The Priests’ Chambers
1Then the man led me out by way of the north gate into the outer court.42:1 Ezk 40:17,28,48; 41:1 He brought me to the group of chambers opposite the temple yard and opposite the building42:1 Ezk 41:12; 42:10,13 to the north.
2Along the length of the chambers, which was 175 feet,42:2 Lit 100 cubits, also in vv. 4,842:2 Ezk 41:13 there was an entrance on the north; the width was 87½ feet.42:2 Lit 50 cubits, also in v. 7
3Opposite the 35 foot space42:3 Lit 20 cubits belonging to the inner court and opposite the paved surface42:3 Ezk 40:17 belonging to the outer court, the structure rose gallery by gallery42:3 Ezk 41:15–16 in three tiers.
4In front of the chambers was a walkway toward the inside,42:4 Ezk 46:19 17½ feet42:4 Lit 10 cubits wide and 175 feet long,42:4 LXX, Syr; MT reads wide, a way of one cubit and their entrances were on the north.
5The upper chambers were narrower because the galleries took away more space from them than from the lower and middle stories of the building.
6For they were arranged in three stories and had no pillars like the pillars of the courts;42:6 Ezk 41:6 therefore the upper chambers were set back from the ground more than the lower and middle stories.
7A wall on the outside ran in front of the chambers, parallel to them, toward the outer court; it was 87½ feet long.
8For the chambers on the outer court were 87½ feet long, while those facing the great hall were 175 feet long.42:8 Ezk 41:13–14
10In the thickness of the wall of the court toward the south,42:10 LXX; MT reads east there were chambers facing the temple yard42:10 Ezk 42:1 and the western building,
11with a passageway in front of them, just like the chambers that faced north.42:11 Ezk 42:4 Their length and width, as well as all their exits, measurements, and entrances, were identical.
12The entrance at the beginning of the passageway, the way in front of the corresponding42:12 Or protective; Hb obscure wall as one enters on the east side, was similar to the entrances of the chambers that were on the south side.
13Then the man said to me, “The northern and southern chambers that face the courtyard are the holy chambers where the priests who approach the Lord will eat42:13 Lv 10:3; Dt 21:5; Ezk 40:46 the most holy offerings.42:13 Ex 29:31; Lv 7:6; 10:13–14,17 There they will deposit the most holy offerings — the grain offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings — for the place is holy.42:13 Lv 6:25,29; 14:13; Nm 18:9–10
14Once the priests have entered, they are not to go out from the holy area to the outer court until they have removed the clothes they minister in, for these are holy.42:14 Ex 29:4–9; Lv 8:7,13; Is 61:10; Zch 3:4–5 They are to put on other clothes before they approach the public area.”42:14 Ezk 44:19
Outside Dimensions of the Temple Complex
16He measured the east side with a measuring rod;
it was 875 feet42:16 Lit 500 in rods, also in vv. 17,18,19 by the measuring rod.42:16 Lit rod all around, also in vv. 17,18,19
17He42:17 LXX reads Then he turned to the north and measured the north side;
it was 875 feet by the measuring rod.
18He42:18 LXX reads Then he turned to the south and measured the south side;
it was 875 feet by the measuring rod.
19Then he turned to the west side
and measured 875 feet by the measuring rod.
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