Bible

Today, in the Bible room, we’re reading the concluding session in the summary of the book of Ezekiel. Here is Session 6, chapters 41 through 48.

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Ezekiel – Session 6 of 6

Chapter 41. Details

In his vision, Ezekiel continues with the minute details of a new temple:

• Next, the man in his vision takes the prophet into the sanctuary;
• (Editor’s note: A cubit is approximately 1.5 feet.)
• The room measures 40 cubits long, 20 cubits wide;
• The man tells Ezekiel this is the Most Holy Place;
• There are rooms along the outside walls of the temple;
• They are stacked three floors high, thirty rooms on each floor;
• All the rooms open to a terrace 5 cubits wide all around;
• The temple measures 100 cubits square;
• There are carvings of cherubs and palm trees around the walls;
• Each cherub has two faces looking in opposite directions;
• The face of a man on one side, a young lion on the other;
• The altar is made of wood, three cubits high, two cubits square;
• The man said, “This is the table before the Lord.”

Chapter 42. Priests

Ezekiel and the man exit the temple into the courtyards:

• There is a courtyard outside the temple on three sides;
• It measures 100 cubits long, 50 cubits wide;
• Rooms around the perimeter have openings to the courtyards;
• The priests’ rooms are on the ground floor;
• They have doors opening to the inside and to the outside;
• The inside openings lead them into the holy space;
• The outside openings lead them out to the common people;
• The priests prepare the sacrifices in their rooms;
• They keep a change of clothes in their rooms;
• One set of clothes is to wear for entering the holy place;
• The other set of clothes is to wear outside to meet the people;
• Then the man measures the overall outside dimensions;
• The wall surrounding the courtyards is 500 cubits square.

Chapter 43. Glory

Then the man takes Ezekiel to the east gate of the temple:

• There, the glory of the God of Israel comes from the east;
• Overwhelmed by the majesty, Ezekiel falls, face down;
• The glory of the Lord fills the temple;
• The Spirit lifts the prophet into the temple;
• There, the Lord tells him this is where He will live in Israel;
• The Lord instructs Ezekiel to write down all the details;
• Which he does;
• To inform future builders how the temple is to be rebuilt;
• He describes the new altar, the size and appearance;
• Then the Lord describes how the altar is to be consecrated;
• For seven straight days a burnt offering sacrifice is to be made;
• A young bull for a sin offering, then a young goat;
• Then a young bull and a ram without blemish;
• Thereafter, the priests shall make burnt offerings to the Lord;
• And the Lord God says He will accept His people.

Chapter 44. Shut

Ezekiel is brought back to the east gate of the sanctuary:

• There, he discovers it is shut;
• The Lord God tells the prophet this gate is to remain shut;
• This is the Lord’s gate;
• Then Ezekiel is taken to the north gate;
• There, he is able to see into the temple;
• And he sees the glory of the Lord filling the temple;
• The Lord then gives Ezekiel instructions about the temple;
• He tells him who may go in and out of the sanctuary;
• No foreigner may ever enter the sanctuary;
• Israel must abandon all their previous unholy practices;
• The Levites who minister must wear only linen garments;
• And their hair must be kept neatly trimmed;
• The Levites will not inherit any land or possessions;
• The Lord Himself will be their only inheritance.

Chapter 45. Instructions

The Lord gives Ezekiel instructions concerning Israel:

• There shall be a plot of land set aside as holy to the Lord;
• The area is to be 25,000 cubits long, 10,000 cubits wide;
• This is where the temple is to be located;
• It shall belong to the Levites;
• They shall also have 20 chambers in the temple;
• There shall be another plot of land adjacent to the Holy plot;
• It is to be 25,000 cubits long, 5,000 cubits wide;
• This area is for the king and the administration of the city;
• The king shall always use just weights and measures;
• The king and the people shall bring burnt offerings to the Lord;
• Everyone shall observe the Passover and other feasts.

Chapter 46. Opened

Six days per week the east gate shall be shut; on the Sabbath, it’s opened:

• It’s also opened on the day of the New Moon;
• The gate shall be shut again at evening;
• Burnt offerings are to be made on the Sabbath and New Moon;
• There shall be grain offerings as well;
• On any chosen day the king may offer a voluntary sacrifice;
• Then the east gate may be opened, when he leaves it’s shut;
• The king may give an inheritance to his sons forever;
• An inheritance given to a slave, is redeemed each year of liberty;
• In the court, there are stone ovens in each corner;
• These are the kitchens where the offerings are prepared.

Chapter 47. Healing

The man brings Ezekiel back to the door of the temple:

• A stream of water is flowing east from under the door;
• The man measures out 1,000 cubits of ankle-deep water;
• Another 1,000 cubits, the water is knee deep;
• Another 1,000 cubits, the water is waist deep;
• Another 1,000 cubits, he is swimming, water is over his head;
• The water flows east and then south into the sea;
• When it reaches the sea, it becomes fresh water;
• Many fish are in the water; trees line both sides of the river;
• The water and the trees have healing properties;
• Divisions:
• The Lord tells the prophet how to divide up the land;
• There will be twelve divisions for the twelve tribes of Israel;
• Israel is getting back this land according to God’s promise;
• The borders on the north will run from Damascus to the sea;
• The east border is over into Gilead;
• The south border is along the line through Kadesh;
• The west border is the Great Sea;
• The twelve tribes will select their areas by casting lots;
• The Lord says non-Jews among the Jews will have a share.

Chapter 48. Twelve

There will be twelve regions of land, one for each of the twelve tribes:

• The northern most region will be for Dan;
• Moving southward the next region is Asher;
• Then Naphtali, then Manasseh, then Ephraim;
• Followed by Reuben, and finally Judah;
• Bordering Judah will be the area set apart for the Lord;
• It will be 25,000 cubits long, same width as the other lots;
• The sanctuary of the Lord shall be in the center;
• The Levites area will be 25,000 cubits long, 10,000 in width;
• Alongside the Levites portion is the area for the city;
• The remaining width for this area is 5,000 cubits;
• The rest of the area bordering Judah is the area for Benjamin;
• South of there is Simeon, then Issachar, Zebulun, then Gad;
• These are the areas assigned by the Lord;
• The city will be a square measuring 4,500 cubits on each side;
• There will be twelve gates named for the tribes of Israel;
• Three gates on each side: north wall: Reuben, Judah, Levi;
• East: Joseph, Benjamin, Dan; south: Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun;
• West wall gates: Gad, Ashur, Naphtali;
• From that day forward the name of the city shall be:
• THE LORD IS THERE.

End of Session 6 of 6 of the book of Ezekiel