The prophet is shown the court, chambers, and the temple |
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The prophet is shown the court, chambers, and the temple |
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¶ Then he brought me forth into the utter court, the way toward the
north: and he brought me into the chamber that was over against the separate
place, and which was before the building toward the north.
2 Before the length of an hundred cubits was the north door, and the breadth was fifty cubits. 3 Over against the twenty cubits which were for the inner court, and over against the pavement which was for the utter court, was gallery against gallery in three stories. 4 And before the chambers was a walk of ten cubits breadth inward, a way of one cubit; and their doors toward the north. |
1
- Utter court Or "outer court." The Hebrew in this section
is very obscure. It seems that if the Lord had wanted a temple built according
to the description, it would have been clear as were the instructions for
the wilderness tabernacle.
2 - The length The building length was 100 cubits ez4113. 3 - Against the pavement Or "facing the pavement" along the inside of the outer wall. ez4017. 3 - In three stories May also be translated "in the third." |
| 5 Now the
upper chambers were shorter: for the galleries were higher than these,
than the lower, and than the middlemost of the building.
6 For they were in three stories, but had not pillars as the pillars of the courts: therefore the building was straitened more than the lowest and the middlemost from the ground. 7 And the wall that was without over against the chambers, toward the utter court on the forepart of the chambers, the length thereof was fifty cubits. |
6 - Shorter "that is, the building became narrower as it rose in height. The chambers were many: so "in My Father's house are many mansions" (Joh 14:2); and besides these there was much "room" still left (compare Lu 14:22). The chambers, though private, were near the temple. Prayer in our chambers is to prepare us for public devotions, and to help us in improving them." (JFB Commenatry). |
| 8 For the
length of the chambers that were in the utter court was fifty cubits: and,
lo, before the temple were an hundred cubits.
9 And from under these chambers was the entry on the east side, as one goeth into them from the utter court. 10 The chambers were in the thickness of the wall of the court toward the east, over against the separate place, and over against the building. 11 And the way before them was like the appearance of the chambers which were toward the north, as long as they, and as broad as they: and all their goings out were both according to their fashions, and according to their doors. 12 And according to the doors of the chambers that were toward the south was a door in the head of the way, even the way directly before the wall toward the east, as one entereth into them. |
10 - Toward the east Or "toward the south" according to the Septuagint. Comparing with verse 11 we may see two buildings of chambers, one north of the temple and one to the south. |
| 13 Then
said he unto me, The north chambers and the south chambers, which are before
the separate place, they be holy chambers, where the priests that approach
unto the LORD shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the
most holy things, and the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the
trespass offering; for the place is holy.
14 When the priests enter therein, then shall they not go out of the holy place into the utter court, but there they shall lay their garments wherein they minister; for they are holy; and shall put on other garments, and shall approach to those things which are for the people. |
13 - Priests ... shall eat They were required to eat certain sacrifices. le1012f, nu1809f. |
| 15 ¶ Now
when he had made an end of measuring the inner house, he brought me forth
toward the gate whose prospect is toward the east, and measured it round
about.
.16 He measured the east side with the measuring reed, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about. 17 He measured the north side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about. 18 He measured the south side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed. 19 He turned about to the west side, and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed. 20 He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place. |
15
- Inner house This would be the temple (not including the
court).
15 - Gate ... toward the east 16 - Five hundred reeds "-the Septuagint substitutes "cubits" for "reeds," to escape the immense compass assigned to the whole, namely, a square of five hundred rods or three thousand cubits (two feet each; Eze 40:5), in all a square of one and one-seventh miles, that is, more than all ancient Jerusalem; also, there is much space thus left unappropriated. FAIRBAIRN rightly supports English Version, which agrees with the Hebrew. The vast extent is another feature marking the ideal character of the temple. It symbolizes the great enlargement of the kingdom of God, when Jehovah-Messiah shall reign at Jerusalem, and from thence to the ends of the earth (Isa 2:2-4; Jer 3:17; Ro 11:12,15)." (JFB) |
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