EZEKIEL CHAPTERS 40 – 42

EZEKIEL CHAPTERS 40 – 42

Introduction

These portions of Scripture from Ezekiel cover the 40-42 chapters and deals with the millennial temple. The theme of these Scriptures are (1) a description of the millennial temple (2) worship in the millennial temple (chapters 43 on) and (3) the return of the glory of the Lord to the temple (chapters 43). Our study will be the description of the temple as given to Ezekiel by a Man with a linen cord and a reed, items He uses to measure the temple. Reviewing Revelation 21:9 – 22:5 will aid in your understanding of what we will begin in this session.

So far, Ezekiel has described the returning of the Jewish people to their promised land, the cleansing of the Jewish nation and the restoration of the land to both its productivity and its security. However, the Lord will give them hope as well in His assurance that Israel will once again have a temple in which to worship Him.

In these last nine chapters of Ezekiel we will see described in detail the new temple and its ministry, the new boundaries applying to the tribes of Israel in the land and the return of God’s glory to Israel and His temple. These chapters could be divided as: (1) 40:1-43:12 – the new temple; (2) 43:13-46:24 – the new worship of God; (3) 47:1-48:35 – the new apportionment of the land among the twelve tribes of Israel.

There are four views concerning the temple in Ezekiel. One is that Ezekiel described “ideal worship”, which rejects the idea of a literal temple but spiritualizes it and seeks to apply it to the church of today. Number two is that it is plans for a post-captivity temple; there was one but it didn’t meet the expectations, dimensions, worship, etc as the one envisioned here. The third is that Ezekiel anticipated John’s vision of Revelation chapter 21, problem is Ezekiel saw a temple and John saw a city. Finally is the literal interpretation, that is the one we will discuss. It is the one that talks of the temple being the millennial temple during the 1000 year reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. We will take the Scripture for face value and understand it to mean what it says, and we will attempt not to spiritualize it.

To this day Israel has had four different sanctuaries: (1) the tabernacle of Moses – God’s glory occupied it but left; (2) the temple of Solomon – God’s glory occupied it but left; (3) the second temple after Captivity (Ezra / Zerubbabel) – God’s glory never mentioned in connection with it; (4) Herod’s temple in the time of the Lord Jesus – God’s glory never mentioned in connection with it, however when Jesus entered it He carried the Divine Glory of the Father with Him.

At this point of time there is 4 temples in Israel’s future: the first being the return from captivity temple erected by Ezra, then the temple of Herod during the time of Christ Jesus, then the tribulation temple (Daniel 9:24, 26-27; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4; Revelation 11:1; 15:5) and finally the millennial temple. There is a kingdom temple with kingdom worship mentioned in Isaiah 2:1-5; 60:7, 13; Jeremiah 33:18; Joel 3:18, Micah 4:2; Haggai 2:7-9; Zechariah 6:12-15; 14:16, 20-21.

The Lord God gave plans for the tabernacle (“tent of meeting”) to Moses – a prophet (Exodus 25:8-9, 40); David, a king, was given the plans for Solomon’s temple (2 Chronicles 28:11-19); and now He reveals His plans for the glorious millennial temple to Ezekiel, both a prophet and a priest.

ALL THE BOLD ITALICIZED SCRIPTURE SHOWN HERE IS FROM THE NEW LIVING TRANSLATION BIBLE

Ezekiel 40:1-4 On April 28, during the twenty-fifth year of our captivity—fourteen years after the fall of Jerusalem—the Lord took hold of me. ² In a vision from God he took me to the land of Israel and set me down on a very high mountain. From there I could see toward the south what appeared to be a city. ³ As he brought me nearer, I saw a man whose face shone like bronze standing beside a gateway entrance. He was holding in his hand a linen measuring cord and a measuring rod. ⁴ He said to me, "Son of man, watch and listen. Pay close attention to everything I show you. You have been brought here so I can show you many things. Then you will return to the people of Israel and tell them everything you have seen."

April 28, 573 B.C. – the first day of Passover – is the date God gave Ezekiel the vision that we are studying now. Like Moses, who received the plans for the tabernacle while on a mountain, Ezekiel is receiving the plans for the millennial temple while on a high mountain. Moses sat on a mountain and saw the promised land, although he wasn’t allowed to enter, now Ezekiel is on a mountain seeing God’s future temple and the division of the land during the 1000 year reign of Christ.

This city is the earthly Jerusalem that will be built by Christ at His second coming (Ezekiel 45:6-7; 48:15-35)

The Angel instructed Ezekiel to do four things: (1) behold with your eyes; (2) hear with your ears; (3) set your heart upon all that I will show you; (4) declare all that you see to Israel.

Brass (bronze) was actually copper with the symbolic significance:

Strenght

1 Kings 4:13 - Ben-Geber, in Ramoth Gilead; to him belonged the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, in Gilead; to him also belonged the region of Argob in Bashan — sixty large cities with walls and bronze gate-bars; NKJV

Unwavering steadfastness (whether in good or evil)

Jeremiah 1:18 - For behold, I have made you this day A fortified city and an iron pillar,

And bronze walls against the whole land — Against the kings of Judah, Against its princes,

Against its priests, And against the people of the land. NKJV

Judgment

Deuteronomy 28:23 - And your heavens which are over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you shall be iron. NKJV

This task of measuring was important and, as noted, the Angel spoke to Ezekiel to tell him to be vigilant.

Ezekiel 40:5-16 - ⁵ I could see a wall completely surrounding the Temple area. The man took a measuring rod that was 10½ feet long and measured the wall, and the wall was 10½ feet thick and 10½ feet high. ⁶ Then he went over to the eastern gateway. He climbed the steps and measured the threshold of the gateway; it was 10½ feet front to back. ⁷ There were guard alcoves on each side built into the gateway passage. Each of these alcoves was 10½ feet square, with a distance between them of 8¾ feet along the passage wall. The gateway's inner threshold, which led to the entry room at the inner end of the gateway passage, was 10½ feet front to back. ⁸ He also measured the entry room of the gateway. ⁹ It was 14 feet across, with supporting columns 3½ feet thick. This entry room was at the inner end of the gateway structure, facing toward the Temple. ¹⁰ There were three guard alcoves on each side of the gateway passage. Each had the same measurements, and the dividing walls separating them were also identical. ¹¹ The man measured the gateway entrance, which was 17½ feet wide at the opening and 22¾ feet wide in the gateway passage. ¹² In front of each of the guard alcoves was a 21-inch curb. The alcoves themselves were 10½ feet on each side. ¹³ Then he measured the entire width of the gateway, measuring the distance between the back walls of facing guard alcoves; this distance was 43¾ feet. ¹⁴ He measured the dividing walls all along the inside of the gateway up to the entry room of the gateway; this distance was 105 feet. ¹⁵ The full length of the gateway passage was 87½ feet from one end to the other. ¹⁶ There were recessed windows that narrowed inward through the walls of the guard alcoves and their dividing walls. There were also windows in the entry room. The surfaces of the dividing walls were decorated with carved palm trees.

In discussing the cubits of Israel there is a range of 18 – 22 inches for a cubit. The length from a man’s elbow to his finger tips was considered a cubit. DO NOT get lost in the differences in the values here. The temple comes out perfectly no matter the size you use. In the case of the New Living Translation rendering they used 21 inches for a cubic. Competent architects have studied all these dimensions and agree that it could be drawn to scale and would produce a beautiful temple of the Lord.

IMPORTANT: to measure property is symbolic of claiming it for yourself. There are some of you that need to “measure” some things in your life. Lay claim to it and know it’s size, dimensions, depth, etc.

During the years of the Jewish remnant trying to rebuild the temple the prophet Zechariah saw a man measuring the temple – it was a sign that the temple and the city would one day be restored to it’s former glory.

Zechariah 2:1-5 - 2 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 So I said, "Where are you going?" And he said to me,"To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length." 3 And there was the angel who talked with me, going out; and another angel was coming out to meet him, 4 who said to him, "Run, speak to this young man, saying:'Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it. 5 For I,' says the Lord, 'will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.'" NKJV

The wall was to convey the concept of sacredness with the basic thought being one of separation. Because of its low height it couldn’t serve as protection against an attack of an enemy. The lodges were the accomodations for the ministering priests priests and were in reality guardrooms. The temple officers were located here in order to keep order in the temple and to care for it. Since there is mention of windows in the accommodations it would insinuate the area was roofed.

The palm trees were a symbolic of:

Beauty

Song of Solomon 7:7 - This stature of yours is like a palm tree, And your breasts like its clusters.

NKJV

Fruitfulness

Psalms 92:12-14 - The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, NKJV

Salvation and victory

Revelation 7:9 - After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, NKJV

Regal glory

John 12:13 - took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: "Hosanna!

'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' The King of Israel!" NKJV

The palm tree is characteristic of the millennium age, King Solomon’s reign was typical of it. The branches from the palm tree were used in the Feast of Tabernacles which is a festival typical of the millennium as well.

The entire sacred area was 875 square feet, and it had a wall that was 10 ½ feet high and 10 ½ feet thick. The temple itself was on the west side of the area 175 feet from the walls with its backside reaching to the edge of the sacred area. There were two kitchens behind the temple where the sacrificial meals were prepared. Then there is a third building which has no explanation for what it is, or its purpose. At each corner of the walls there is a kitchen and in the east, north and south walls there are gates. On either side of these gates are five special rooms designed for worshippers (giving a total of 30 such rooms). They were used for the eating of the meals that were a part of the sacrifices.

The outer court covers nearly 400,000 square feet. It doesn’t contain an area for Gentiles or women. The millennial temple will fulfill the Lord’s prayer for His house to be a house of prayer for men and women.

Mark 11:17 - Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves.'" NKJV

Isaiah 56:7 - Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations." NKJV

The size of the outer court and the accessibility of all the rooms imply that the area will be a place for fellowship. A place that people can meet and enjoy sacrificial meals together.

Ezekiel 40:17 – 37 - ¹⁷ Then the man brought me through the gateway into the outer courtyard of the Temple. A stone pavement ran along the walls of the courtyard, and thirty rooms were built against the walls, opening onto the pavement. ¹⁸ This pavement flanked the gates and extended out from the walls into the courtyard the same distance as the gateway entrance. This was the lower pavement. ¹⁹ Then the man measured across the Temple's outer courtyard between the outer and inner gateways; the distance was 175 feet. ²⁰ The man measured the gateway on the north just like the one on the east. ²¹ Here, too, there were three guard alcoves on each side, with dividing walls and an entry room. All the measurements matched those of the east gateway. The gateway passage was 87½ feet long and 43¾ feet wide between the back walls of facing guard alcoves. ²² The windows, the entry room, and the palm tree decorations were identical to those in the east gateway. There were seven steps leading up to the gateway entrance, and the entry room was at the inner end of the gateway passage. ²³ Here on the north side, just as on the east, there was another gateway leading to the Temple's inner courtyard directly opposite this outer gateway. The distance between the two gateways was 175 feet. ²⁴ Then the man took me around to the south gateway and measured its various parts, and they were exactly the same as in the others. ²⁵ It had windows along the walls as the others did, and there was an entry room where the gateway passage opened into the outer courtyard. And like the others, the gateway passage was 87½ feet long and 43¾ feet wide between the back walls of facing guard alcoves. ²⁶ This gateway also had a stairway of seven steps leading up to it, and an entry room at the inner end, and palm tree decorations along the dividing walls. ²⁷ And here again, directly opposite the outer gateway, was another gateway that led into the inner courtyard. The distance between the two gateways was 175 feet. ²⁸ Then the man took me to the south gateway leading into the inner courtyard. He measured it, and it had the same measurements as the other gateways. ²⁹ Its guard alcoves, dividing walls, and entry room were the same size as those in the others. It also had windows along its walls and in the entry room. And like the others, the gateway passage was 87½ feet long and 43¾ feet wide. ³⁰ (The entry rooms of the gateways leading into the inner courtyard were 14 feet across and 43¾ feet wide.) ³¹ The entry room to the south gateway faced into the outer courtyard. It had palm tree decorations on its columns, and there were eight steps leading to its entrance. ³² Then he took me to the east gateway leading to the inner courtyard. He measured it, and it had the same measurements as the other gateways. ³³ Its guard alcoves, dividing walls, and entry room were the same size as those of the others, and there were windows along the walls and in the entry room. The gateway passage measured 87½ feet long and 43¾ feet wide. ³⁴ Its entry room faced into the outer courtyard. It had palm tree decorations on its columns, and there were eight steps leading to its entrance. ³⁵ Then he took me around to the north gateway leading to the inner courtyard. He easured it, and it had the same measurements as the other gateways. ³⁶ The guard alcoves, dividing walls, and entry room of this gateway had the same measurements as in the others and the same window arrangements. The gateway passage measured 87½ feet long and 43¾ feet wide. ³⁷ Its entry room faced into the outer courtyard, and it had palm tree decorations on the columns. There were eight steps leading to its entrance.

This portion covers the inner and outer courts. The walls that contain the inner gates also contain the chambers for the priests and the preparation rooms for the offerings. The inner court is 175 feet square and the altar of sacrifice is placed in the center of the court. In the Old Testament the Brazen Altar was a box made of acacia wood and covered with bronze. It was 7 ½ feet square and 4 ½ feet high with a grating 2 ½ feet from the top on which the sacrifices were laid and a fire was kept burning. The altar in the millennial temple will be 20 feet high with a staircase on the east side. It will be tiered having a base of 31 ½ feet square, the next level being 29 feet square, the 3^rd level will be 24 ½ feet square and the top level will be 21 feet square.

The frequent use of the numbers 5, 20 and 50 denote responsibility. The 50 is the jubilee number, the 5 and 20 that makes it up point to the fulfillment of responsibility toward God. By the way, it is a responsibility that no one, other than Jesus, has been able to meet. However, our blessed Savior met it for us.

Ezekiel 40:38 – 47 - ³⁸ A door led from the entry room of one of the inner gateways into a side room, where the meat for sacrifices was washed. ³⁹ On each side of this entry room were two tables, where the sacrificial animals were slaughtered for the burnt offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings. ⁴⁰ Outside the entry room, on each side of the stairs going up to the north entrance, were two more tables. ⁴¹ So there were eight tables in all—four inside and four outside—where the sacrifices were cut up and prepared. ⁴² There were also four tables of finished stone for preparation of the burnt offerings, each 31½ inches square and 21 inches high. On these tables were placed the butchering knives and other implements for slaughtering the sacrificial animals. ⁴³ There were hooks, each 3 inches long, fastened to the foyer walls. The sacrificial meat was laid on the tables. ⁴⁴ Inside the inner courtyard were two rooms, one beside the north gateway, facing south, and the other beside the south gateway, facing north. ⁴⁵ And the man said to me, "The room beside the north inner gate is for the priests who supervise the Temple maintenance. ⁴⁶ The room beside the south inner gate is for the priests in charge of the altar—the descendants of Zadok—for they alone of all the Levites may approach the Lord to minister to him." ⁴⁷ Then the man measured the inner courtyard, and it was a square, 175 feet wide and 175 feet across. The altar stood in the courtyard in front of the Temple.

Although there will be sacrifices in the millennial temple they will in no way diminish the value of the Lord Jesus’ death on the Cross. They are a continuous memorial of His death on Calvary for 1000 years. Since they didn’t receive Jesus Christ at His first coming they have never celebrated a memorial of His redeeming work. We, as Christians, do this when we partake of the Eucharist.

The Lord chose Zadok’s descendents to fulfill the part of the priest hood. Zadok, whose name means “righteous,” was a son of Ahitub of the line of Eleazer. He was a high priest during the time of David and Solomon. The first mention of him was in his coming to Hebron to take part with David, because of this he was more than likely made ruler over the Aaronites. He and Abiathar acted as high priests on several important occasions. When Adonijah tried to secure the throne, Abiathar sided with him, and Solomon removed him from being a high priest. Zadok being faithful to David became the sole high priest. Through him the line of Phinehas resumed the dignity and held it until the fall of Jerusalem. His son Azariah succeeded him.

Ezekiel 40:48 – 49 - ⁴⁸ Then he brought me to the entry room of the Temple. He measured the walls on either side of the opening to the entry room, and they were 8¾ feet thick. The entrance itself was 24½ feet wide, and the walls on each side of the entrance were an additional 5¼ feet long. ⁴⁹ The entry room was 35 feet wide and 21 feet deep. There were ten steps leading up to it, with a column on each side.

This gives the impression that the porch of the sanctuary resembled Solomon’s

1 Kings 7:21 - He erected the pillars at the portico of the temple. The pillar to the south he named Jakin and the one to the north Boaz. NIV

Ezekiel 41:1 – 4 - After that, the man brought me into the sanctuary of the Temple. He measured the walls on either side of its doorway, and they were 10½ feet thick.

² The doorway was 17½ feet wide, and the walls on each side of it were 8¾ feet long. The sanctuary itself was 70 feet long and 35 feet wide. ³ Then he went beyond the sanctuary into the inner room. He measured the walls on either side of its entrance, and they were 3½ feet thick. The entrance was 10½ feet wide, and the walls on each side of the entrance were 12¼ feet long. ⁴ The inner room of the sanctuary was 35 feet long and 35 feet wide. "This," he told me, "is the Most Holy Place."

Review 1 Kings 6-7 to refresh yourself on Solomon’s temple. Then you will be able to notice the differences between this one and Solomon’s.

It is interesting that the tabernacle of Moses and Solomon’s temple had a prominence of gold and silver, they aren’t mentioned in these chapters (40-48).

Ezekiel was not invited beyond the nave (vestibule) of the temple. When the Angel was measuring the inside of the sanctuary, Ezekiel remained by the door. Ezekiel did not enter the most holy place. Holiness becomes God’s dwelling place. The sanctuary consisted of two rooms: the holy place and the most holy place. There isn’t any mention of the altar of incense, or a veil separating the holy place from the most holy place.

Ezekiel 41:5-11 - ⁵ Then he measured the wall of the Temple, and it was 10½ feet thick. There was a row of rooms along the outside wall; each room was 7 feet wide. ⁶ These side rooms were built in three levels, one above the other, with thirty rooms on each level. The supports for these side rooms rested on exterior ledges on the Temple wall; they did not extend into the wall. ⁷ Each level was wider than the one below it, corresponding to the narrowing of the Temple wall as it rose higher. A stairway led up from the bottom level through the middle level to the top level. ⁸ I saw that the Temple was built on a terrace, which provided a foundation for the side rooms. This terrace was 10½ feet high. ⁹ The outer wall of the Temple's side rooms was 8¾ feet thick. This left an open area between these side rooms ¹⁰ and the row of rooms along the outer wall of the inner courtyard. This open area was 35 feet wide, and it went all the way around the Temple. ¹¹ Two doors opened from the side rooms into the terrace yard, which was 8¾ feet wide. One door faced north and the other south.

God delights in having His people near Him, which probably accounts for the habitations for the priests being so close to the sanctuary. The side chambers were the dwelling places for the priests.

Today all the saints are priests unto Him. Entering into intimate communion with Him contains a blessedness that is beyond words. To have free access to the most holy place and have His attention are wonderful things.

Ezekiel 41:12 – 14 - ¹² A large building stood on the west, facing the Temple courtyard. It was 122½ feet wide and 157½ feet long, and its walls were 8¾ feet thick. ¹³ Then the man measured the Temple, and it was 175 feet long. The courtyard around the building, including its walls, was an additional 175 feet in length. ¹⁴ The inner courtyard to the east of the Temple was also 175 feet wide.

This is known as the Separate Building. It’s use is unknown. It could possibly have been the collection area for the refuse that was left over from the sacrificial animals, etc. but its exact use is not known. However, if it was mentioned it does carry some importance.

Ezekiel 41:15 – 20 - ¹⁵ The building to the west, including its two walls, was also 175 feet wide. The sanctuary, the inner room, and the entry room of the Temple ¹⁶ were all paneled with wood, as were the frames of the recessed windows. The inner walls of the Temple were paneled with wood above and below the windows. ¹⁷ The space above the door leading into the inner room, and its walls inside and out, were also paneled. ¹⁸ All the walls were decorated with carvings of cherubim, each with two faces, and there was a carving of a palm tree between each of the cherubim. ¹⁹ One face—that of a man—looked toward the palm tree on one side. The other face—that of a young lion—looked toward the palm tree on the other side. The figures were carved all along the inside of the Temple, ²⁰ from the floor to the top of the walls, including the outer wall of the sanctuary.

It is believe that the walls were lined with cedar. This tells us of the incorruptible humanity of our Lord Jesus, and then to be adorned with palm trees and cherubim. These emphasis the victory of righteousness and the divine blessings to be enjoyed in His government when our once-rejected Jesus reigns as King over all the earth.

The cherubim relate to God’s holiness and the palm trees again remind us of righteousness and victory. Righteousness does carry a victory with it, and some things can only be won through His righteousness. Thank God we possess His righteousness through Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:22 - even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; NKJV

Ezekiel 41:21 – 26 - ²¹ There were square columns at the entrance to the sanctuary, and the ones at the entrance of the Most Holy Place were similar. ²² There was an altar made of wood, 5¼ feet high and 3½ feet across. Its corners, base, and sides were all made of wood. "This," the man told me, "is the table that stands in the Lord's presence." ²³ Both the sanctuary and the Most Holy Place had double doorways, ²⁴ each with two swinging doors.

²⁵ The doors leading into the sanctuary were decorated with carved cherubim and palm trees, just as on the walls. And there was a wooden roof at the front of the entry room to the Temple. ²⁶ On both sides of the entry room were recessed windows decorated with carved palm trees. The side rooms along the outside wall also had roofs.

There isn’t any mention of the ark of the covenant or the mercy seat. Neither is there any mention of the wooden altar (table) that stood before the entrance to the holy of holies. Nothing is said about the golden altar of incense or the 7 branched golden lampstand.

EZEKIEL 42:1 – 12 - Then the man led me out of the Temple courtyard by way of the north gateway. We entered the outer courtyard and came to a group of rooms against the north wall of the inner courtyard. ² This structure, whose entrance opened toward the north, was 175 feet long and 87½ feet wide. ³ One block of rooms overlooked the 35-foot width of the inner courtyard. Another block of rooms looked out onto the pavement of the outer courtyard. The two blocks were built three levels high and stood across from each other. ⁴ Between the two blocks of rooms ran a walkway 17½ feet wide. It extended the entire 175 feet of the complex, and all the doors faced north. ⁵ Each of the two upper levels of rooms was narrower than the one beneath it because the upper levels had to allow space for walkways in front of them. ⁶ Since there were three levels and they did not have supporting columns as in the courtyards, each of the upper levels was set back from the level beneath it. ⁷ There was an outer wall that separated the rooms from the outer courtyard; it was 87½ feet long. ⁸ This wall added length to the outer block of rooms, which extended for only 87½ feet, while the inner block—the rooms toward the Temple—extended for 175 feet. ⁹ There was an eastern entrance from the outer courtyard to these rooms. ¹⁰ On the south side of the Temple there were two blocks of rooms just south of the inner courtyard between the Temple and the outer courtyard. These rooms were arranged just like the rooms on the north. ¹¹ There was a walkway between the two blocks of rooms just like the complex on the north side of the Temple. This complex of rooms was the same length and width as the other one, and it had the same entrances and doors. The dimensions of each were identical. ¹² So there was an entrance in the wall facing the doors of the inner block of rooms, and another on the east at the end of the interior walkway.

This tells us clearly how the Lord is One of order, plan and correctness. If He has gone to such lengths to give us details of His temple, we need to ask why. And I believe it is because He wants worshipers to seek Him out and approach Him in Spirit and in truth.

The blocks of rooms reaching three stories high are apartments for the ministering priests. They have to conduct services in approximately 24 courses (1 Chronicles). Also there are chambers for the depositing sacrificial gifts and the official garments of the priests. Notice that the buildings get narrower as they rise. The wall outside by the side of the chambers probably acted as a screen for when the priests changed garments. The chambers on the south side were exactly like those on the north. With the priests so close, as we should be, it brings to mind

Psalms 84:4 - Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising You.

Selah NKJV

Ezekiel 42:13 – 14 - ¹³ Then the man told me, "These rooms that overlook the Temple from the north and south are holy. Here the priests who offer sacrifices to the Lord will eat the most holy offerings. And because these rooms are holy, they will be used to store the sacred offerings—the grain offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings. ¹⁴ When the priests leave the sanctuary, they must not go directly to the outer courtyard. They must first take off the clothes they wore while ministering, because these clothes are holy. They must put on other clothes before entering the parts of the building complex open to the public."

The uses of the chambers were twofold: (1) for the priests to eat the most holy things there, and (2) to keep the sacred vestments when they removed them before going into the outer court to the people. The priest were entitled to the part of the meal offering not burned on the altar, the flesh of all the sin offerings and trespass offerings, however the flesh burned outside the camp was not theirs.

Ezekiel 42:15-20 - ¹⁵ When the man had finished measuring the inside of the Temple area, he led me out through the east gateway to measure the entire perimeter. ¹⁶ He measured the east side with his measuring rod, and it was 875 feet long. ¹⁷ Then he measured the north side, and it was also 875 feet. ¹⁸ The south side was also 875 feet, ¹⁹ and the west side was also 875 feet. ²⁰ So the area was 875 feet on each side with a wall all around it to separate what was holy from what was common.

We have the total measurements of the temple given here. It is interesting to note that the entire area is too large for Mount Moriah. However, in Zechariah 14:9-11 we are provided with some insight that might help.

Zechariah 14:9-11 - And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be —

"The Lord is one," And His name one. All the land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be raised up and inhabited in her place from Benjamin's Gate to the place of the First Gate and the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king's winepresses. The people shall dwell in it; And no longer shall there be utter destruction, But Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. NKJV

The Angel that measured the walls, observed by the Apostle John, of the New Jerusalem measured them in the same order as here.

Revelation 21:13 - three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. NKJV