The Prophet Ezekiel

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- Chapter 40 -

(Zechariah 2:1–5)

In the twenty-fifth year of our captivity at the beginning of the year on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was captured-on that same day, the hand of Yahweh was upon me and he took me there.

In visions from God he brought me to the land of Israel. He brought me to rest on a very high mountain; to the south were what appeared to be buildings of a city.

Then he brought me there. Behold! A man appeared who looked like bronze. A linen cord and a measuring stick were in his hand, and he stood in the city gate.

The man said to me, “Son of man, look with your eyes and listen with your ears, and fix your mind on all that I am revealing to you, for you were brought here so I could reveal them to you. Report everything that you will see to the house of Israel.”

The East Gate

There was a wall surrounding the temple complex, and there was a measuring stick in the man’s hand, six cubits in length-each “long” cubit equaling a cubit and a handbreadth. The man measured the width of the wall-one stick-and the height-one stick.

Then he went to the temple gate that faced east and up its steps. He measured the threshold of the gate-one stick in depth.

The guard chambers were each one stick long and one stick wide; there were five cubits between any two of the chambers, and the threshold of the temple gate by the temple portico was one stick deep.

He measured the portico of the gate; it was one stick long.

He measured the portico of the gate. It was one stick deep. The doorposts were two cubits wide. This was the portico of the gate facing the temple.

There were three guard chambers at the gate and they were on either side of the gate. They all measured the same. The wall separating them all from each other also measured the same.

Then the man measured the width of the gateway entrance-ten cubits; and he measured the length of the gateway entrance-thirteen cubits.

He measured the wall that was bordering the front of the chambers-one cubit high. The chambers measured six cubits on each side.

Then he measured the gateway from the roof of one chamber to that of the next chamber-twenty-five cubits, from the entrance of the first chamber to that of the second.

Then he measured the wall that went between the guard chambers-sixty cubits long; he measured as far as the gate’s portico.

The entrance from the front of the gate to the other end of the gate’s portico was fifty cubits.

There were narrow windows in the chambers, and in the walls that separated them all around; it was the same for the portico, and all the windows were on the inner side. There were carvings of palm trees on the walls.

The Outer Court

Then the man brought me to the outer courtyard of the temple. Behold, there were rooms, and there was pavement in the courtyard, with thirty rooms next to the pavement.

The pavement went up to the side of the gates, and its width was the same as the gates’ length. This was the lower pavement.

Then the man measured the distance from the front of the lower gate to the front of the inner gate; it was one hundred cubits on the east side, and the same on the north side.

The North Gate

Then he measured the length and width of the gate that was at the north of the outer court.

There were three chambers on either side of that gate, and the gate and its portico measured the same as the main gate-fifty cubits in total length and twenty-five cubits in width.

Its windows, portico, chambers, and its palm trees corresponded to the gate that faced east. Seven steps went up to it and to its portico.

There was a gate to the inner courtyard in front of the gate facing north, just as also there was a gate to the east; the man measured from one gate to the other gate-one hundred cubits in distance.

The South Gate

Next the man brought me to the gate of the southern entrance, and its walls and portico measured the same as the other outer gate.

There were narrow windows in the gateway and its portico just as at that gate. The south gate and its portico measured fifty cubits in length and twenty-five cubits in width.

There were seven steps up to the gate and its portico, and there were carvings of palm trees on the walls on either side.

There was a gate to the inner courtyard on the southern side, and the man measured from that gate to the gate of the south entrance-one hundred cubits in distance.

The Gates of the Inner Court

Then the man brought me to the inner courtyard by way of its southern gate, which had the same measurements as the other gates.

Its chambers, walls, and porticos measured the same as the other gates; there were windows all around in the portico. The inner gate and its portico measured fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.

There were also porticos all around the inner wall; these were twenty-five cubits long and five cubits wide.

This portico faced the outer courtyard with carved palm trees on its walls and eight steps going up to it.

Then the man brought me to the inner courtyard by the eastern way and measured the gate, which had the same measurements as the other gates.

Its chambers, walls, and portico measured the same as the other gates, and there were windows all around. The inner gate and its portico measured fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.

Its portico faced the outer courtyard; it had palm trees on either side of it and eight steps going up it.

Next the man brought me to the northern gate and measured it; it measured the same as the other gates.

Its chambers, walls, and portico measured the same as the other gates, and there were windows all around. The gateway and its portico measured fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.

Its portico faced the outer courtyard; it had palm trees on either side of it and eight steps going up it.

Eight Tables for Sacrifices

There was a room with a door by each of the inner gateways. This was where they rinsed the burnt offerings.

There were two tables on either side of each portico, on which the burnt offering was slaughtered, and also the sin offering and the guilt offering.

By the wall of the courtyard, going up to the gate to the north, there were two tables. Also on the other side there were two tables at the gate’s portico.

There were four tables on either side by the gate; they slaughtered animals on the eight tables.

There were four tables of cut stone for the burnt offerings, one and a half cubits long, one and a half cubits wide, and one cubit tall. On them they laid the tools with which they slaughtered the burnt offerings for the sacrifices.

Two-pronged hooks a hand-breadth long were fastened in the portico all around, and the flesh of the offerings would be put on the tables.

Chambers for Ministry

Near the inner gate, in the inner courtyard, were singers’ chambers. One of these rooms was on the north side, and one on the south.

Then the man said to me, “This room facing south is for the priests who are on duty in the temple.

The room facing north was for the priests on duty at the altar. These are the sons of Zadok who come near to Yahweh to serve him; they are among the sons of Levi.”

The Inner Court

Next he measured the courtyard-one hundred cubits long and one hundred cubits wide in a square, with the altar in front of the house.

Then the man brought me to the portico of the house and measured its doorposts-they were five cubits thick on either side. The entryway itself was three cubits wide, and the walls on each side of it were three cubits wide.

The sanctuary’s portico was twenty cubits long, and its depth was twelve cubits. There were ten steps that went up to it and columns that stood on either side of it.

(Zechariah 2:1–5)

In the twenty-fifth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was struck, in the same day, the LORD’s hand was on me, and he brought me there.

In the visions of God he brought me into the land of Israel, and set me down on a very high mountain, on which was something like the frame of a city to the south.

He brought me there; and, behold, there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze, with a line of flax in his hand and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.

The man said to me, “Son of man, see with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart on all that I will show you; for you have been brought here so that I may show them to you. Declare all that you see to the house of Israel.”

The East Gate

Behold, there was a wall on the outside of the house all around, and in the man’s hand a measuring reed six cubits(a) long, of a cubit and a hand width each. So he measured the thickness of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed.

Then he came to the gate which looks toward the east, and went up its steps. He measured the threshold of the gate, one reed wide; and the other threshold, one reed wide.

Every lodge was one reed long and one reed wide. Between the lodges was five cubits. The threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate toward the house was one reed.

He measured also the porch of the gate toward the house, one reed.

Then he measured the porch of the gate, eight cubits; and its posts, two cubits; and the porch of the gate was toward the house.

The side rooms of the gate eastward were three on this side, and three on that side. The three of them were of one measure. The posts had one measure on this side and on that side.

He measured the width of the opening of the gate, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits;

and a border before the lodges, one cubit on this side, and a border, one cubit on that side; and the side rooms, six cubits on this side, and six cubits on that side.

He measured the gate from the roof of the one side room to the roof of the other, a width of twenty-five cubits, door against door.

He also made posts, sixty cubits; and the court reached to the posts, around the gate.

From the forefront of the gate at the entrance to the forefront of the inner porch of the gate were fifty cubits.

There were closed windows to the side rooms, and to their posts within the gate all around, and likewise to the arches. Windows were around inward. Palm trees were on each post.

The Outer Court

Then he brought me into the outer court. Behold, there were rooms and a pavement made for the court all around. Thirty rooms were on the pavement.

The pavement was by the side of the gates, corresponding to the length of the gates, even the lower pavement.

Then he measured the width from the forefront of the lower gate to the forefront of the inner court outside, one hundred cubits, both on the east and on the north.

The North Gate

He measured the length and width of the gate of the outer court which faces toward the north.

The lodges of it were three on this side and three on that side. Its posts and its arches were the same as the measure of the first gate: its length was fifty cubits, and the width twenty-five cubits.

Its windows, its arches, and its palm trees were the same as the measure of the gate which faces toward the east. They went up to it by seven steps. Its arches were before them.

There was a gate to the inner court facing the other gate, on the north and on the east. He measured one hundred cubits from gate to gate.

The South Gate

He led me toward the south; and behold, there was a gate toward the south. He measured its posts and its arches according to these measurements.

There were windows in it and in its arches all around, like the other windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the width twenty-five cubits.

There were seven steps to go up to it, and its arches were before them. It had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, on its posts.

There was a gate to the inner court toward the south. He measured one hundred cubits from gate to gate toward the south.

The Gates of the Inner Court

Then he brought me to the inner court by the south gate. He measured the south gate according to these measurements;

with its lodges, its posts, and its arches, according to these measurements. There were windows in it and in its arches all around. It was fifty cubits long, and twenty-five cubits wide.

There were arches all around, twenty-five cubits long and five cubits wide.

Its arches were toward the outer court. Palm trees were on its posts. The ascent to it had eight steps.

He brought me into the inner court toward the east. He measured the gate according to these measurements;

with its lodges, its posts, and its arches, according to these measurements. There were windows in it and in its arches all around. It was fifty cubits long, and twenty-five cubits wide.

Its arches were toward the outer court. Palm trees were on its posts on this side and on that side. The ascent to it had eight steps.

He brought me to the north gate, and he measured it according to these measurements—

its lodges, its posts, and its arches. There were windows in it all around. The length was fifty cubits and the width twenty-five cubits.

Its posts were toward the outer court. Palm trees were on its posts on this side and on that side. The ascent to it had eight steps.

Eight Tables for Sacrifices

A room with its door was by the posts at the gates. They washed the burnt offering there.

In the porch of the gate were two tables on this side and two tables on that side, on which to kill the burnt offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering.

On the one side outside, as one goes up to the entry of the gate toward the north, were two tables; and on the other side, which belonged to the porch of the gate, were two tables.

Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate: eight tables, on which they killed the sacrifices.

There were four cut stone tables for the burnt offering, a cubit and a half long, a cubit and a half wide, and one cubit high. They laid the instruments with which they killed the burnt offering and the sacrifice on them.

The hooks, a hand width long, were fastened within all around. The meat of the offering was on the tables.

Chambers for Ministry

Outside of the inner gate were rooms for the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate. They faced toward the south. One at the side of the east gate faced toward the north.

He said to me, “This room, which faces toward the south, is for the priests who perform the duty of the house.

The room which faces toward the north is for the priests who perform the duty of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, who from among the sons of Levi come near to the LORD to minister to him.”

The Inner Court

He measured the court, one hundred cubits long and one hundred cubits wide, square. The altar was before the house.

Then he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured each post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side. The width of the gate was three cubits on this side and three cubits on that side.

The length of the porch was twenty cubits and the width eleven cubits, even by the steps by which they went up to it. There were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side.

Footnotes

(a)40:5 A normal cubit is the length from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow on a man’s arm, or about 18 inches or 46 centimeters. A handbreadth is about 4.3 inches or 11 centimeters, so the long cubit described here would be about 22.3 inches or 57 centimeters long. Thus, a 6 long cubit measuring reed would have been about 3 yards 26.6 inches or about 3.42 meters long.