CHAPTER 40

Ezekiel's Temple

1 In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither. 2 In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south. 3 And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate. 4 And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.

One might say that the remainder of the book of Ezekiel (Chapters 40-48) deals with Christ's temple in the millenium. This temple has not been built, even though Herod attempted to build one similar.

In his 25th year of captivity, and 14 years after Jerusalem had been destroyed (573BC), God gave this vision to Ezekiel. Therefore, this vision is to initiate hope in the hearts of believers. Ezekiel is charged with receiving the vision and then explaining the vision to the captives.

Notice the "Man" Who speaks to Ezekiel. This is God incarnate - Jesus Christ. He is "the Prince" (Ezekiel 44:3), and the Person Who will build this temple (Zechariah 6:13).

We must remember that our Lord is a carpenter, and He has a plan for building the temple where He shall dwell on earth with man.

5 And behold a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man's hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and an hand breadth: so he measured the breadth of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed.

The "reed" is a topic of much discussion. Some the verse should be read to explain a reed of 6 cubits (18" each) plus one hand breadth (4"), which would total 9'4" (9 feet and 4 inches). Others say that EACH cubit is 18" plus one hand breadth, which would total 11' (11 feet). And some even say that the cubit at that time was not 18".

Well, let us not fall to trivia! I don't know how big the cross was either, but I know Jesus was ON it. I don't know how big the tomb was either, but I know Jesus is NOT IN IT! And I may not know how big this temple will be, but I know it is GOD'S PLAN, and He will reveal it fully when He builds it!

6 Then came he unto the gate which looketh toward the east, and went up the stairs thereof, and measured the threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad; and the other threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad. 7 And every little chamber was one reed long, and one reed broad; and between the little chambers were five cubits; and the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate within was one reed. 8 He measured also the porch of the gate within, one reed. 9 Then measured he the porch of the gate, eight cubits; and the posts thereof, two cubits; and the porch of the gate was inward. 10 And the little chambers of the gate eastward were three on this side, and three on that side; they three were of one measure: and the posts had one measure on this side and on that side. 11 And he measured the breadth of the entry of the gate, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits. 12 The space also before the little chambers was one cubit on this side, and the space was one cubit on that side: and the little chambers were six cubits on this side, and six cubits on that side. 13 He measured then the gate from the roof of one little chamber to the roof of another: the breadth was five and twenty cubits, door against door. 14 He made also posts of threescore cubits, even unto the post of the court round about the gate. 15 And from the face of the gate of the entrance unto the face of the porch of the inner gate were fifty cubits. 16 And there were narrow windows to the little chambers, and to their posts within the gate round about, and likewise to the arches: and windows were round about inward: and upon each post were palm trees.

Ezekiel was placed on a high mountain so he could see all that was done (verse 2). The "Man" came to the East gate of the compound and Ezekiel could see all of it. The wall which went around the entire compound was one reed thick (about 11 feet) and one reed high (also 11 feet).

There were stairs leading UP to the compound, indicating that the entire compound would be higher than ground level. The gate itself was one reed wide (about 11 feet).

Inside the gate there were three cubicles on each side of the walkway (see verses 7 & 10). These cubicles were about 11 feet square, each separated from the other by about 7 and 1/2 feet.

At the end of the walkway was a porch (verses 8-9) that was 11 feet wide and 12 feet high.

Therefore, as one entered the gate, he would be seeing cubicles on each side and facing a large porch at the end of the walkway. From the gate to the porch was 75 feet (verse 15). Palm trees on top of posts lined the walkway (verse 16).

17 Then brought he me into the outward court, and, lo, there were chambers, and a pavement made for the court round about: thirty chambers were upon the pavement. 18 And the pavement by the side of the gates over against the length of the gates was the lower pavement. 19 Then he measured the breadth from the forefront of the lower gate unto the forefront of the inner court without, an hundred cubits eastward and northward.

Inside the "court" (after the porch) were a series of 30 chambers which were raised on a "pavement" above the level of entry.

20 And the gate of the outward court that looked toward the north, he measured the length thereof, and the breadth thereof. 21 And the little chambers thereof were three on this side and three on that side; and the posts thereof and the arches thereof were after the measure of the first gate: the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits. 22 And their windows, and their arches, and their palm trees, were after the measure of the gate that looketh toward the east; and they went up unto it by seven steps; and the arches thereof were before them. 23 And the gate of the inner court was over against the gate toward the north, and toward the east; and he measured from gate to gate an hundred cubits. 24 After that he brought me toward the south, and behold a gate toward the south: and he measured the posts thereof and the arches thereof according to these measures. 25 And there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about, like those windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits. 26 And there were seven steps to go up to it, and the arches thereof were before them: and it had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, upon the posts thereof. 27 And there was a gate in the inner court toward the south: and he measured from gate to gate toward the south an hundred cubits.

The north and south gates were constructed the same as the east gate.

28 And he brought me to the inner court by the south gate: and he measured the south gate according to these measures; 29 And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, according to these measures: and there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad. 30 And the arches round about were five and twenty cubits long, and five cubits broad. 31 And the arches thereof were toward the utter court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof: and the going up to it had eight steps. 32 And he brought me into the inner court toward the east: and he measured the gate according to these measures. 33 And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, were according to these measures: and there were windows therein and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad. 34 And the arches thereof were toward the outward court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps. 35 And he brought me to the north gate, and measured it according to these measures; 36 The little chambers thereof, the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, and the windows to it round about: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits. 37 And the posts thereof were toward the utter court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps.

There were also three gates to the "inner court."

38 And the chambers and the entries thereof were by the posts of the gates, where they washed the burnt offering. 39 And in the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, to slay thereon the burnt offering and the sin offering and the trespass offering. 40 And at the side without, as one goeth up to the entry of the north gate, were two tables; and on the other side, which was at the porch of the gate, were two tables. 41 Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate; eight tables, whereupon they slew their sacrifices. 42 And the four tables were of hewn stone for the burnt offering, of a cubit and an half long, and a cubit and an half broad, and one cubit high: whereupon also they laid the instruments wherewith they slew the burnt offering and the sacrifice. 43 And within were hooks, an hand broad, fastened round about: and upon the tables was the flesh of the offering.

Inside the inner court were tables upon which sacrifices were to be slain. The tables were made out of stone.

44 And without the inner gate were the chambers of the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate; and their prospect was toward the south: one at the side of the east gate having the prospect toward the north. 45 And he said unto me, This chamber, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house. 46 And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him. 47 So he measured the court, an hundred cubits long, and an hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the altar that was before the house. 48 And 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: and the breadth of the gate was three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side. 49 The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits; and he brought me by the steps whereby they went up to it: and there were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side.

Small chambers were inside the gates of the inner court for "singers" and priests. The priests were those who had charge of keeping the compound and those who had charge of slaying the offerings.

Now, let me see if we can sum up the vision of the compound.

There is a small square inside a larger square inside a yet larger square. The small square is the temple, built higher than the inner court. The middle square is the inner court built higher than the outer court. And the largest square is the outer court built higher than ground level.

There are three entrances (North, South, and East), all of which are built almost the same way. Guard chambers line each side of all three gates, and the walkway of each gate culminates in a porch.

Small chambers line the sides of the inner court. Tables for slaying sacrifices are set in each side. And the altar is directly before the temple entrance.

To me, it doesn't matter how long, wide, etc. the compound is. Our Lord Himself is building it, and it will certainly be large enough!

We must keep in mind, the entirety of this vision is to initiate HOPE in the hearts of those who are now being held captive in Babylon. It is the hope of Christ, Messiah coming to build a temple where He will dwell on earth with men.

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.