Eze 42 | HCSB | STEP | Then the man led me out by way of the north gate into the outer court . He brought me to the group of chambers opposite the temple yard and opposite the building to the north .

Ezekiel 42

The Priests’ Chambers

1 Then the man led me out by way of the north gate into the outer court. ^a He brought me to the group of chambers opposite the temple yard and opposite the building ^b to the north. 2 Along the length of the chambers, which was 175 feet, ^{▼▼Lit 100 cubits
,} ^d there was an entrance on the north; the width was 87¹/₂ feet. ^{▼▼Lit 50 cubits} 3 Opposite the 35 foot space ^{▼▼Lit 20 [cubits]} belonging to the inner court and opposite the paved surface ^g belonging to the outer court, the structure rose gallery by gallery ^h in three tiers. 4 In front of the chambers was a walkway toward the inside, ⁱ 17¹/₂ feet ^{▼▼Lit 10 cubits} wide and 175 feet ^{▼▼Lit 100 cubits} long, ^{▼▼LXX, Syr; MT reads wide, a way of one cubit} 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; ^m 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 87¹/₂ feet ^{▼▼Lit 50 cubits} long. 8 For the chambers on the outer court were 87¹/₂ feet long, while those facing the great hall were 175 feet ^{▼▼Lit 100 cubits} long. ^p 9 At the base of these chambers there was an entryway on the east side as one enters them from the outer court. ^q

10 In the thickness of the wall of the court toward the south, ^{▼▼LXX; MT reads east} there were chambers facing the temple yard ^s and the western building, 11 with a passageway in front of them, just like the chambers that faced north. ^t 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 ^{▼▼Or protective; Hb obscure} 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 ^v the most holy offerings. ^w There they will deposit the most holy offerings – the ^{▼▼grain offering(s): An offering given along with animal sacrifices or given by itself. A portion was burnt and the priests and participant ate the remainder.}grain offerings, ^{▼▼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 offerings, 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 offerings – for the place is holy. ^aa 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. ^ab They are to put on other clothes before they approach the public area.” ^ac

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. ^ad

16 He measured the east side with a measuring rod;
it was 875 feet ^{▼▼Lit 500 in rods} by the measuring rod. ^{▼▼Lit rod all around}
17 He ^{▼▼LXX reads Then he turned to the north and} measured the north side;
it was 875 feet ^{▼▼Lit 500 in rods} by the measuring rod. ^{▼▼Lit rod all around}
18 He ^{▼▼LXX reads Then he turned to the south and} measured the south side;
it was 875 feet ^{▼▼Lit 500 in rods} by the measuring rod. ^{▼▼Lit rod all around}
19 Then he turned to the west side
and measured 875 feet ^{▼▼Lit 500 in rods} by the measuring rod. ^{▼▼Lit rod all around}

20 He measured the temple complex on all four sides. It had a wall all around it, ^ao 875 feet long and 875 feet ^ap wide, to separate the holy from the common. ^aq