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The Lord Among His People

43 Then the man led me to the outer east gateway, and [L look; T behold] I saw the glory of the God of Israel [C his manifest presence] coming from the east. It sounded like the roar of rushing water, and ·its brightness made the earth shine [the earth radiated/shone with his glory]. The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when the Lord came to destroy the city [ch. 9] and also like the vision I had seen by the Kebar ·River [Canal; 1:1]. I ·bowed [fell] facedown on the ground. The glory of the Lord came into the ·Temple area [L house] through the east gateway.

Then ·the Spirit [or the spirit; or a wind; 2:2; 3:12] picked me up and brought me into the inner courtyard. ·There I saw [L And look/T behold] the Lord’s glory filling the ·Temple [L house]. As the man stood at my side, I heard someone speaking to me from inside the ·Temple [L house]. The voice said to me, “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], this is my throne and the place ·where my feet rest [L for the soles of my feet]. I will live here among the ·Israelites [L sons/T children or Israel] forever. The ·people [L house] of Israel will not make my holy name ·unclean [defiled; C ritually] again. Neither the people nor their kings will ·make it unclean [defile my holy name; C ritually] with their ·sexual sins [prostitution] or with the ·dead bodies [L corpses in their death; or funeral monuments/pillars] of their kings. The kings ·made my name unclean [defiled my holy name; C ritually] by putting their ·doorway [threshold] next to my ·doorway [threshold], and their doorpost next to my doorpost so only a wall separated me from them [C kings erected monuments to themselves around the temple]. When they did their ·acts that I hate [detestable/abominable acts], they ·made my holy name unclean [defiled my holy name; C ritually], and so I ·destroyed [consumed] them in my anger. Now let them stop their ·sexual sins [prostitution] and take the ·dead bodies [or funeral pillars; v. 7] of their kings far away from me. Then I will live among them forever.

10 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], tell the ·people [L house] of Israel about the ·Temple [L house] so they will be ashamed of their ·sins [iniquities]. Let them ·think about the plan of the Temple [study its plan; or consider its perfection]. 11 If they are ashamed of all they have done, let them know the design of the ·Temple [L house] and how it is built. Show them its exits and entrances, all its designs, and also all its ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] and ·teachings [laws; instructions]. Write it down ·as they watch [in their sight] so they will obey all its ·teachings [laws; instructions] and its ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements]. 12 This is the ·teaching about [law of] the ·Temple [L house]: All the area around the top of the mountain is most holy. This is the ·teaching about [law/instruction of] the ·Temple [L house].

The Altar

13 “These are the measurements of the altar, ·using the measuring stick [L in long cubits, each being a cubit and a handbreadth; 40:5]. The altar’s ·gutter [base] is ·twenty-one inches [L one cubit] high and ·twenty-one inches [L one cubit] wide, and its rim is ·about nine inches [L one span] around its edge. And the altar is this tall: 14 From the base on the ground up to the lower ledge, it measures ·three and one-half feet [L two cubits]. It is ·twenty-one inches [L one cubit] wide. It measures ·seven feet [L four cubits] from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge and is ·twenty-one inches [L one cubit] wide. 15 The ·place where the sacrifice is burned on the altar [altar hearth] is ·seven feet [L four cubits] high, with its four ·corners shaped like horns and reaching up above it [horns projecting upward; Ex. 27:2]. 16 It is square, ·twenty-one feet [L twelve cubits] long and ·twenty-one feet [L twelve cubits] wide. 17 The upper ledge is also square, ·twenty-four and one-half feet [L fourteen cubits] long and ·twenty-four and one-half feet [L fourteen cubits] wide. The rim around the altar is ·ten and one-half inches [L one-half cubit] wide, and its ·gutter [base] is ·twenty-one inches [L one cubit] wide all around. Its steps ·are on the east side [L face east].”

18 Then the man said to me, “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], this is what the Lord God says: These are the ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] for the altar. ·When [L On the day] it is built, use these rules to offer burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] and to sprinkle blood on it [Lev. 1:5]. 19 You must give a young bull as a ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3] to the priests, the Levites who are from the ·family [seed; offspring] of Zadok and who come near me to ·serve [minister to] me, says the Lord God. 20 Take some of the bull’s blood and put it on the four ·corners [L horns; Ex. 27:2] of the altar, on the four corners of the ledge, and all around the rim. This is how you will ·make the altar pure [cleanse/purify the altar] and ·ready for God’s service [L make atonement for it]. 21 Then take the bull for the ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3] and burn it in the ·proper [appointed; designated] place ·in the Temple area [L of the house], outside the ·Temple building [sanctuary].

22 “On the second day offer a male goat ·that has nothing wrong with it [without blemish/defect] for a sin offering. The priests will ·make the altar pure and ready for God’s service [cleanse/purify the altar] as they did with the young bull. 23 When you finish ·making the altar pure and ready [purifying it], offer a young bull and a male sheep from the flock, ·which have nothing wrong with them [without blemish/defect]. 24 You must offer them ·in the presence of [before] the Lord, and the priests are to throw salt on them and offer them as a burnt offering [Lev. 1:1–17] to the Lord.

25 “You must prepare a goat every day for seven days as a sin offering. Also, the priests must prepare a young bull and ·male sheep [ram] from the flock, ·which have nothing wrong with them [without blemish/defect]. 26 For seven days the priests are to make ·the altar pure and ready for God’s service [L atonement for the altar and cleanse it]. Then they will ·give the altar to God [consecrate/dedicate it; L fill its hands]. 27 ·After these seven days [L When these days are completed], on the eighth day, the priests must offer your burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] and your ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offerings [Lev. 3:1] on the altar. Then I will accept you, says the Lord God.”

The Temple, the Lord’s Dwelling Place

43 Afterward he brought me to the gate, the gate (A)that faces toward the east. (B)And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. (C)His voice was like the sound of many waters; (D)and the earth shone with His glory. It was (E)like the appearance of the vision which I saw—like the vision which I saw when [a]I came (F)to destroy the city. The visions were like the vision which I saw (G)by the River Chebar; and I fell on my face. (H)And the glory of the Lord came into the [b]temple by way of the gate which faces toward the east. (I)The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, (J)the glory of the Lord filled the [c]temple.

Then I heard Him speaking to me from the temple, while (K)a man stood beside me. And He said to me, “Son of man, this is (L)the place of My throne and (M)the place of the soles of My feet, (N)where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever. (O)No more shall the house of Israel defile My holy name, they nor their kings, by their [d]harlotry or with (P)the carcasses of their kings on their high places. (Q)When they set their threshold by My threshold, and their doorpost by My doorpost, with a wall between them and Me, they defiled My holy name by the abominations which they committed; therefore I have consumed them in My anger. Now let them put their harlotry and the carcasses of their kings far away from Me, and I will dwell in their midst forever.

10 “Son of man, (R)describe the [e]temple to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern. 11 And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the [f]temple and its arrangement, its exits and its entrances, its entire design and all its (S)ordinances, all its forms and all its laws. Write it down in their sight, so that they may keep its whole design and all its ordinances, and (T)perform them. 12 This is the law of the [g]temple: The whole area surrounding (U)the mountaintop is most holy. Behold, this is the law of the temple.

Dimensions of the Altar

13 “These are the measurements of the (V)altar in cubits (W)(the [h]cubit is one cubit and a handbreadth): the base one cubit high and one cubit wide, with a rim all around its edge of one span. This is the height of the altar: 14 from the base on the ground to the lower ledge, two cubits; the width of the ledge, one cubit; from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge, four cubits; and the width of the ledge, one cubit. 15 The altar hearth is four cubits high, with four (X)horns extending upward from the [i]hearth. 16 The altar hearth is twelve cubits long, twelve wide, (Y)square at its four corners; 17 the ledge, fourteen cubits long and fourteen wide on its four sides, with a rim of half a cubit around it; its base, one cubit all around; and (Z)its steps face toward the east.”

Consecrating the Altar

18 And He said to me, “Son of man, thus says the Lord God: ‘These are the ordinances for the altar on the day when it is made, for sacrificing (AA)burnt offerings on it, and for (AB)sprinkling blood on it. 19 You shall give (AC)a young bull for a sin offering to (AD)the priests, the Levites, who are of the seed of (AE)Zadok, who approach Me to minister to Me,’ says the Lord God. 20 ‘You shall take some of its blood and put it on the four horns of the altar, on the four corners of the ledge, and on the rim around it; thus you shall cleanse it and make atonement for it. 21 Then you shall also take the bull of the sin offering, and (AF)burn it in the appointed place of the [j]temple, (AG)outside the sanctuary. 22 On the second day you shall offer a kid of the goats without blemish for a sin offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they cleansed it with the bull. 23 When you have finished cleansing it, you shall offer a young bull without blemish, and a ram from the flock without blemish. 24 When you offer them before the Lord, (AH)the priests shall throw salt on them, and they will offer them up as a burnt offering to the Lord. 25 Every day for (AI)seven days you shall prepare a goat for a sin offering; they shall also prepare a young bull and a ram from the flock, both without blemish. 26 Seven days they shall make atonement for the altar and purify it, and so [k]consecrate [l]it. 27 (AJ)When these days are over it shall be, on the eighth day and thereafter, that the priests shall offer your burnt offerings and your peace offerings on the altar; and I will (AK)accept you,’ says the Lord God.”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 43:3 Some Heb. mss., Vg. He
  2. Ezekiel 43:4 Lit. house
  3. Ezekiel 43:5 Lit. house
  4. Ezekiel 43:7 Unfaithful idolatry
  5. Ezekiel 43:10 Lit. house
  6. Ezekiel 43:11 Lit. house
  7. Ezekiel 43:12 Lit. house
  8. Ezekiel 43:13 A royal cubit of about 21 inches
  9. Ezekiel 43:15 Heb. ariel
  10. Ezekiel 43:21 Lit. house
  11. Ezekiel 43:26 Lit. fill its hands
  12. Ezekiel 43:26 LXX, Syr. themselves

God’s Glory Returns to the Temple

43 Then the man brought me to the gate facing east,(A) and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters,(B) and the land was radiant with his glory.(C) The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when he[a] came to destroy the city and like the visions I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown. The glory(D) of the Lord entered the temple through the gate facing east.(E) Then the Spirit(F) lifted me up(G) and brought me into the inner court, and the glory(H) of the Lord filled the temple.(I)

While the man was standing beside me, I heard someone speaking to me from inside the temple. He said: “Son of man, this is the place of my throne(J) and the place for the soles of my feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever. The people of Israel will never again defile(K) my holy name—neither they nor their kings—by their prostitution and the funeral offerings[b] for their kings at their death.[c](L) When they placed their threshold next to my threshold and their doorposts beside my doorposts, with only a wall between me and them, they defiled my holy name by their detestable practices. So I destroyed them in my anger. Now let them put away from me their prostitution and the funeral offerings for their kings, and I will live among them forever.(M)

10 “Son of man, describe the temple to the people of Israel, that they may be ashamed(N) of their sins. Let them consider its perfection, 11 and if they are ashamed of all they have done, make known to them the design of the temple—its arrangement, its exits and entrances—its whole design and all its regulations[d] and laws. Write these down before them so that they may be faithful to its design and follow all its regulations.(O)

12 “This is the law of the temple: All the surrounding area(P) on top of the mountain will be most holy.(Q) Such is the law of the temple.

The Great Altar Restored

13 “These are the measurements of the altar(R) in long cubits,[e] that cubit being a cubit and a handbreadth: Its gutter is a cubit deep and a cubit wide, with a rim of one span[f] around the edge. And this is the height of the altar: 14 From the gutter on the ground up to the lower ledge that goes around the altar it is two cubits high, and the ledge is a cubit wide.[g] From this lower ledge to the upper ledge that goes around the altar it is four cubits high, and that ledge is also a cubit wide.[h] 15 Above that, the altar hearth(S) is four cubits high, and four horns(T) project upward from the hearth. 16 The altar hearth is square, twelve cubits[i] long and twelve cubits wide.(U) 17 The upper ledge(V) also is square, fourteen cubits[j] long and fourteen cubits wide. All around the altar is a gutter of one cubit with a rim of half a cubit.[k] The steps(W) of the altar face east.(X)

18 Then he said to me, “Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: These will be the regulations for sacrificing burnt offerings(Y) and splashing blood(Z) against the altar when it is built: 19 You are to give a young bull(AA) as a sin offering[l] to the Levitical priests of the family of Zadok,(AB) who come near(AC) to minister before me, declares the Sovereign Lord. 20 You are to take some of its blood and put it on the four horns of the altar(AD) and on the four corners of the upper ledge(AE) and all around the rim, and so purify the altar(AF) and make atonement for it. 21 You are to take the bull for the sin offering and burn it in the designated part of the temple area outside the sanctuary.(AG)

22 “On the second day you are to offer a male goat without defect for a sin offering, and the altar is to be purified as it was purified with the bull. 23 When you have finished purifying it, you are to offer a young bull and a ram from the flock, both without defect.(AH) 24 You are to offer them before the Lord, and the priests are to sprinkle salt(AI) on them and sacrifice them as a burnt offering to the Lord.

25 “For seven days(AJ) you are to provide a male goat daily for a sin offering; you are also to provide a young bull and a ram from the flock, both without defect.(AK) 26 For seven days they are to make atonement for the altar and cleanse it; thus they will dedicate it. 27 At the end of these days, from the eighth day(AL) on, the priests are to present your burnt offerings(AM) and fellowship offerings(AN) on the altar. Then I will accept you, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 43:3 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts I
  2. Ezekiel 43:7 Or the memorial monuments; also in verse 9
  3. Ezekiel 43:7 Or their high places
  4. Ezekiel 43:11 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts regulations and its whole design
  5. Ezekiel 43:13 That is, about 21 inches or about 53 centimeters; also in verses 14 and 17. The long cubit is the basic unit for linear measurement throughout Ezekiel 40–48.
  6. Ezekiel 43:13 That is, about 11 inches or about 27 centimeters
  7. Ezekiel 43:14 That is, about 3 1/2 feet high and 1 3/4 feet wide or about 105 centimeters high and 53 centimeters wide
  8. Ezekiel 43:14 That is, about 7 feet high and 1 3/4 feet wide or about 2.1 meters high and 53 centimeters wide
  9. Ezekiel 43:16 That is, about 21 feet or about 6.4 meters
  10. Ezekiel 43:17 That is, about 25 feet or about 7.4 meters
  11. Ezekiel 43:17 That is, about 11 inches or about 27 centimeters
  12. Ezekiel 43:19 Or purification offering; also in verses 21, 22 and 25

The Glory of the Lord Fills the Temple

43 Then he led me to (A)the gate, the gate facing east. And behold, (B)the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And (C)the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and (D)the earth shone with his glory. And (E)the vision I saw was just like the vision that I had seen (F)when he[a] came to destroy the city, and just like (G)the vision that I had seen (H)by the Chebar canal. And (I)I fell on my face. As (J)the glory of the Lord (K)entered the temple by the gate facing east, (L)the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into (M)the inner court; and behold, (N)the glory of the Lord filled the temple.

(O)While the man was standing beside me, (P)I heard one speaking to me out of the temple, and he said to me, (Q)“Son of man, this is (R)the place of my throne and (S)the place of the soles of my feet, (T)where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever. And the house of Israel shall no more (U)defile my holy name, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoring and by the dead bodies[b] of their kings at their high places,[c] by setting their threshold by my threshold and their doorposts beside my doorposts, with (V)only a wall between me and them. They have (W)defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed, so I have consumed them in my anger. Now let them put away their whoring and the dead bodies of their kings far from me, (X)and I will dwell in their midst forever.

10 “As for you, (Y)son of man, (Z)describe to the house of Israel the temple, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and they shall measure the plan. 11 And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, (AA)make known to them the design of the temple, its arrangement, (AB)its exits and its entrances, that is, its whole design; and make known to them as well all its statutes and its whole design and all its laws, and write it down (AC)in their sight, so that they may observe all its laws and all its statutes and carry them out. 12 This is the law of the temple: the whole territory on the top of (AD)the mountain (AE)all around shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the temple.

The Altar

13 “These are the measurements of (AF)the altar by cubits (the cubit being (AG)a cubit and a handbreadth):[d] its base shall be one cubit high[e] and one cubit broad, with a rim of one span[f] around its edge. And this shall be the height of the altar: 14 from the base on the ground to the lower ledge, two cubits, with a breadth of one cubit; and from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge, four cubits, with a breadth of one cubit; 15 and the altar hearth, four cubits; and from the altar hearth projecting upward, (AH)four horns. 16 The altar hearth shall be (AI)square, twelve cubits long by twelve broad. 17 The ledge also shall be square, fourteen cubits long by fourteen broad, with a rim around it half a cubit broad, and its base one cubit all around. (AJ)The steps of the altar shall face east.”

18 And he said to me, (AK)“Son of man, thus says the Lord God: These are the ordinances for the altar: On the day when it is erected for offering burnt offerings upon it and (AL)for throwing blood against it, 19 you shall give to (AM)the Levitical priests (AN)of the family of Zadok, who draw near to me to minister to me, declares the Lord God, (AO)a bull from the herd for a sin offering. 20 And (AP)you shall take some of its blood and put it on (AQ)the four horns of the altar and on the four corners of the ledge and upon (AR)the rim all around. (AS)Thus you shall purify the altar and make atonement for it. 21 You shall also take the bull of the sin offering, and (AT)it shall be burned in the appointed place belonging to the temple, outside the sacred area. 22 And on the second day you shall offer a male goat without blemish for a sin offering; and the altar shall be purified, as it was purified with the bull. 23 When you have finished (AU)purifying it, you shall offer a bull from the herd without blemish and (AV)a ram from the flock without blemish. 24 You shall present them before the Lord, and the priests (AW)shall sprinkle salt on them and offer them up as a burnt offering to the Lord. 25 (AX)For seven days you shall provide daily a male goat for a sin offering; also, a bull from the herd and a ram from the flock, without blemish, shall be provided. 26 Seven days shall they make atonement for the altar and cleanse it, and so consecrate it.[g] 27 And when they have completed these days, then (AY)from the eighth day onward the priests shall offer on the altar your burnt offerings and your (AZ)peace offerings, and (BA)I will accept you, declares the Lord God.”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 43:3 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts when I
  2. Ezekiel 43:7 Or the monuments; also verse 9
  3. Ezekiel 43:7 Or at their deaths
  4. Ezekiel 43:13 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters; a handbreadth was about 3 inches or 7.5 centimeters
  5. Ezekiel 43:13 Or its gutter shall be one cubit deep
  6. Ezekiel 43:13 A span was about 9 inches or 22 centimeters
  7. Ezekiel 43:26 Hebrew fill its hand