Ezekiel 42

Chapters 40–48 of Ezekiel consist of the vision of the new temple, and this chapter is one part of that vision. After the temple building and its side chambers are measured in Ezekiel 41, this chapter measures the priests' chambers and the wall surrounding the entire temple complex.

Outline

• Verses 1–9 The guide brings Ezekiel into the northern court and shows him chambers built in three stories. The area of the chambers is a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide. Because of the galleries, the stories grow narrower toward the top, and there is an entrance on the east side.
• Verses 10–12 On the south side are chambers identical in form and size to those on the north.
• Verses 13–14 These chambers are "holy chambers." There the priests eat the most holy things (the holiest of the offerings) and lay up the meat offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering. They leave there the garments in which they minister and put on other garments before going out into the people's court.
• Verses 15–20 The guide goes out by the gate facing east and measures the wall on all four sides with the reed. The east, north, south, and west sides each measure five hundred.

Key Verses

• Ezekiel 42:13 "the priests that approach unto the LORD shall eat the most holy things" — designates the place where the priests eat their holy portion.
• Ezekiel 42:14 "there they shall lay their garments wherein they minister; for they are holy; and shall put on other garments" — distinguishes the holy sphere from the common sphere by means of clothing.
• Ezekiel 42:20 "to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place" — summarizes the purpose of the entire measuring of the temple.

People and Places

• Ezekiel: A prophet of priestly descent who received visions among the exiles in Babylon.
• The guide: The man who appeared in chapter 40 holding a measuring reed; he measures various parts of the temple for Ezekiel.
• Priests: Those who eat the offerings and change their garments in the holy chambers.
• Outer court and inner court: The court used by the people and the court nearer the temple.

Points for Reflection

• Interpretations differ over the unit of measurement in verses 16–20. The Hebrew text allows the measurements to be read as reeds, while some ancient translations render them as cubits. As a result, views of the actual size of the wall's perimeter vary.
• Traditions differ on how to read the new temple vision as a whole. Dispensationalism tends to read it as a temple that will actually be built during the millennial kingdom. Many commentaries in the Reformed tradition read it as a symbolic portrayal of God's presence and His restored people. Others view it as an ideal blueprint given to the community returning from exile.
• The regulation that priests eat the holy offerings is connected with the sacrificial regulations of Leviticus 6–7. For more, see the article Old Testament Sacrifices.
• The scene of measuring the sanctuary is often read alongside the measuring of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21 in the New Testament.