Ezekiel 42: 1 – 20
Servant Quarters
“ 1 Then he brought me out into the outer court, by the way toward the north; and he brought me into the chamber which was opposite the separating courtyard, and which was opposite the building toward the north. 2 Facing the length, which was one hundred cubits (the width was fifty cubits), was the north door. 3 Opposite the inner court of twenty cubits, and opposite the pavement of the outer court, was gallery against gallery in three stories. 4 In front of the chambers, toward the inside, was a walk ten cubits wide, at a distance of one cubit; and their doors faced north. 5 Now the upper chambers were shorter, because the galleries took away space from them more than from the lower and middle stories of the building. 6 For they were in three stories and did not have pillars like the pillars of the courts; therefore the upper level was shortened more than the lower and middle levels from the ground up. 7 And a wall which was outside ran parallel to the chambers, at the front of the chambers, toward the outer court; its length was fifty cubits. 8 The length of the chambers toward the outer court was fifty cubits, whereas that facing the temple was one hundred cubits. 9 At the lower chambers was the entrance on the east side, as one goes into them from the outer court.10 Also there were chambers in the thickness of the wall of the court toward the east, opposite the separating courtyard and opposite the building. 11 There was a walk in front of them also, and their appearance was like the chambers which were toward the north; they were as long and as wide as the others, and all their exits and entrances were according to plan. 12 And corresponding to the doors of the chambers that were facing south, as one enters them, there was a door in front of the walk, the way directly in front of the wall toward the east. 13 Then he said to me, “The north chambers and the south chambers, which are opposite the separating courtyard, are the holy chambers where the priests who approach the LORD shall eat the most holy offerings. There they shall lay the most holy offerings—the grain offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering—for the place is holy. 14 When the priests enter them, they shall not go out of the holy chamber into the outer court; but there they shall leave their garments in which they minister, for they are holy. They shall put on other garments; then they may approach that which is for the people.” 15 Now when he had finished measuring the inner temple, he brought me out through the gateway that faces toward the east, and measured it all around. 16 He measured the east side with the measuring rod,[a] five hundred rods by the measuring rod all around. 17 He measured the north side, five hundred rods by the measuring rod all around. 18 He measured the south side, five hundred rods by the measuring rod. 19 He came around to the west side and measured five hundred rods by the measuring rod. 20 He measured it on the four sides; it had a wall all around, five hundred cubits long and five hundred wide, to separate the holy areas from the common.”
Wherever you live in the world I know that you have some building or area that is a tourist hot spot. I live in the historic northeast part of the United States. I remember visiting Washington Crossing State Park in Pennsylvania. They have a few interesting things to see. For one they have a building that houses relics of the Revolutionary War. In the main building they have a copy of the famous painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware River. In addition, the historic society has refurbished some of the colonial homes so you can get a good idea of the living arrangements during this time in history. They even had replicas of the boats that were used to ferry the men, canons, and horses across. You can also gaze around at the topography to take into your mind what it would be like during the soldiers stay in the winter of the late 1700’s. The river is nearby and you can visualize the crossing on that historic Christmas Evening. I remember walking back to my car and I passed a family who had just arrived. They were from the Midwest and arrived late after the visitors’ center had closed. They asked me a few questions that I had the answers to. Without knowing it, I had turned out to be their tourist guide. I filled them in on everything I knew and had witnessed. It was an enjoyable thing to do.
We now continue our tour of the future Temple. You also might not realize it but you will be blessed by your investment of time in studying this future structure. You will be a veteran when you get to visit this real spot. People will wonder as to your knowledge and understanding as you are able to inform visitors of the various entrances and buildings within the Temple mount. So, shall we continue our tour?
“ 1 Then he brought me out into the outer court, by the way toward the north; and he brought me into the chamber which was opposite the separating courtyard, and which was opposite the building toward the north. 2 Facing the length, which was one hundred cubits (the width was fifty cubits), was the north door.”
The first question I would have and I am sure you would also ask is, ‘who is ‘he’? In chapter 44 we come to find out who ‘He’ Is, “1 Then He brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary which faces toward the east, but it was shut. 2 And the LORD said to me, “This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter by it, because the LORD God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut.” This heavenly visitant Is none other than our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Himself taking Ezekiel on this tour of His future residence.
The prophet is taken outside the Sanctuary and across the Temple yard to buildings on the far side of the Temple yard, northward from the ‘building’ [Sanctuary]. The ‘outer court’ here probably means the ‘inner’ because he is reversing his path. This is supported by verses 13 – 14, 13 Then he said to me, “The north chambers and the south chambers, which are opposite the separating courtyard, are the holy chambers where the priests who approach the LORD shall eat the most holy offerings. There they shall lay the most holy offerings—the grain offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering—for the place is holy. 14 When the priests enter them, they shall not go out of the holy chamber into the outer court; but there they shall leave their garments in which they minister, for they are holy. They shall put on other garments; then they may approach that which is for the people.” This area was used for the retaining of the priestly garments because they were holy and could not leave the area of the Sanctuary.
3 Opposite the inner court of twenty cubits, and opposite the pavement of the outer court, was gallery against gallery in three stories.
Wow! We now see another building that is three stories high. It comes in-between the temple yard and the pavement of the ‘outer court’. The term ‘over against’ means ‘in the general direction of.’
4 In front of the chambers, toward the inside, was a walk ten cubits wide, at a distance of one cubit; and their doors faced north. 5 Now the upper chambers were shorter, because the galleries took away space from them more than from the lower and middle stories of the building. 6 For they were in three stories and did not have pillars like the pillars of the courts; therefore the upper level was shortened more than the lower and middle levels from the ground up.
There is a walkway that leads to this building. It appears that each floor was set back from the lower floor instead of all the three stories equal in dimensions. It specifically mentions that there weren’t any pillars. It is most likely that the outer wall supported this building.
7 And a wall which was outside ran parallel to the chambers, at the front of the chambers, toward the outer court; its length was fifty cubits. 8 The length of the chambers toward the outer court was fifty cubits, whereas that facing the temple was one hundred cubits.
We had read about this outside wall in chapter 41, “13 So he measured the temple, one hundred cubits long; and the separating courtyard with the building and its walls was one hundred cubits long; 14 also the width of the eastern face of the temple, including the separating courtyard, was one hundred cubits”. The wall was 175 feet long.
9 At the lower chambers was the entrance on the east side, as one goes into them from the outer court. 10 Also there were chambers in the thickness of the wall of the court toward the east, opposite the separating courtyard and opposite the building. 11 There was a walk in front of them also, and their appearance was like the chambers which were toward the north; they were as long and as wide as the others, and all their exits and entrances were according to plan.
There was an entrance to get into this three-story building that faced east. Remember that Ezekiel is now being escorted out of the Temple. He had previous came upon these chambers on the way into the Temple. They were little meeting rooms. Suppose you traveled to Jerusalem separately and wanted to meet up with some friends. You could inform them that you will meet them in or outside chamber room # 7 for example. With thousands of pilgrims coming and going these rooms would be ideal for such a rendezvous.
12 And corresponding to the doors of the chambers that were facing south, as one enters them, there was a door in front of the walk, the way directly in front of the wall toward the east.
As a matter of fact the prophet mentions the parallel design of the south chambers. They also were entered from the a doorway facing east. It seems as though Ezekiel is in a hurry now. You know once you have arrived at the Temple your enthusiasm is at an all time high. After you have accomplished what you came for, that is, seeing and worshiping our Great King, master, Lord, and Savior Jesus Christ, the excitement is not at the same level on leaving. Wouldn’t you agree?
13 Then he said to me, “The north chambers and the south chambers, which are opposite the separating courtyard, are the holy chambers where the priests who approach the LORD shall eat the most holy offerings. There they shall lay the most holy offerings—the grain offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering—for the place is holy.
When the Lord speaks – listen. This is the 4th time. The first time was in chapter 40 when He wanted Ezekiel to note all that he saw and heard [kind of like the same message He gave to His disciple John in Revelation - “19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.”] “4 And the man said to me, “Son of man, look with your eyes and hear with your ears, and fix your mind on everything I show you; for you were brought here so that I might show them to you. Declare to the house of Israel everything you see.”
The second time our Lord spoke to Ezekiel was also in chapter 40 when He designated the apartments for the priests and how they were different than before, “ Then he said to me, “This chamber which faces south is for the priests who have charge of the temple. 46 The chamber which faces north is for the priests who have charge of the altar; these are the sons of Zadok, from the sons of Levi, who come near the LORD to minister to Him.”
The third time was when He left the Holy of Holies having measured it in chapter 41, and said, “This is the Most Holy Place’. Now, this is the fourth direct conversation with His prophet and it is a warning about the treatment of the Holy things, ‘13 Then he said to me, “The north chambers and the south chambers, which are opposite the separating courtyard, are the holy chambers where the priests who approach the LORD shall eat the most holy offerings. There they shall lay the most holy offerings—the grain offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering—for the place is holy.”
Two things are highlighted here by our Lord – the treatment of the holy sacrifices and the treatment of the holy garments of the priests after they performed their holy duties. Under the Mosaic Law priests could partake of the meal offering as Leviticus chapter 2 informs us, ‘3 The rest of the grain offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. It is most holy of the offerings to the LORD made by fire.” They were not allowed to eat of the major sin and guilt offerings as Leviticus chapter 4 tells us, “21 Then he shall carry the bull outside the camp, and burn it as he burned the first bull. It is a sin offering for the assembly.” The parts of the animal had to be wholly consumed on the altar and the rest was taken outside the camp and burned.
We see the Catholic priests duplicate this method of the Jewish priests. You will notice that the priest changes the garments used in the Catholic Mass before he leaves the church.
For those of you who are somewhat familiar with how the Bible was put together, you would be familiar in regards to how the book of Revelation was a book that almost did not make it into the Holy Word due to its unique symbolism. Many people are not aware that the book of Ezekiel almost met the same fate as the book of Revelation. The reason being was in the differences of Ezekiel compared to the Torah. I will give you a few such examples.
In Ezekiel 45 we read this, “8 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “In the first month, on the first day of the month, you shall take a young bull without blemish and cleanse the sanctuary.” This is unheard of in the Torah. In addition some of the festivals given by God are not listed as being celebrated by Ezekiel. In chapter 44 the priesthood is in the line of Zadok not Aaron. The whole Temple layout is completely different than the one built by Solomon.
The area of the Temple courts in Ezekiel’s description is one square mile [5o0 reeds times 500]. This would make it larger than the ancient walled city of Jerusalem. The area allocated to the priests would take up the area between the Jordan river and the Mediterranean Sea. The Temple site itself will be ten miles north of the present Temple Mount.
The sacrifices differ profoundly from the Aaronic priesthood system. There is no mention of the Ark of the Covenant, Cherubim, Mercy Seat, Golden Candlestick, and Table of Showbread. There will not be a High Priest. The Levites will have fewer temple privileges except for the sons of Zadok who will serve as priests. The Feast of Pentecost is omitted as well as the Day of Atonement and there is no evening sacrifice.
One who is given credit for helping the book of Ezekiel make it into the canon is a Rabbi by the name of Hananiah ben Hezekiah. To do this he first gathered 300 vessels of oil for his lamps. He literally burned the midnight oil as he was sequestered without interruption in order to reconcile the contradictions.
However, his work was all to naught because the new Temple and priesthood are not the same. Israel will have the only Temple and priesthood in the world during the Millennial age so the Temple courts and sacred area will need to be greatly enlarged to accommodate the great increase of worshippers. The Levites are reduced in their assignments due to their participation in the worship of idols. On the other hand Zadok was a faithful priest and our Holy God gave him and his sons the privilege of future duties before the Great and Mighty God.
There will be significant geological changes that will occur after our Lord’s Second coming. Everything will be changed. The city of Jerusalem will be elevated as the highest mountain. The city of Jerusalem will be forty miles in circumference and will be the capital of the world.
14 When the priests enter them, they shall not go out of the holy chamber into the outer court; but there they shall leave their garments in which they minister, for they are holy. They shall put on other garments; then they may approach that which is for the people.” 15 Now when he had finished measuring the inner temple, he brought me out through the gateway that faces toward the east, and measured it all around. 16 He measured the east side with the measuring rod, five hundred rods by the measuring rod all around. 17 He measured the north side, five hundred rods by the measuring rod all around. 18 He measured the south side, five hundred rods by the measuring rod. 19 He came around to the west side and measured five hundred rods by the measuring rod. 20 He measured it on the four sides; it had a wall all around, five hundred cubits long and five hundred wide, to separate the holy areas from the common.”
I had mentioned here about how some things are significantly different and missing in the book of Ezekiel as compared to the Torah. However in the upcoming studies it will be fun to see how some of these are not missing but are being used differently such as the Arc of the Covenant. So, hopefully I have wetted your thirst for more study as we continue through God’s Holy Word in the upcoming chapters.
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