Does this complete a vision in which the prophet Ezekiel was guided through the architectural layout of an idealized temple? What can we learn from it? Let’s look at Ezekiel 42.
What was the architectural layout of the sacred chambers designated for the priests?
Then he brought me out into the outer courtyard, the way toward the north; and he brought me to the chamber which was opposite the separate area and opposite the building toward the north. Along the length, which was a hundred cubits, was the north door; the width was fifty cubits. Opposite the twenty cubits which belonged to the inner courtyard, and opposite the stone pavement which belonged to the outer courtyard, was gallery corresponding to gallery in three stories. (Ezek 42:1-3 NASB)
Does Ezekiel describe a walkway and the spatial layout of the temple?
In front of the rooms was an inner passageway ten cubits wide and a hundred cubits long. Their doors were on the north. (Ezek 42:4 NIV)
Does Ezekiel describe the architecture and layout of the priestly chambers situated near the inner and outer courts?
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. 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.
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. The length of the chambers toward the outer court was fifty cubits, whereas that facing the temple was one hundred cubits. At the lower chambers was the entrance on the east side, as one goes into them from the outer court. (Ezek 42:5-9 NKJV)
Does Ezekiel describe the architectural symmetry and layout of the southern temple chambers?
On the south side of the Temple there were two blocks of rooms just south of the inner courtyard between the Temple and the outer courtyard. These rooms were arranged just like the rooms on the north. There was a walkway between the two blocks of rooms just like the complex on the north side of the Temple.
This complex of rooms was the same length and width as the other one, and it had the same entrances and doors. The dimensions of each were identical. So there was an entrance in the wall facing the doors of the inner block of rooms, and another on the east at the end of the interior walkway. (Ezek 42:10-12 NLT)
Does Ezekiel describe the sacred purposes of the northern and southern chambers in the inner court of the temple?
Then he said to me, “The north rooms and the south rooms, which are opposite the separate place, are the holy rooms, where the priests who are near to Yahweh shall eat the most holy things. There they shall lay the most holy things, with the meal offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering; for the place is holy.
“When the priests enter in, then they shall not go out of the holy place into the outer court until they lay their garments in which they minister there; for they are holy. Then they shall put on other garments, and shall approach that which is for the people.” (Ezek 42:13-14 WEB)
Did Ezekiel conclude by describing a massive square wall separating the holy from the common?
Now when he had finished measuring the interior of the temple area, he led me out by the gate that faced east, and measured the temple area all around. He measured the east side with the measuring reed, 500 cubits by the measuring reed all around. He measured the north side, 500 cubits by the measuring reed all around.
He measured the south side, 500 cubits by the measuring reed. Then he turned to the west side and measured, 500 cubits by the measuring reed. He measured it on the four sides. It had a wall around it, 500 cubits long and 500 cubits broad, to make a separation between the holy and the common. (Ezek 42:15-20 ESV)
Does this symbolize Christians as the living temple of God, and a moral wall?
Do idols belong in the temple of God? We are the temple of the living God, as God himself says, “I will live with these people and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” The Lord also says, “Leave them and stay away! Don't touch anything that isn't clean. Then I will welcome you and be your Father. You will be my sons and my daughters, as surely as I am God, the All-Powerful.” (2 Cor 6:16-18 CEV)
Does this complete a vision in which the prophet Ezekiel was guided through the architectural layout of an idealized temple? What can we learn from it? You decide!
