THE VISION OF THE TEMPLE-BUILDING.
The remaining Chapter s of Ezekiel's prophecy give an ideal picture of
the spiritual temple of the Lord, of His Church of the New Testament,
of his glorious kingdom. It was a wonderful vision which was
vouchsafed to the prophet, its beauty being enhanced by the
de... [ Continue Reading ]
In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, very likely the year
575 B. C. IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, which began in spring, in the
month Abib, or Nisan, IN THE TENTH DAY OF THE MONTH, IN THE FOURTEENTH
YEAR AFTER THAT THE CITY WAS SMITTEN, that is, after it was taken by
the Chaldean invader... [ Continue Reading ]
In the visions of God, in which his mind was entirely detached from
his body, BROUGHT HE ME INTO THE LAND OF ISRAEL AND SET ME UPON A VERY
HIGH MOUNTAIN, figurative for the mountain of God's holiness, on which
His Church is founded, BY WHICH WAS AS THE FRAME OF A CITY ON THE
SOUTH, the city-like bui... [ Continue Reading ]
And He brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, a heavenly
being in the form and appearance of a man, WHOSE APPEARANCE WAS LIKE
THE APPEARANCE OF BRASS, bright, shining, resplendent, as befitted
this singular Angel of Jehovah, Revelation 1:15, WITH A LINE OF FLAX
IN HIS HAND, used for the p... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Man said unto me, by virtue of His own authority, which is
equal to that of God Himself, SON OF MAN, BEHOLD WITH THINE EYES AND
HEAR WITH THINE EARS, observing most carefully with all the senses,
AND SET THINE HEART, in close attention, UPON ALL THAT I SHALL SHOW
THEE; FOR TO THE INTENT THAT... [ Continue Reading ]
And behold a wall on the outside of the house round about, enclosing
the entire complex of buildings, AND IN THE MAN'S HAND A
MEASURING-REED OF SIX CUBITS LONG BY THE CUBIT AND AN HAND BREADTH, or
about one rod, the length of the measuring-rod thus being greater than
the one usually employed; SO HE... [ Continue Reading ]
Then came He, apparently having started from the north gate, UNTO THE
GATE WHICH LOOKETH TOWARD THE EAST, for that was the direction in
which the Temple faced, AND WENT UP THE STAIRS THEREOF AND MEASURED
THE THRESHOLD OF THE GATE, of this main entrance, WHICH WAS ONE REED
BROAD; AND THE OTHER THRESH... [ Continue Reading ]
And every little chamber, the guard-room for the gate-watch, WAS ONE
REED LONG AND ONE REED BROAD, AND BETWEEN THE LITTLE CHAMBERS, of
which there seem to have been at least two, WERE FIVE CUBITS; AND THE
THRESHOLD OF THE GATE BY THE PORCH OF THE GATE WITHIN, where there was
an entrance portico, WAS... [ Continue Reading ]
He measured also the porch of the gate within, the pillared archway
itself, ONE REED.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then measured He the porch of the gate, the length of the portico,
EIGHT CUBITS, AND THE POSTS THEREOF, the pillars supporting its roof,
TWO CUBITS; AND THE PORCH. OF THE GATE WAS INWARD, literally, "away
from the house," serving as an approach to the Temple.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the little chambers of the gate eastward, in addition to those
flanking the entrance, WERE THREE ON THIS SIDE AND THREE ON THAT SIDE;
THEY THREE WERE OF ONE MEASURE, the same size as those mentioned in
verse 7, AND THE POSTS, the pillars or half-columns supporting the
pediments or the portico, H... [ Continue Reading ]
The space also, literally, "the limit or boundary," apparently a low
barrier wall, BEFORE THE LITTLE CHAMBERS, where they flanked the
entrance portico, WAS ONE CUBIT ON THIS SIDE, AND THE SPACE WAS ONE
CUBIT ON THAT SIDE, the barrier thus serving to keep those who entered
in the center of the passag... [ Continue Reading ]
He measured then the gate, the entire width of the gate-buildings or
entrance porticoes, FROM THE ROOF OF ONE LITTLE CHAMBER TO THE ROOF OF
ANOTHER, the entire distance between the outside walls; THE BREADTH
WAS FIVE AMID TWENTY CUBITS, DOOR AGAINST DOOR, literally, "opening
against opening,'' that... [ Continue Reading ]
He made also posts of threescore cubits, that is, sixty cubits high,
these being the gate-pillars, EVEN UNTO THE POST OF THE COURT ROUND
ABOUT THE GATE, literally, "and at the pillar was the court round and
round the gate,'' that is, the outer court of the Temple.... [ Continue Reading ]
And from the face of the gate of the entrance, where the steps led up
into the Temple, UNTO THE FACE OF THE PORCH OF THE INNER GATE, which
led to the Sanctuary proper, WERE FIFTY CUBITS, through the entire
length of the entrance portico.... [ Continue Reading ]
And there were narrow windows to the little chambers, small latticed
openings for light, slanting inward from the outside of the wall, so
as to offer as much light as possible, AND TO THEIR POSTS WITHIN THE
GATE ROUND ABOUT, pillars projecting from the walls enclosing these
windows, and likewise to... [ Continue Reading ]
Then brought He me into the outward court, that before and around the
outer pillars, AND, LO, THERE WERE CHAMBERS, cells or small
apartments, AND A PAVEMENT, a floor of tesselated mosaic, MADE FOR THE
COURT ROUND ABOUT, on the three open sides; THIRTY CHAMBERS WERE UPON
THE PAVEMENT, thus enclosing... [ Continue Reading ]
And the pavement by the side of the gates, it was constructed there,
OVER AGAINST THE LENGTH OF THE GATES, exactly the length of the gates,
WAS THE LOWER PAVEMENT, thereby distinguished from the upper or inner
court.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then He measured the breadth from the forefront of the lower gate,
from that of the lower pavement, or court, UNTO THE FOREFRONT OF THE
INNER COURT WITHOUT, that is, to the entrance of the inner court, as
measured from outside, AN HUNDRED CUBITS EASTWARD AND NORTHWARD, the
same dimensions being true... [ Continue Reading ]
And the gate of the outward court that looked toward the north, He
measured the length thereof and the breadth thereof, just as He had
done on the east entrance, the description of this section, therefore,
being very brief.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the little chambers thereof, the guard-rooms, WERE THREE ON THIS
SIDE AND THREE ON THAT SIDE; AND THE POSTS, or pillars, THEREOF, AND
THE ARCHES THEREOF, the galleries, or porticoes, WERE AFTER THE
MEASURE OF THE FIRST GATE; THE LENGTH THEREOF WAS FIFTY CUBITS,
measuring from the outer entrance,... [ Continue Reading ]
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, the porches, or
pediments, were before them, projecting over against them.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the gate of the inner court was over against the gate toward the
north and toward the east, so that the gates of the outer and of the
inner court were exactly in line with each other; AND HE MEASURED FROM
GATE TO GATE AN HUNDRED CUBITS.... [ Continue Reading ]
After that He brought me toward the south, the entrance portico of
which is described just as briefly, AND BEHOLD A GATE TOWARD THE
SOUTH; AND HE MEASURED THE POSTS THEREOF AND THE ARCHES THEREOF, THE
PILLARS AND THE PORCHES, ACCORDING TO THESE MEASURES, their dimensions
being identical with those o... [ Continue Reading ]
And. there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about,
like those windows, the same kind of latticed openings as on the east
side; THE LENGTH WAS FIFTY CUBITS AND THE BREADTH FIVE AND TWENTY
CUBITS.... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
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
symmetry and beauty of this figurative Temple are but a faint picture
of the greater perfection of the Lord's temple, of His Church.... [ Continue Reading ]
And He brought me to the inner court by the south gate, that is,
through this gate, so that they were now within the holy court; AND HE
MEASURED THE SOUTH GATE ACCORDING TO THESE MEASURES, those used for
the other parts of the building,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE INNER COURT WITH ITS GATES, CELLS, AND SACRIFICIAL TABLES... [ Continue Reading ]
and the little chambers thereof, the guard-rooms, 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the arches round about, the pediments, or galleries, WERE FIVE AND
TWENTY CUBITS LONG AND FIVE CUBITS BROAD.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the arches thereof were toward the utter court, the wall
projections extending into the outer court, AND PALM-TREES WERE UPON
THE POSTS THEREOF, as ornaments sculptured in relief, AND THE GOING UP
TO IT HAD EIGHT STEPS, for the inner court rose higher above the outer
court than the latter did ab... [ Continue Reading ]
And He brought me, as they continued their walk throughout the complex
of Temple-buildings, INTO THE INNER COURT TOWARD THE EAST; AND HE
MEASURED THE GATE ACCORDING TO THESE MEASURES, those employed in the
other parts of the building.... [ Continue Reading ]
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, the same dimensions as the
other approaches.... [ Continue Reading ]
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, the symmetry of the entire structure
thus being shown once more.... [ Continue Reading ]
And He brought me to the north gate and measured it according to these
measures:... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the posts thereof, the pillars bearing the special pediments, 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the chambers and the entries thereof were by the posts of the
gates, literally, "And a cell with its entry was at either pillar at
the gates," or at pillars at the gates, for the cell seems to have had
a door leading to each of the three interior gates, WHERE THEY WASHED
THE BURNT OFFERING, a ri... [ Continue Reading ]
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, that is, to cut up the
carcasses of the slain animals according to the rules observed by the
priests from olden times.... [ Continue Reading ]
And at the side without, as one goeth up to the entry of the north
gate, on the outside of the Temple-hall, WERE TWO TABLES; AND ON THE
OTHER SIDE, WHICH WAS AT THE PORCH OF THE GATE, AGAINST THE WALL OF
THE LEFT SIDE, WERE TWO TABLES.... [ Continue Reading ]
Four tables were on this side and four tables on that side, by the
side of the gate, on either side of the approach to the inner hail;
EIGHT TABLES WHEREUPON THEY SLEW THEIR SACRIFICES, cutting them up
according to the prescribed formulas. These tables were evidently of
wood, as the next sentence in... [ Continue Reading ]
And the four tables were of hewn stone for the burnt offering, rather,
"and four tables at the ascent," the stairway, "of hewn stone," OF A
CUBIT AND AN HALF LONG AND A CUBIT AND AN HALF BROAD AND ONE CUBIT
HIGH, apparently lower than the wooden tables, WHEREUPON ALSO THEY
LAID THE INSTRUMENTS WHERE... [ Continue Reading ]
And within were hooks, double staples or forked hooks, AN HAND BROAD,
FASTENED ROUND ABOUT, for the purpose of suspending the slain animals;
AND UPON THE TABLES WAS THE FLESH OF THE OFFERING, placed upon them
for the purpose indicated.... [ Continue Reading ]
And without the inner gate were the chambers of the singers in the
inner court, these two cells being immediately at the entrance of the
court, which was at the side of the north gate, AND THEIR PROSPECT WAS
TOWARD THE SOUTH, that is, the one faced in that direction; ONE AT THE
SIDE OF THE EAST GATE... [ Continue Reading ]
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, that is,
in charge of the Temple-buildings, superintendents of the entire
Temple area. "That the singers are here so prominent is explained by
the fact that in the state... [ Continue Reading ]
And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests,
the keepers of the charge of the altar, the superintendents of the
sacrificial part of the Temple-worship; THESE ARE THE SONS OF ZADOK
AMONG THE SONS OF LEVI, for in this line the priesthood was to
continue, 1 Kings 2:35, WHICH C... [ Continue Reading ]
So He measured the court, an hundred cubits long and an hundred cubits
broad, four-square, and the altar, namely, that of burnt offering,
THAT WAS BEFORE THE HOUSE, out before the entrance of the Holy Place.... [ Continue Reading ]
And He brought me to the porch of the house, the large portico which
was before the Sanctuary proper, AND MEASURED EACH POST, or pillar, 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
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, ten
in number; AND THERE WERE PILLARS BY THE POSTS, ONE ON THIS SIDE AND
ANOTHER ON THAT SIDE, like the towers Jachin and Boaz in the Temple of
Solomon. Cf 1 Kings 7. T... [ Continue Reading ]