Ezekiel 40

1 Almost 25 years after we had been [to Babylonia], on the tenth day of the first month of that year, almost 14years after Jerusalem had been destroyed, in a vision [I felt] the power [MTY] of Yahweh on me, and he took me to Israel.

In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was struck, in the same day, the hand of the LORD was on me, and he brought me there.

2 He set me on a very high mountain. On the south side of that mountain there were some buildings that appeared to be [part of] a city.

In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me down on a very high mountain, whereon was as it were the frame of a city on the south.

3 When he took there, I saw a man whose face was like [SIM] bronze. He was standing in the entrance [of a building]. He had a linen cord and a measuring stick in his hand.

He brought me there; and, look, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.

4 He said to me, “You human, look carefully at everything that I am going to show you, and pay attention to everything that I say and everything that I will show you, because that is why you have been brought here. [And then later] you must tell the Israeli people everything that you have seen [here].”

The man said to me, "Son of man, see with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart on all that I shall show you; for, to the intent that I may show them to you, you are brought here: declare all that you see to the house of Israel."

5 [In the vision I saw that] there was a wall that completely surrounded the temple area. The measuring stick in the man’s hand was (10-1/2 feet/3.3 meters) long. He measured the wall: It was (10-1/2 feet/3.3 meters) thick and (10-1/2 feet/3.3 meters) high.

Look, a wall on the outside of the house all around, and in the man's hand a measuring reed ten feet four inches (based on a standard eighteen inches plus three inches). So he measured the thickness of the building ten feet four inches, and the height ten feet four inches.

6 Then he went to the entryway on the east [side of the temple]. He climbed the steps and measured the outer threshold/opening for the entryway: It was (10-1/2 feet/3.3 meters) deep.

Then came he to the gate which looks toward the east, and went up its steps: and he measured the threshold of the gate, ten feet four inches broad; and the other threshold, ten feet four inches broad.

7 Next, there was an entry hallway with [three] (alcoves/very small rooms) along each side [where the guards stood]. Each of the alcoves was (10-1/2 feet/3.3 meters) on each side. There was a dividing wall between each alcove that was (8-3/4 feet/2.7 meters) wide. At the end of the entry hallway was the inner threshold/opening for the entryway, (10-1/2 feet/3.3 meters) deep. It led to the entry room [to the inner courtyard] and faced the temple.

Every side-room was ten feet four inches long, and one reed broad; and the space between the side-rooms was eight feet seven inches; and the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate at the inner end was ten feet four inches.

8 Then he measured the entry room at the end of the entry hallway.

He measured also the porch of the gate toward the house, ten feet four inches.

9 It was about (14 feet/4.2 meters) long, and its supporting columns were (3-1/2 feet/1.1 meters) thick. The entry room of the entryway was at the end of the entry hallway that faced the temple [and extended into the courtyard].

Then measured he the porch of the gate, thirteen feet nine inches; and its jambs, three feet five inches; and the porch of the gate was toward the inner end.

10 Inside the east entryway there were three alcoves on each side of the entry hallway. They each had the same length and width. And the measurements of the walls that divided the alcoves were all identical.

The side-rooms of the gate eastward were three on this side, and three on that side; they three were of one measure: and the jambs had the same measurement.

11 Then he measured the threshold/opening for the entryway: It was (17-1/2 feet/5.3 meters) wide, and the entry hallway [between the alcoves] was (22-3/4 feet/6.9 meters) wide.

He measured the breadth of the opening of the gate, seventeen feet three inches; and the length of the gate, twenty-two feet five inches;

12 In front of each alcove was a low wall about (21 inches/53 cm.) high, and the alcoves were (10-1/2 feet/3.3 meters) on each side.

and a barrier in front of the side-rooms, twenty-one inches, and a barrier on the other side, twenty-one inches; and the side-rooms were ten feet four inches square.

13 Then he measured the width of the roof of the entrance hallway, the distance between the rear wall of one alcove to the rear wall of the opposite alcove, [including the supporting walls along each side]. It was (43-3/4 feet/13.3 meters).

He measured the gate from the ceiling of the one side-room to the ceiling of the other, a breadth of fourty-three feet one inch; the openings being opposite each other.

14 Then he measured all along the dividing walls between the alcoves all along the inside of the entry hallway: It was (105 feet/31.8 meters). He measured as far as the entry room of the entryway.

He also measured the porch, one hundred three feet four inches; and to the jamb of the courtyard was the gateway all around.

15 The length from [outer] opening of the entryway to the far end of the entry room was (87-1/2 feet/26.5 meters).

From the forefront of the gate at the entrance to the forefront of the inner porch of the gate were eighty-six feet one inch.

16 There were [small] windows in the outside walls of all the alcoves, and also in the inner dividing walls between the alcoves. There were also small windows in the entry room. The dividing walls were decorated with [carvings of] palm trees.

There were closed windows to the side-rooms, and toward their jambs within the gate all around, and likewise to the porches; and windows were around the inside; and on each jamb were palm trees.

17 Then [in the vision] he brought me to the outer courtyard. There I saw some rooms, and a stone path/pavement along the walls around the courtyard. There were thirty rooms along the path.

Then he brought me into the outer court; and look, there were rooms and a pavement, made for the court all around: thirty rooms faced the pavement.

18 The stone path was all around the courtyard, and it extended out from the walls into the courtyard for the same distance as the entry room [of the entryway]. That was the lower path.

The pavement was by the side of the gates, corresponding to the length of the gates; this was the lower pavement.

19 Then the man measured the distance [across the outer courtyard of the temple], between the inner [entrance of] the entryway and [the wall surrounding the] inner courtyard: It was (175 feet/53 meters) [on the east side and on the north side of the courtyard].

Then he measured the breadth from the forefront of the lower gate to the forefront of the inner court outside, one hundred seventy-two feet three inches, both on the east and on the north.

20 Then he measured how long and how wide was the entryway that was on the north side, the entrance into the outer courtyard [of the temple].

And the gate of the outer court which faced toward the north, he measured its length and its breadth.

21 There were three alcoves on each side of the entryway hall. The measurements of the alcoves, the dividing walls between the alcoves, and the entry room were the same as as those in the first entryway. The length from [outer] opening of the entryway to the far end of the entry room was (87-1/2 feet/26.5 meters). The entryway was (43-3/4 feet/13.3 meters) wide.

And its side-rooms were three on either side, and its jambs and its porches had the same measurement as the first gate; its length was eighty-six feet one inch, and the breadth fourty-three feet one inch.

22 Its windows and the entry room and the palm tree [decorations all] measured the same as the ones on the east [side]. There were seven steps up to the outer threshold/opening for the entryway, and an entry room was at the other end of the entryway.

And its windows, and its porches, and the palm trees of it had the same measurement as the gate that faced toward the east. And they went up to it by seven steps; and its porch was in front of them.

23 There was an entryway to the inner courtyard that faces the north entryway, like there was on the east [side]. The man measured [the distance] from [the north] entryway to the entryway [on the other side]; it was (175 feet/53 meters).

And there was a gate to the inner court across the gate to the north and the east; and he measured from gate to gate one hundred seventy-two feet three inches.

24 Then he brought me through the south entryway [into the outer courtyard], and he measured it. It measured the same as the other entryways. Its alcoves, its dividing walls between the alcoves, and its entry room measured the same as the ones on the other sides.

He led me toward the south; and look, a gate toward the south. And he measured its jambs and its porches; they were the same size as the others.

25 The alcoves and the entry room had [narrow] windows along the walls, like on the other [sides]. The length [of the outer opening of the] entryway [to the far end of the entry room was] was (87-1/2 feet/26.5 meters) and the entryway was (43-3/4 feet/13.3 meters) wide.

There were windows in it and in its porches all around, like those windows; the length was eighty-six feet one inch, and the breadth fourty-three feet one inch.

26 There were seven steps up to the outer threshold/opening for the entryway, and an entry room was (opposite it/at the end of the entryway facing the courtyard). It [also] had [carvings of] palm trees on the dividing walls that were between the alcoves.

There were seven steps to go up to it, and its porches were in front of them; and it had palm trees on its jambs, one on either side.

27 The inner courtyard also had an entryway on the south [side]. He measured from that entryway to the entrance on the south [side of the outer courtyard; it was also] (175 feet/53 meters).

There was a gate to the inner court toward the south. And he measured from gate to gate toward the south one hundred seventy-two feet three inches.

28 Then [in the vision] he brought me through the south entryway into the inner courtyard, and he measured the south entryway. It measured the same as the other [entryways].

Then he brought me to the inner court by the south gate, and it had the same dimensions as the others.

29 Its alcoves [along the entry hallway], its dividing walls [between the alcoves], and its entry room measured the same as [the ones on] the other [sides]. The alcoves and the entry room had windows. The length [of the outer opening of the] entryway [to the far end of the entry room was] was (87-1/2 feet/26.5 meters) and the entryway was (43-3/4 feet/13.3 meters) wide.

And its side-rooms, and its jambs, and its porches were of the same size as the others. And there were windows in it and in its porches all around; it was eighty-six feet one inch long, and fourty-three feet one inch broad.

30 The entry rooms around [the inner courtyard] were (43-3/4 feet/13.3 meters) wide and (8.7 feet/2.6 meters) long.

And there were porches all around, fourty-three feet one inch long, and eight feet seven inches broad.

31 The entry room faced the outer courtyard. There were [carvings of] palm trees that decorated the columns, and there were eight steps [up] to the entryway.

And the porches of it faced the outer court, and palm trees were on its jambs, and its stairway had eight steps.

32 Then he led me to the east side of the inner courtyard, and he measured the entrance. It had the same measurements as the other [entrances]

And he brought me to the inner court toward the east, and he measured the gate as being the same size;

33 Its alcoves and dividing walls and entry room measured the same as the others.

and its side-rooms, and its jambs, and its porches were the same size as the others, and there were windows in it and in its porches all around. It was eighty-six feet one inch long, and fourty-three feet one inch broad.

34 Its entry room faced the outer courtyard. It also had carvings of palm trees that decorated the walls, and it had eight steps up to it.

The porches of it faced the outer court; and palm trees were on its jambs, on either side, and its stairway had eight steps.

35 Then he led me to the entrance on the north side and measured it. It measured the same as the other entrances.

He brought me to the north gate, and he measured it; and it had the same dimensions as the others;

36 And its alcoves and walls between them and the entry room all had [small] windows in the walls. It was (87-1/2 feet/26.5 meters) long and (43.7 feet/13.3 meters) wide.

its side-rooms, its jambs, and its porches. And there were windows in it all around; the length was eighty-six feet one inch, and the breadth fourty-three feet one inch.

37 Its entry room faced the outer courtyard. There were [carvings of] palm trees that decorated its walls, and there were eight steps [up] to the entryway.

And its porch faced the outer court; and palm trees were on its jambs, on either side, and its stairway had eight steps.

38 [In the vision, I saw that] in the inner entry room of the north entryway there was a door to a side room. That side room was where the [carcasses of the] animals that would be burned completely [on the altar] were washed.

And a chamber with its door was by the porch of the gate; there they washed the burnt offering.

39 In the entry room, there were two tables on each side [of the room]. On those tables would be slaughtered the animals that would be completely burned, and the animals for offerings for sins that people had committed, and offerings to cause people to longer be guilty for having sinned.

And in the porch of the gate were two tables on either side, and two tables on that side, on which to slaughter the burnt offering and the sin offering and guilt offering.

40 Along the outside wall of the entry room, on each side of the steps at the opening to the entryway on the north side, were two tables.

On the one side outside, as one goes up to the entrance of the north gate, were two tables; and on the other side of the porch of the gate were two tables.

41 [So] there were four tables outside the entrance and four tables inside the entry room, on which the [animals to be] sacrificed were slaughtered.

Four tables were on either side of the gate, eight tables on which they slaughtered the sacrifices.

42 There were also four tables of cut stone for the offerings to be completely burned, (31-1/2 in./80 cm.) on each side and (21 in./53 cm.) high. On those stone tables would be placed the tools for slaughtering all the animals for the sacrifices.

There were four tables of carved stone for the burnt offering, two feet seven inches long, and two feet seven inches broad, and twenty-one inches high; on which they laid the instruments with which they slaughtered the burnt offering and the sacrifice.

43 The meat for the offerings would be placed on [stone] tables. There were hooks [on which the meat was hung], each with two prongs, each (3 in./8 cm.) long, fastened to the walls [of the entry room].

The hooks, three inches long, were fastened all around within, and on the tables was the flesh of the offering.

44 Outside the inner entryway, inside the inner courtyard, were two rooms, one on the north side and one on the south side.

And from the outside of the inner gate were two chambers in the inner court, one which was at the side of the north gate facing toward the south; and one at the side of the south gate facing toward the north.

45 The man said to me, “The room whose door faces south is for the priests who are in charge of the work in the temple.

He said to me, "This room that faces toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the duty of the house;

46 The room whose door faces north is for the priests who are in charge of [the work at] the altar. They are the descendants of Zadok; they are the only descendants of Levi who are permitted to approach Yahweh while they work for him.”

and the room that faces toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the duty of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok, who from among the sons of Levi come near to the LORD to minister to him."

47 Then he measured the courtyard: It was square, (175 feet/53 meters) long and (175 feet/53 meters) wide. The altar was in front of the temple.

He measured the court, one hundred seventy-two feet three inches long, and one hundred seventy-two feet three inches broad, a square; and the altar was in front of the house.

48 Then [in the vision] he brought me to the entry room of the temple, and measured the walls on each side of the entrance: They were (8-3/4 feet/2.6 meters) thick. The entrance was (24-1/2 feet/7.4 meters) wide, and the walls on each side of the entrance were (5-1/4 feet/1.6 meters) long.

Then he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured the jambs of the porch, eight feet seven inches on each side. And the breadth of the gate was twenty-four feet one inch, and the sides of the gate were five feet two inches on each side.

49 The entry room was (35 feet/10.6 meters) wide on each side. There were ten steps up to it, and there were pillars on each side of the entrance.

The length of the porch was thirty-four feet five inches, and the breadth twenty feet eight inches. And they went up to it by ten steps; and there were pillars by the jambs on either side.