Ezekiel 41:1-2
The angel of the Lord continues leading Ezekiel on his tour of this temple that has not yet been built. The sanctuary is the 2nd room of this 3-room building. The entrance was 17.5 feet wide with a little over 8.5 feet on either side of the door. This long hall is 25' wide by 70' long.
Ezekiel 41:3-4
The angel went inside the 3rd room, the holy of holies or the Most Holy Place. This room will be 35'x35' and the doorway (the only way) is 10.5 ft high x about 12' wide. The doors are incrementally smaller from the vestibule (14) to the holy place(10) to the most holy place(7). In previous temples this room housed the ark of the covenant with the mercy seat on it. But, more importantly, it attempted to contain the presence of God, the Shekinah Glory.
Notice Ezekiel doesn't go in. In previous temples only the high priest was allowed to enter and then only once a year.
Ezekiel 41:5-11
Ezekiel saw 3 stories of chambers with 30 on each level. They were larger at the top than the bottom, stair-stepping up. There was a terrace around these chambers and access to the terrace from the north and the south. There is no indication of the purpose of these 90 rooms. Its interesting that he is careful to state that these had their own foundation, they were not supported by the temple.
Ezekiel 41:12
The building behind the temple was 90 cubits (157.5) wide with a 5' wall (8.5') on both sides equaling the 100-cubit (157.5) width of inner court. The depth of the building was 70 cubits (122.5').
Ezekiel 41:13-17
The temple and galleries are measured and the symmetry of the temple is obvious. The galleries of the 3 stories is paneled with wood all around. The moldings around the doors and windows of these chambers would make them ornate to Ezekiel. With the tools at hand, this was a tremendous amount of work. However, in our days, it is a matter of business, every day décor.
Ezekiel 41:18-20
The temple is designed with carvings inlaid with cherubim and palm trees alternating. Each Cherub had two faces, that of a lion and a man.
Ezekiel 41:21-26
Ezekiel thought he was looking at an altar – the angel corrected him stating it was the table before the Lord. This is likely a reference to the Table of Presence that held the showbread.
There were two doors at the single doorway entrance to the sanctuary of the temple. These doors each had panels with the Cherubim and palm tree design on them.
©2020 Doug Ford
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