Eze 40:47-48 | KingComments | STEP | Immediately following what has to do with the sacrifices is a description of the chambers of the singers and the priests ( ). This indicates that sacrificial service is accompanied by praise and is done by priests (cf. ). Of the chambers we are given only the location. No measurements are given. The chambers of the singers are located “from the outside to the inner gate” ( ). The chambers at the north gate are on the south side of it. The Man and Ezekiel are now standing in the inner court near the north gate. There the Man breaks the silence for the first time ( ). He explains to Ezekiel that the chamber “which faces toward the south” is for the priests. Here, for the first time, the priests are mentioned. Of them, the Man still mentions that they “keep charge of the temple”. The front of this chamber faces south. Another chamber, the front of which faces toward the north, is for the priests “who keep charge of the altar” ( ). One chamber is connected to the temple and the other to the altar. We see here how temple and altar belong together. For this priestly service the LORD has destined “the sons of Zadok”. They may draw near to Him to minister to Him as priests. They are given this wonderful ministry as a reward for their faithfulness to David ( ; ; cf. ). Then the Man measures the (inner) court ( ). In the middle of it is the altar. The court is a square, a hundred cubits long and a hundred cubits wide. Emphasis is placed on the location of the altar: it is in front of the house or the temple. Only through the altar is there a view of and access to the house or the temple. The inner court forms the center of the complex. Together with the inner gates, this center is eight steps higher than the outer court with the outer gates. The altar is exactly in the center of the center. In turn, the outer court and outer gates are seven steps higher than the area outside the temple complex which, according to Ezekiel 45 is open space or pasture land ( ).

‏ Ezekiel 40:47-48

Chambers for the Singers and the Priests

Immediately following what has to do with the sacrifices is a description of the chambers of the singers and the priests (Eze 40:44-46). This indicates that sacrificial service is accompanied by praise and is done by priests (cf. Heb 13:15). Of the chambers we are given only the location. No measurements are given. The chambers of the singers are located “from the outside to the inner gate” (Eze 40:44). The chambers at the north gate are on the south side of it.

The Man and Ezekiel are now standing in the inner court near the north gate. There the Man breaks the silence for the first time (Eze 40:45). He explains to Ezekiel that the chamber “which faces toward the south” is for the priests. Here, for the first time, the priests are mentioned. Of them, the Man still mentions that they “keep charge of the temple”.

The front of this chamber faces south. Another chamber, the front of which faces toward the north, is for the priests “who keep charge of the altar” (Eze 40:46). One chamber is connected to the temple and the other to the altar. We see here how temple and altar belong together.

For this priestly service the LORD has destined “the sons of Zadok”. They may draw near to Him to minister to Him as priests. They are given this wonderful ministry as a reward for their faithfulness to David (2Sam 15:24; 1Kgs 1:8-10 ; 1Kgs 2:35; cf. Eze 44:15 ; Eze 43:19 ; Eze 48:11).

Then the Man measures the (inner) court (Eze 40:47). In the middle of it is the altar. The court is a square, a hundred cubits long and a hundred cubits wide. Emphasis is placed on the location of the altar: it is in front of the house or the temple. Only through the altar is there a view of and access to the house or the temple.

The inner court forms the center of the complex. Together with the inner gates, this center is eight steps higher than the outer court with the outer gates. The altar is exactly in the center of the center. In turn, the outer court and outer gates are seven steps higher than the area outside the temple complex which, according to Ezekiel 45 is open space or pasture land (Eze 45:2).

The Porch

*The Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Old Testament, writes twelve here. This seems to be the correct reading when we consider the total length of the house which is a hundred cubits (cf. Eze 41:13).

The Man now takes Ezekiel to the porch of the temple or the house (Eze 40:48). Here begins the description of the actual temple building, the house in which the glory of God will dwell. The porch of the temple is the front porch of the holy place. The Man begins by measuring a side pillar of the porch. The side pillar is five cubits thick on both sides and three cubits deep.

The porch behind the side pillars is twenty cubits long and eleven (twelve) cubits wide (Eze 40:49). To get to the porch a staircase must be climbed. Near the side pillars are two columns. These columns are very reminiscent of the two pillars in Solomon’s temple (2Chr 3:17), one called Boaz (meaning “in Him is strength”) and the other Jachin (meaning “He will confirm”). The pillars here have no name, but their (symbolic) function is clear: the temple and the service in it are sustained by the strength of the LORD and are a confirmation of His promise that He dwells in the midst of His people.