Ezekiel 41:12

This was the largest building in the entire *temple area. It was even larger than the actual *temple. But the purpose of this large building remains a mystery. It was in an area that only the priests used. And its position seems important, because it was near to the most *holy place. The priests may need a large room for various purposes. For example, a library, a college, or to copy ancient books. But we do not think that the Bible mentions such a building elsewhere. So we can add nothing more.

Verses 13-15a (Verse 15a means the first part of verse 15)

The *angel then made 4 more measurements. All these buildings probably still seemed very complex to Ezekiel. He had seen many details, but he had not yet seen the general plan.

These 4 measurements showed Ezekiel that this was not just a collection of buildings. Ezekiel saw that each measurement was exactly 100 *cubits. No more, and no less. So the design was perfect. It was simple and it was clear. Perhaps we can learn from that fact about God’s nature, that is, his perfect character. God designs the smallest details of things. He counts the hairs on our heads (Matthew 10:30). But he also designs the greatest things. And his plan for them is simple and perfect (Psalms 19:4-6).

Inside the *temple – Ezekiel 41:15b-26

(Note: verse 15b means the second half of verse 15.)

v15b He then turned to the *holy place, the most *holy place and the entrance hall by the open area. v16 Wood covered the walls of these three rooms. All three rooms had windows in the walls. By the door, the *temple had wood on the walls. The wood covered all the walls from the floor to the windows. (There were covers over the windows.) v17 There were wood covers that covered the space above the doors. Wood covered both the inside and the outside of the *holy place. On all the walls of the *holy place and the most *holy place were patterns in the wood. v18 The patterns were of *cherubim and palm trees. There was a palm tree between *cherub and *cherub. Each *cherub had two faces. v19 One was the face of a man, which looked at the palm tree on one side. The other face was of a lion. This face looked at the palm tree on the other side. This pattern was all round the *temple. v20 On the wall and above the door, there were *cherubim and palm trees.

v21 The entrance for the door to the *holy place was square. So was the entrance to the most *holy place. v22 There was a wooden *altar three *cubits high and two *cubits square. Its corners, its base and its sides were of wood. The man told me about it. ‘This is the table that is in front of the *LORD.’ v23 Both the *holy place and the most *holy place had double doors. v24 Each of the doors had two pieces that would swing open. v25 On the doors of the *holy place, there were patterns of palm trees and *cherubim. These palm trees and *cherubim were like the ones that were on the walls. And there was a wooden roof over the entrance to the *temple. v26 There were windows and patterns of palm trees on both walls at the sides of the entrance. A roof covered the side rooms of the *temple and over the stairs.

Verses 15b-20 (Verse 15b means the second part of verse 15)

The *angel entered the *temple building again, and Ezekiel described the inside of this building. The description was of a very beautiful room. The walls were stone, but Ezekiel could not see the stone. Wood covered the stone. And skilled workmen had made patterns in the wood.

The room had a very pleasant atmosphere. The outside *temple areas were much less pleasant. There was the smell of burning meat from the *sacrifices. There was the noise from the animals that the priests killed for the *sacrifices. And crowds of people and priests constantly moved about for the ceremonies.

But inside the *temple building, the stone walls made everything quieter. It would be cool, away from the hot sun. And the sounds would be softer, because wood covered the walls. People would burn substances with a sweet smell in the *temple building. That smell was unknown anywhere outside the *temple (Exodus 30:34-38). And it would mix with the smell of the wood on the walls, which was also sweet. Few priests entered the building, and their tasks would be simple. It was a beautiful place (1 Chronicles 16:29).

Ezekiel was describing the perfect *temple. So we might imagine such a building would also be the wealthiest *temple. But this seems not to be correct. There was much gold in the original *temple. It even covered the floors (1 Kings 6:30). Because gold is so pure and precious, it seemed the right material for God’s *holy *temple. But Ezekiel did not mention any gold. Perhaps he did not see any gold. Or perhaps he did not want to mention it. The wealth of the original *temple had made that building great. But Ezekiel’s *temple did not need any gold to make it great. Ezekiel’s *temple was great because God was present there. And it was great because God’s people were loyal to him there. The wealth of the building did not seem important.

The patterns on the walls were palm trees and *cherubim. We have discussed the palm trees (40:16). The palm tree is a word picture for a person who is loyal to God. And the *cherubim were *angels. Ezekiel saw the real *cherubim in 1:5-14. The patterns were pictures of them. The real *cherubim had four faces. They saw in all directions. But of course, patterns on a wall are flat. So these patterns could only show two of their faces. And those faces were looking at the palm trees, even as God’s *angels carefully watch his people.