Eze 40 | HCSB | STEP | In the twenty-fifth year of our exile , at the beginning of the year , on the tenth day of the month in the fourteenth year after Jerusalem had been captured , on that very day the Lord ’s hand was on me, and He brought me there .

Ezekiel 40

The New Temple

1 In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month in the fourteenth year after Jerusalem had been captured, ^a on that very day the Lord’s hand was on me, ^b and He brought me there. 2 In visions of God ^c He took me to the land of Israel and set me down on a very high mountain. ^d On its southern slope was a structure resembling a city. 3 He brought me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze, ^e with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand. ^f He was standing by the gate. 4 He spoke to me: “Son of man, look with your eyes, listen with your ears, ^g and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for you have been brought here so that I might show it to you. Report everything you see to the house of Israel.” ^h

The Wall and Outer Gates

5 Now there was a wall surrounding the outside of the temple. ⁱ The measuring rod in the man’s hand was six units of 21 inches; ^{▼▼= a long cubit} each unit was the standard length plus three inches. ^{▼▼Lit six cubits by the cubit and a handbreadth} He measured the thickness of the wall structure; it was about 10 feet, ^{▼▼Lit was one rod} and its height was the same. ^{▼▼Lit was one rod} 6 Then he came to the gate that faced east and climbed its steps. ⁿ He measured the threshold of the gate; it was 10 feet deep – the first threshold was 10 feet deep. 7 Each recess was about 10 feet ^{▼▼Lit was one rod} long and 10 feet ^{▼▼Lit and one rod} deep, and there was a space of 8³/₄ feet ^{▼▼Lit five cubits} between the recesses. The inner threshold of the gate on the temple side next to the gate’s portico was about 10 feet. ^{▼▼Lit was one rod} 8 Next he measured the portico of the gate; 9 it ^{▼▼Some Hb mss, Syr, Vg; other Hb mss read gate facing the temple side; it was one rod. (9) Then he measured the portico of the gate; it} was 14 feet, ^{▼▼Lit eight cubits} and its pilasters were 3¹/₂ feet. ^{▼▼Lit two cubits} The portico of the gate was on the temple side.

10 There were three recesses on each side of the east gate, each with the same measurements, and the pilasters on either side also had the same measurements. 11 Then he measured the width of the gate’s entrance; it was 17¹/₂ feet, ^{▼▼Lit 10 cubits} while the width ^{▼▼Lit length} of the gateway was 22³/₄ feet. ^{▼▼Lit 13 cubits} 12 There was a barrier of 21 inches ^{▼▼Lit one cubit} in front of the recesses on both sides, and the recesses on each side were 10¹/₂ feet ^{▼▼Lit six cubits} square. 13 Then he measured the gateway from the roof of one recess to the roof of the opposite one; the distance was 43³/₄ feet. ^{▼▼Lit 25 cubits} The openings of the recesses faced each other. 14 Next, he measured the pilasters – 105 feet. ^{▼▼Lit 60 cubits} The gate extended around to the pilaster of the court. ^{▼▼Hb obscure} 15 The distance from the front of the gate at the entrance to the front of the gate’s portico on the inside was 87¹/₂ feet. ^{▼▼Lit 50 cubits} 16 The recesses and their pilasters had beveled windows all around the inside of the gateway. ^ae The porticoes also had windows all around on the inside. Each pilaster was decorated with palm trees. ^af

17 Then he brought me into the outer court, ^ag and there were chambers and a paved surface laid out all around the court. ^ah Thirty chambers faced the pavement, 18 which flanked the gates and corresponded to the length of the gates; this was the lower pavement. 19 Then he measured the distance from the front of the lower gate to the exterior front of the inner court; it was 175 feet. ^{▼▼Lit 100 cubits} This was the east; next the north is described.

20 He measured the gate of the outer court facing north, both its length and width. 21 Its three recesses on each side, its pilasters, and its portico had the same measurements as the first gate: 87¹/₂ feet ^{▼▼Lit 50 cubits} long and 43³/₄ feet ^{▼▼Lit 25 cubits} wide. 22 Its windows, portico, and palm trees had the same measurements as those of the gate that faced east. Seven steps led up to the gate, and its portico was ahead of them. 23 The inner court had a gate facing the north gate, like the one on the east. He measured the distance from gate to gate; it was 175 feet. ^{▼▼Lit 100 cubits}

24 He brought me to the south side, and there was also a gate on the south. He measured its pilasters and portico; they had the same measurements as the others. 25 Both the gate and its portico had windows all around, like the other windows. It was 87¹/₂ feet ^{▼▼Lit 50 cubits} long and 43³/₄ feet ^{▼▼Lit 25 cubits} wide. 26 Its stairway had seven steps, and its portico was ahead of them. It had palm trees on its pilasters, one on each side. 27 The inner court had a gate on the south. He measured from gate to gate on the south; it was 175 feet. ^{▼▼Lit 100 cubits}

The Inner Gates

28 Then he brought me to the inner court through the south gate. When he measured the south gate, it had the same measurements as the others. 29 Its recesses, pilasters, and portico had the same measurements as the others. Both it and its portico had windows all around. It was 87¹/₂ feet ^{▼▼Lit 50 cubits} long and 43³/₄ feet ^{▼▼Lit 25 cubits} wide. 30 (There were porticoes all around, 43³/₄ feet long and 8³/₄ feet ^{▼▼Lit five cubits} wide. ^{▼▼Some Hb mss, LXX omit v. 30}) 31 Its portico faced the outer court, and its pilasters were decorated with palm trees. Its stairway had eight steps.

32 Then he brought me to the inner court on the east side. When he measured the gate, it had the same measurements as the others. 33 Its recesses, pilasters, and portico had the same measurements as the others. Both it and its portico had windows all around. It was 87¹/₂ feet ^{▼▼Lit 50 cubits} long and 43³/₄ feet ^{▼▼Lit 25 cubits} wide. 34 Its portico faced the outer court, and its pilasters were decorated with palm trees on each side. Its stairway had eight steps.

35 Then he brought me to the north gate. ^av When he measured it, it had the same measurements as the others, 36 as did its recesses, pilasters, and portico. It also had windows all around. It was 87¹/₂ feet ^{▼▼Lit 50 cubits} long and 43³/₄ feet ^{▼▼Lit 25 cubits} wide. 37 Its portico ^{▼▼LXX; MT reads pilasters} faced the outer court, and its pilasters were decorated with palm trees on each side. Its stairway had eight steps.

Rooms for Preparing Sacrifices

38 There was a chamber whose door opened into the portico of the gate. ^{▼▼Text emended; MT reads door was by the pilasters, at the gates} The ^{▼▼burnt offering(s): Or holocaust, an offering completely burned to ashes; it was used in connection with worship, seeking God's favor, expiating sin, or averting judgment.}burnt offering was to be washed there. ^bb 39 Inside the portico of the gate there were two tables on each side, on which to slaughter the burnt offering, ^{▼▼sin offering(s): Or purification offering, the sin offering was the most important OT sacrifice for cleansing from impurities. It provided purification from sin and certain forms of ceremonial uncleanness.}sin offering, ^bd and ^{▼▼restitution offering(s): An offering that was a penalty for unintentional sins, primarily in relation to the tabernacle or temple; traditionally trespass or guilt offering}restitution offering. ^bf 40 Outside, as one approaches the entrance of the north gate, there were two tables on one side and two more tables on the other side of the gate’s portico. 41 So there were four tables inside the gate and four outside, eight tables in all on which the slaughtering was to be done. 42 There were also four tables of cut stone for the burnt offering, ^bg each 31¹/₂ inches ^{▼▼Lit one and a half cubits} long, 31¹/₂ inches wide, and 21 inches ^{▼▼Lit one cubit} high. The utensils used to slaughter the burnt offerings and other sacrifices were placed on them. 43 There were three-inch ^{▼▼Lit one handbreadth} hooks ^{▼▼Or ledges} fastened all around the inside of the room, and the flesh of the offering was to be laid on the tables.

Rooms for Singers and Priests

44 Outside the inner gate, within the inner court, there were chambers for the singers: ^{▼▼LXX reads were two chambers
,} ^bm one ^{▼▼LXX; MT reads singers, which was} beside the north gate, facing south, and another beside the south ^{▼▼LXX; MT reads east} gate, facing north. 45 Then the man said to me: “This chamber that faces south is for the priests who keep charge of the temple. ^bp 46 The chamber that faces north is for the priests who keep charge of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, ^bq the ones from the sons of Levi who may approach the Lord to serve Him.” ^br 47 Next he measured the court. It was square, 175 feet ^{▼▼Lit 100 cubits} long and 175 feet wide. The altar ^bt was in front of the temple.

48 Then he brought me to the portico of the temple and measured the pilasters of the portico; they were 8³/₄ feet ^{▼▼Lit five cubits} thick on each side. The width of the gateway was 24¹/₂ feet, ^{▼▼Lit 14 cubits} and the side walls of the gate were ^{▼▼LXX; MT omits 24¹/₂ feet, and the side walls of the gate were} 5¹/₄ feet ^{▼▼Lit three cubits} wide on each side. 49 The portico was 35 feet ^{▼▼Lit 20 cubits} across and 21 ^{▼▼LXX; MT reads 19¹/₄} feet ^{▼▼Lit 12 cubits} deep, and 10 steps led ^{▼▼MT reads and it was on steps that they would go} up to it. ^cc There were pillars by the pilasters, one on each side. ^cd