it is constructed, so that burnt offerings^(CA) may be sacrificed on it and blood may be sprinkled on it:^{(CB) 19} You are to give a bull from the herd^(CC) as a sin offering^(CD) to the Levitical priests who are from the offspring of Zadok,^(CE) who approach Me in order to serve Me.”^(CF) This is the declaration of the Lord God. ²⁰ “You must take some of its blood and apply it to the four horns^(CG) of the altar, the four corners of the ledge, and all around the rim. In this way you will purify the altar and make atonement for it.^{(CH) 21} Then you must take away the bull for the sin offering, and it must be burned outside the sanctuary in the place appointed for the temple.^(CI)

²² “On the second day you are to present an unblemished male goat as a sin offering. They will purify the altar just as they did with the bull. ²³ When you have finished the purification, you are to present a young, unblemished bull^(CJ) and an unblemished ram from the flock.^{(CK) 24} You must present them before the Lord; the priests will throw salt on them and sacrifice them as a burnt offering to the Lord.^{(CL) 25} You will offer a goat for a sin offering each day for seven days.^(CM) A young bull and a ram from the flock, both unblemished, must also be offered. ²⁶ For seven days the priests are to make atonement for the altar and cleanse it. In this way they will consecrate it^{[br] 27} and complete the days of purification. Then on the eighth day^(CN) and afterward, the priests will offer your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on the altar, and I will accept you.”^(CO) This is the declaration of the Lord God.

The Prince’s Privilege

44 The man then brought me back toward the sanctuary’s outer gate that faced east, and it was closed. ² The Lord said to me: “This gate will remain closed. It will not be opened, and no one will enter through it, because the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered through it.^(CP) Therefore it will remain closed. ³ The prince himself will sit in the gateway to eat a meal before the Lord.^(CQ) He must enter by way of the portico^(CR) of the gate and go out the same way.”

⁴ Then the man brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple. I looked, and the glory of the Lord filled His temple.^(CS) And I fell facedown.^{(CT) 5} The Lord said to me: “Son of man, pay attention;^(CU) look with your eyes and listen with your ears to everything I tell you about all the statutes and laws of the Lord’s temple.^(CV) Take careful note of the entrance of the temple along with all the exits of the sanctuary.

The Levites’ Duties and Privileges

⁶ “Say to the rebellious people,^(CW) the house of Israel: This is what the Lord God says: I have had enough^(CX) of all your detestable practices, house of Israel. ⁷ When you brought in foreigners,^(CY) uncircumcised in both heart and flesh,^(CZ) to occupy My sanctuary, you defiled My temple while you offered My food—the fat and the blood. You^[bs] broke My covenant by all your detestable practices. ⁸ You have not kept charge of My holy things^(DA) but have appointed others to keep charge of My sanctuary for you.

⁹ “This is what the Lord God says: No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart and flesh, may enter My sanctuary, not even a foreigner who is among the Israelites. ¹⁰ Surely the Levites who wandered away from Me when Israel went astray, and who strayed from Me after their idols,^(DB) will bear the consequences of their sin.^{(DC) 11} Yet they will occupy My sanctuary, serving as guards at the temple gates^(DD) and ministering at the temple. They will slaughter the burnt offerings^(DE) and other sacrifices for the people and will stand before them to serve them.^{(DF) 12} Because they ministered to the house of Israel before their idols and became a sinful stumbling block to them, therefore I swore an oath^[bt] against them”^(DG)—this is the declaration of the Lord God—“that they would bear the consequences of their sin. ¹³ They must not approach Me to serve Me as priests^(DH) or come near any of My holy things or the most holy things. They will bear their disgrace and the consequences of the detestable acts they committed. ¹⁴ Yet I will make them responsible for the duties of the temple^(DI)—for all its work and everything done in it.

The Priests’ Duties and Privileges

¹⁵ “But the Levitical priests descended from Zadok,^(DJ) who kept charge of My sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from Me, will approach Me to serve Me. They will stand before Me to offer Me fat and blood.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. ¹⁶ “They are the ones who may enter My sanctuary^(DK) and draw near to My table to serve Me.^(DL) They will keep My mandate. ¹⁷ When they enter the gates of the inner court they must wear linen garments;^(DM) they must not have on them anything made of wool when they minister at the gates of the inner court and within it. ¹⁸ They must wear linen turbans on their heads and linen undergarments around their waists.^(DN) They are not to put on anything that makes them sweat. ¹⁹ Before they go out to the outer court,^[bu] to the people, they must take off the clothes they have been ministering in, leave them in the holy chambers, and dress in other clothes^(DO) so that they do not transmit holiness to the people through their clothes.^(DP)

²⁰ “They may not shave their heads^(DQ) or let their hair grow long,^(DR) but must carefully trim their hair. ²¹ No priest may drink wine before he enters the inner court.^{(DS) 22} He is not to marry a widow or a divorced woman, but must marry a virgin from the offspring of the house of Israel,^(DT) or a widow who is the widow of a priest. ²³ They must teach My people the difference between the holy and the common, and explain to them the difference between the clean and the unclean.^(DU)

²⁴ “In a dispute, they will officiate as judges and decide the case according to My ordinances.^(DV) They must observe My laws and statutes regarding all My appointed festivals, and keep My Sabbaths holy.^{(DW) 25} A priest may not come near a dead person so that he becomes defiled.^(DX) However, he may defile himself for a father, a mother, a son, a daughter, a brother, or an unmarried sister. ²⁶ After he is cleansed, he is to count off seven days for himself.^{(DY) 27} On the day he goes into the sanctuary, into the inner court^(DZ) to minister in the sanctuary, he must present his sin offering.” This is the declaration of the Lord God.

²⁸ “This will be their inheritance: I am their inheritance.^(EA) You are to give them no possession in Israel: I am their possession. ²⁹ They will eat the grain offering, the sin offering,^(EB) and the restitution offering. Everything in Israel that is permanently dedicated to the Lord will belong to them.^{(EC) 30} The best of all the firstfruits of every kind and contribution of every kind from all your gifts will belong to the priests.^(ED) You are to give your first batch of dough to the priest^(EE) so that a blessing may rest on your homes.^{(EF) 31} The priests may not eat any bird or animal that died naturally or was mauled by wild beasts.^(EG)