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Ezekiel 42-44
Darby Translation
Ezekiel 42-44
Darby Translation
42 And he brought me forth into the outer court, the way toward the north; and he brought me to the cells that were over against the separate place and which were over against the building, toward the north,
2 before the length of the hundred cubits: the entry was on the north, and the breadth was fifty cubits,
3 over against the twenty [cubits] that pertained to the inner court, and over against the pavement that pertained to the outer court; there was gallery against gallery in the third [story];
4 and before the cells was a walk of ten cubits in breadth, [and] a way of a hundred cubits inward; and their entries were toward the north.
5 And the upper cells, because the galleries encroached on them, were shorter than the lower, and than the middle-most of the building.
6 For they were in three [stories], but had not pillars as the pillars of the courts; therefore [the third story] was straitened more than the lowest and the middle-most from the ground.
7 And the wall that was without, answering to the cells, toward the outer court in the front of the cells, its length was fifty cubits:
8 for the length of the cells that were against the outer court was fifty cubits; but behold, before the temple it was a hundred cubits.
9 And under these cells was the entry from the east, as one goeth into them from the outer court.
10 In the breadth of the wall of the court toward the south, before the separate place, and before the building, were cells;
11 and a passage before them, like the appearance of the cells that were toward the north, according to their length, according to their breadth and all their goings out, and according to their fashions, and according to their doors.
12 And according to the doors of the cells that were toward the south there was a door at the head of the way, the way directly before the corresponding wall toward the east as one entereth into them.
13 And he said unto me, The north cells [and] the south cells, which are before the separate place, they are holy cells, where the priests that come near unto Jehovah shall eat the most holy things; there shall they lay the most holy things, both the oblation and the sin-offering and the trespass-offering: for the place is holy.
14 When the priests enter in, they shall not go forth from the sanctuary into the outer court, but there they shall lay their garments wherein they minister, for they are holy; and they shall put on other garments, and shall approach to that which is for the people.
15 And when he had made an end of measuring the inner house, he brought me forth toward the gate whose front was toward the east, and measured [the enclosure] round about.
16 He measured the east side with the measuring-reed, five hundred reeds, with the measuring-reed round about.
17 He measured the north side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring-reed round about.
18 He measured the south side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring-reed.
19 He turned about to the west side, [and] measured five hundred reeds with the measuring-reed.
20 He measured it on the four sides; it had a wall round about, five hundred long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between that which was holy and that which was common.
43 And he brought me unto the gate, the gate which looked toward the east.
2 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east; and his voice was like the voice of many waters; and the earth was lit up with his glory.
3 And the appearance of the vision that I saw was according to the vision that I had seen when I came to destroy the city; and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar: and I fell upon my face.
4 And the glory of Jehovah came into the house by the way of the gate whose front was toward the east.
5 And the Spirit lifted me up, and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of Jehovah filled the house.
6 And I heard one speaking unto me out of the house; and a man was standing by me.
7 And he said unto me, Son of man, [this is] the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever; and the house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name, they nor their kings, with their fornication, and with the carcases of their kings [in] their high places,
8 in that they set their threshold by my threshold, and their post by my post, and [there was only] a wall between me and them, and they defiled my holy name with their abominations which they committed; and I consumed them in mine anger.
9 Now let them put away their fornication, and the carcases of their kings, far from me, and I will dwell in the midst of them for ever.
10 Thou, son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be confounded at their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern.
11 And if they be confounded at all that they have done, make known to them the form of the house, and its fashion, and its goings out, and its comings in, and all its forms, and all its statutes, yea, all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof; and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the statutes thereof, and do them.
12 This is the law of the house: Upon the top of the mountain all its border round about is most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house.
13 And these are the measures of the altar in cubits: the cubit is a cubit and a hand breadth. The bottom was a cubit [in height] and the breadth a cubit, and its border on the edge thereof round about, one span: and this was the base of the altar.
14 And from the bottom upon the ground to the lower settle was two cubits, and the breadth one cubit; and from the small settle to the great settle, four cubits, and the breadth a cubit.
15 And the upper altar was four cubits; and from the hearth of God and upward were four horns.
16 And the hearth of God was twelve [cubits] long, by twelve broad, square in the four sides thereof.
17 And the settle was fourteen [cubits] long by fourteen broad in the four sides thereof; and the border about it, half a cubit; and the bottom thereof a cubit round about: and its steps looked toward the east.
18 And he said unto me, Son of man, thus saith the Lord Jehovah: These are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall make it, to offer up burnt-offerings thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon.
19 And thou shalt give to the priests the Levites that are of the seed of Zadok, who come near unto me, to minister unto me, saith the Lord Jehovah, a young bullock for a sin-offering.
20 And thou shalt take of its blood, and put it on the four horns thereof, and on the four corners of the settle, and upon the border round about: so shalt thou purge and make atonement for it.
21 And thou shalt take the bullock of the sin-offering, and it shall be burned in the appointed place of the house, outside the sanctuary.
22 And on the second day thou shalt present a he-goat without blemish for a sin-offering; and they shall purge the altar, as they purged it with the bullock.
23 When thou hast ended purging it, thou shalt present a young bullock without blemish, and a ram out of the flock without blemish;
24 and thou shalt present them before Jehovah; and the priests shall cast salt upon them, and they shall offer them up for a burnt-offering unto Jehovah.
25 Seven days shalt thou offer daily a goat for a sin-offering; they shall also offer a young bullock, and a ram out of the flock without blemish.
26 Seven days shall they make atonement for the altar and purify it, and consecrate it.
27 And when these days are ended, it shall be that upon the eighth day and onwards the priests shall offer your burnt-offerings upon the altar, and your peace-offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord Jehovah.
44 And he brought me back toward the outer gate of the sanctuary which looked toward the east; and it was shut.
2 And Jehovah said unto me, This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter in by it: for Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it; and it shall be shut.
3 As for the prince, he, the prince, shall sit in it to eat bread before Jehovah: he shall enter by the way of the porch of the gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.
4 And he brought me the way of the north gate before the house; and I beheld, and lo, the glory of Jehovah filled the house of Jehovah: and I fell upon my face.
5 And Jehovah said unto me, Son of man, apply thy heart, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the statutes of the house of Jehovah, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary;
6 and say to the rebellious, to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Let it suffice you of all your abominations, O house of Israel,
7 in that ye have brought strangers, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to profane it, [even] my house, when ye offered my bread, the fat and the blood; and they have broken my covenant besides all your abominations.
8 And ye have not kept the charge of my holy things, but have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.
9 Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: No stranger, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel.
10 But the Levites who went away far from me, when Israel went astray, going astray from me after their idols, they shall even bear their iniquity;
11 but they shall be ministers in my sanctuary, having oversight at the gates of the house, and doing the service of the house: they shall slaughter the burnt-offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister unto them.
12 Because they ministered unto them before their idols, and were unto the house of Israel a stumbling-block of iniquity; therefore have I lifted up my hand against them, saith the Lord Jehovah, that they shall bear their iniquity.
13 And they shall not draw near unto me, to do the office of a priest unto me, nor to draw near to any of my holy things, [even] to the most holy; but they shall bear their confusion, and their abominations which they have committed.
14 And I will make them keepers of the charge of the house, for all the service thereof, and for all that shall be done therein.
15 But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall approach unto me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to present unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord Jehovah.
16 They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall approach unto my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.
17 And it shall come to pass when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, when they minister in the gates of the inner court, and towards the house.
18 They shall have linen tires upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird on anything that causeth sweat.
19 And when they go forth into the outer court, into the outer court to the people, they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered, and lay them in the holy cells; and they shall put on other garments, that they may not hallow the people with their garments.
20 Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long: they shall duly poll their heads.
21 Neither shall any priest drink wine when they enter into the inner court.
22 And they shall not take for their wives a widow, nor her that is put away; but they shall take maidens of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow that is the widow of a priest.
23 And they shall teach my people [the difference] between holy and profane, and cause them to discern between unclean and clean.
24 And in controversy they shall stand to judge: they shall judge it according to my judgments; and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all my solemnities; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.
25 And they shall come at no dead person to become unclean; but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that hath had no husband, they may become unclean.
26 And after he is cleansed, they shall count unto him seven days.
27 And on the day that he goeth into the sanctuary, unto the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he shall present his sin-offering, saith the Lord Jehovah.
28 And it shall be unto them for an inheritance; I am their inheritance: and ye shall give them no possession in Israel; I am their possession.
29 They shall eat the oblation and the sin-offering and the trespass-offering; and every devoted thing in Israel shall be theirs.
30 And the first of all the first-fruits of every [kind], and every heave-offering of every [kind], of all your heave-offerings, shall be for the priests; ye shall also give unto the priest the first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest on thy house.
31 The priests shall not eat of anything that dieth of itself, or of that which is torn, whether of fowl or of beast.
Ezekiel 42-44
New International Version
Ezekiel 42-44
New International Version
The Rooms for the Priests
42 Then the man led me northward into the outer court and brought me to the rooms(A) opposite the temple courtyard(B) and opposite the outer wall on the north side.(C) 2 The building whose door faced north was a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide.[a] 3 Both in the section twenty cubits[b] from the inner court and in the section opposite the pavement of the outer court, gallery(D) faced gallery at the three levels.(E) 4 In front of the rooms was an inner passageway ten cubits wide and a hundred cubits[c] long.[d] Their doors were on the north.(F) 5 Now the upper rooms were narrower, for the galleries took more space from them than from the rooms on the lower and middle floors of the building. 6 The rooms on the top floor had no pillars, as the courts had; so they were smaller in floor space than those on the lower and middle floors. 7 There was an outer wall parallel to the rooms and the outer court; it extended in front of the rooms for fifty cubits. 8 While the row of rooms on the side next to the outer court was fifty cubits long, the row on the side nearest the sanctuary was a hundred cubits long. 9 The lower rooms had an entrance(G) on the east side as one enters them from the outer court.
10 On the south side[e] along the length of the wall of the outer court, adjoining the temple courtyard(H) and opposite the outer wall, were rooms(I) 11 with a passageway in front of them. These were like the rooms on the north; they had the same length and width, with similar exits and dimensions. Similar to the doorways on the north 12 were the doorways of the rooms on the south. There was a doorway at the beginning of the passageway that was parallel to the corresponding wall extending eastward, by which one enters the rooms.
13 Then he said to me, “The north(J) and south rooms(K) facing the temple courtyard(L) are the priests’ rooms, where the priests who approach the Lord will eat the most holy offerings. There they will put the most holy offerings—the grain offerings,(M) the sin offerings[f](N) and the guilt offerings(O)—for the place is holy.(P) 14 Once the priests enter the holy precincts, they are not to go into the outer court until they leave behind the garments(Q) in which they minister, for these are holy. They are to put on other clothes before they go near the places that are for the people.(R)”
15 When he had finished measuring what was inside the temple area, he led me out by the east gate(S) and measured the area all around: 16 He measured the east side with the measuring rod; it was five hundred cubits.[g][h] 17 He measured the north side; it was five hundred cubits[i] by the measuring rod. 18 He measured the south side; it was five hundred cubits by the measuring rod. 19 Then he turned to the west side and measured; it was five hundred cubits by the measuring rod. 20 So he measured(T) the area(U) on all four sides. It had a wall around it,(V) five hundred cubits long and five hundred cubits wide,(W) to separate the holy from the common.(X)
God’s Glory Returns to the Temple
43 Then the man brought me to the gate facing east,(Y) 2 and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters,(Z) and the land was radiant with his glory.(AA) 3 The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when he[j] came to destroy the city and like the visions I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown. 4 The glory(AB) of the Lord entered the temple through the gate facing east.(AC) 5 Then the Spirit(AD) lifted me up(AE) and brought me into the inner court, and the glory(AF) of the Lord filled the temple.(AG)
6 While the man was standing beside me, I heard someone speaking to me from inside the temple. 7 He said: “Son of man, this is the place of my throne(AH) and the place for the soles of my feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever. The people of Israel will never again defile(AI) my holy name—neither they nor their kings—by their prostitution and the funeral offerings[k] for their kings at their death.[l](AJ) 8 When they placed their threshold next to my threshold and their doorposts beside my doorposts, with only a wall between me and them, they defiled my holy name by their detestable practices. So I destroyed them in my anger. 9 Now let them put away from me their prostitution and the funeral offerings for their kings, and I will live among them forever.(AK)
10 “Son of man, describe the temple to the people of Israel, that they may be ashamed(AL) of their sins. Let them consider its perfection, 11 and if they are ashamed of all they have done, make known to them the design of the temple—its arrangement, its exits and entrances—its whole design and all its regulations[m] and laws. Write these down before them so that they may be faithful to its design and follow all its regulations.(AM)
12 “This is the law of the temple: All the surrounding area(AN) on top of the mountain will be most holy.(AO) Such is the law of the temple.
The Great Altar Restored
13 “These are the measurements of the altar(AP) in long cubits,[n] that cubit being a cubit and a handbreadth: Its gutter is a cubit deep and a cubit wide, with a rim of one span[o] around the edge. And this is the height of the altar: 14 From the gutter on the ground up to the lower ledge that goes around the altar it is two cubits high, and the ledge is a cubit wide.[p] From this lower ledge to the upper ledge that goes around the altar it is four cubits high, and that ledge is also a cubit wide.[q] 15 Above that, the altar hearth(AQ) is four cubits high, and four horns(AR) project upward from the hearth. 16 The altar hearth is square, twelve cubits[r] long and twelve cubits wide.(AS) 17 The upper ledge(AT) also is square, fourteen cubits[s] long and fourteen cubits wide. All around the altar is a gutter of one cubit with a rim of half a cubit.[t] The steps(AU) of the altar face east.(AV)”
18 Then he said to me, “Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: These will be the regulations for sacrificing burnt offerings(AW) and splashing blood(AX) against the altar when it is built: 19 You are to give a young bull(AY) as a sin offering[u] to the Levitical priests of the family of Zadok,(AZ) who come near(BA) to minister before me, declares the Sovereign Lord. 20 You are to take some of its blood and put it on the four horns of the altar(BB) and on the four corners of the upper ledge(BC) and all around the rim, and so purify the altar(BD) and make atonement for it. 21 You are to take the bull for the sin offering and burn it in the designated part of the temple area outside the sanctuary.(BE)
22 “On the second day you are to offer a male goat without defect for a sin offering, and the altar is to be purified as it was purified with the bull. 23 When you have finished purifying it, you are to offer a young bull and a ram from the flock, both without defect.(BF) 24 You are to offer them before the Lord, and the priests are to sprinkle salt(BG) on them and sacrifice them as a burnt offering to the Lord.
25 “For seven days(BH) you are to provide a male goat daily for a sin offering; you are also to provide a young bull and a ram from the flock, both without defect.(BI) 26 For seven days they are to make atonement for the altar and cleanse it; thus they will dedicate it. 27 At the end of these days, from the eighth day(BJ) on, the priests are to present your burnt offerings(BK) and fellowship offerings(BL) on the altar. Then I will accept you, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
The Priesthood Restored
44 Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east,(BM) and it was shut. 2 The Lord said to me, “This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it.(BN) It is to remain shut because the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered through it. 3 The prince himself is the only one who may sit inside the gateway to eat in the presence(BO) of the Lord. He is to enter by way of the portico of the gateway and go out the same way.(BP)”
4 Then the man brought me by way of the north gate(BQ) to the front of the temple. I looked and saw the glory of the Lord filling the temple(BR) of the Lord, and I fell facedown.(BS)
5 The Lord said to me, “Son of man, look carefully, listen closely and give attention to everything I tell you concerning all the regulations and instructions regarding the temple of the Lord. Give attention to the entrance(BT) to the temple and all the exits of the sanctuary.(BU) 6 Say to rebellious Israel,(BV) ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Enough of your detestable practices, people of Israel! 7 In addition to all your other detestable practices, you brought foreigners uncircumcised in heart(BW) and flesh into my sanctuary, desecrating my temple while you offered me food, fat and blood, and you broke my covenant.(BX) 8 Instead of carrying out your duty in regard to my holy things, you put others in charge of my sanctuary.(BY) 9 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh is to enter my sanctuary, not even the foreigners who live among the Israelites.(BZ)
10 “‘The Levites who went far from me when Israel went astray(CA) and who wandered from me after their idols must bear the consequences of their sin.(CB) 11 They may serve in my sanctuary, having charge of the gates of the temple and serving in it; they may slaughter the burnt offerings(CC) and sacrifices for the people and stand before the people and serve them.(CD) 12 But because they served them in the presence of their idols and made the people of Israel fall(CE) into sin, therefore I have sworn with uplifted hand(CF) that they must bear the consequences of their sin, declares the Sovereign Lord.(CG) 13 They are not to come near to serve me as priests or come near any of my holy things or my most holy offerings; they must bear the shame(CH) of their detestable practices.(CI) 14 And I will appoint them to guard the temple for all the work that is to be done in it.(CJ)
15 “‘But the Levitical priests, who are descendants of Zadok(CK) and who guarded my sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from me, are to come near to minister before me; they are to stand before me to offer sacrifices of fat(CL) and blood, declares the Sovereign Lord.(CM) 16 They alone are to enter my sanctuary; they alone are to come near my table(CN) to minister before me and serve me as guards.(CO)
17 “‘When they enter the gates of the inner court, they are to wear linen clothes;(CP) they must not wear any woolen garment while ministering at the gates of the inner court or inside the temple. 18 They are to wear linen turbans(CQ) on their heads and linen undergarments(CR) around their waists. They must not wear anything that makes them perspire.(CS) 19 When they go out into the outer court where the people are, they are to take off the clothes they have been ministering in and are to leave them in the sacred rooms, and put on other clothes, so that the people are not consecrated(CT) through contact with their garments.(CU)
20 “‘They must not shave(CV) their heads or let their hair grow long, but they are to keep the hair of their heads trimmed.(CW) 21 No priest is to drink wine when he enters the inner court.(CX) 22 They must not marry widows or divorced women; they may marry only virgins of Israelite descent or widows of priests.(CY) 23 They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common(CZ) and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.(DA)
24 “‘In any dispute, the priests are to serve as judges(DB) and decide it according to my ordinances. They are to keep my laws and my decrees for all my appointed festivals,(DC) and they are to keep my Sabbaths holy.(DD)
25 “‘A priest must not defile himself by going near a dead person; however, if the dead person was his father or mother, son or daughter, brother or unmarried sister, then he may defile himself.(DE) 26 After he is cleansed, he must wait seven days.(DF) 27 On the day he goes into the inner court of the sanctuary(DG) to minister in the sanctuary, he is to offer a sin offering[v](DH) for himself, declares the Sovereign Lord.
28 “‘I am to be the only inheritance(DI) the priests have. You are to give them no possession in Israel; I will be their possession. 29 They will eat(DJ) the grain offerings, the sin offerings and the guilt offerings; and everything in Israel devoted[w] to the Lord(DK) will belong to them.(DL) 30 The best of all the firstfruits(DM) and of all your special gifts will belong to the priests. You are to give them the first portion of your ground meal(DN) so that a blessing(DO) may rest on your household.(DP) 31 The priests must not eat anything, whether bird or animal, found dead(DQ) or torn by wild animals.(DR)
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 42:2 That is, about 175 feet long and 88 feet wide or about 53 meters long and 27 meters wide
- Ezekiel 42:3 That is, about 35 feet or about 11 meters
- Ezekiel 42:4 Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew and one cubit
- Ezekiel 42:4 That is, about 18 feet wide and 175 feet long or about 5.3 meters wide and 53 meters long
- Ezekiel 42:10 Septuagint; Hebrew Eastward
- Ezekiel 42:13 Or purification offerings
- Ezekiel 42:16 See Septuagint of verse 17; Hebrew rods; also in verses 18 and 19.
- Ezekiel 42:16 Five hundred cubits equal about 875 feet or about 265 meters; also in verses 17, 18 and 19.
- Ezekiel 42:17 Septuagint; Hebrew rods
- Ezekiel 43:3 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts I
- Ezekiel 43:7 Or the memorial monuments; also in verse 9
- Ezekiel 43:7 Or their high places
- Ezekiel 43:11 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts regulations and its whole design
- Ezekiel 43:13 That is, about 21 inches or about 53 centimeters; also in verses 14 and 17. The long cubit is the basic unit for linear measurement throughout Ezekiel 40–48.
- Ezekiel 43:13 That is, about 11 inches or about 27 centimeters
- Ezekiel 43:14 That is, about 3 1/2 feet high and 1 3/4 feet wide or about 105 centimeters high and 53 centimeters wide
- Ezekiel 43:14 That is, about 7 feet high and 1 3/4 feet wide or about 2.1 meters high and 53 centimeters wide
- Ezekiel 43:16 That is, about 21 feet or about 6.4 meters
- Ezekiel 43:17 That is, about 25 feet or about 7.4 meters
- Ezekiel 43:17 That is, about 11 inches or about 27 centimeters
- Ezekiel 43:19 Or purification offering; also in verses 21, 22 and 25
- Ezekiel 44:27 Or purification offering; also in verse 29
- Ezekiel 44:29 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord.
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