The Altar

¹³ “These are the measurements of ^(A)the altar by cubits (the cubit being ^(B)a cubit and a handbreadth):^[a] its base shall be one cubit high^[b] and one cubit broad, with a rim of one span^[c] around its edge. And this shall be the height of the altar: ¹⁴ from the base on the ground to the lower ledge, two cubits, with a breadth of one cubit; and from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge, four cubits, with a breadth of one cubit; ¹⁵ and the altar hearth, four cubits; and from the altar hearth projecting upward, ^(C)four horns. ¹⁶ The altar hearth shall be ^(D)square, twelve cubits long by twelve broad. ¹⁷ The ledge also shall be square, fourteen cubits long by fourteen broad, with a rim around it half a cubit broad, and its base one cubit all around. ^(E)The steps of the altar shall face east.”

¹⁸ And he said to me, ^(F)“Son of man, thus says the Lord God: These are the ordinances for the altar: On the day when it is erected for offering burnt offerings upon it and ^(G)for throwing blood against it, ¹⁹ you shall give to ^(H)the Levitical priests ^(I)of the family of Zadok, who draw near to me to minister to me, declares the Lord God, ^(J)a bull from the herd for a sin offering. ²⁰ And ^(K)you shall take some of its blood and put it on ^(L)the four horns of the altar and on the four corners of the ledge and upon ^(M)the rim all around. ^(N)Thus you shall purify the altar and make atonement for it. ²¹ You shall also take the bull of the sin offering, and ^(O)it shall be burned in the appointed place belonging to the temple, outside the sacred area. ²² And on the second day you shall offer a male goat without blemish for a sin offering; and the altar shall be purified, as it was purified with the bull. ²³ When you have finished ^(P)purifying it, you shall offer a bull from the herd without blemish and ^(Q)a ram from the flock without blemish. ²⁴ You shall present them before the Lord, and the priests ^(R)shall sprinkle salt on them and offer them up as a burnt offering to the Lord. ^25 (S)For seven days you shall provide daily a male goat for a sin offering; also, a bull from the herd and a ram from the flock, without blemish, shall be provided. ²⁶ Seven days shall they make atonement for the altar and cleanse it, and so consecrate it.^{[d] 27} And when they have completed these days, then ^(T)from the eighth day onward the priests shall offer on the altar your burnt offerings and your ^(U)peace offerings, and ^(V)I will accept you, declares the Lord God.”

Water Flowing from the Temple

47 Then he brought me back to ^(A)the door of the temple, and behold, ^(B)water was issuing from below ^(C)the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of ^(D)the altar. ² Then he brought me out by way of ^(E)the north gate and led me around on the outside to ^(F)the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side.

³ Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, ^(G)the man measured a thousand cubits,^[a] and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. ⁴ Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. ⁵ Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. ⁶ And he said to me, ^(H)“Son of man, ^(I)have you seen this?”

Then he led me back to the bank of the river. ⁷ As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river ^(J)very many trees on the one side and on the other. ⁸ And he said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into ^(K)the Arabah, and enters the sea;^[b] when the water flows into ^(L)the sea, the water will become fresh.^{[c] 9} And wherever the river goes,^[d] every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea^[e] may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. ¹⁰ Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From ^(M)Engedi to ^(N)Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of ^(O)the Great Sea.^{[f] 11} But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. ¹² And on the banks, ^(P)on both sides of the river, there will grow ^(Q)all kinds of trees for food. ^(R)Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, ^(S)but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and ^(T)their leaves for healing.”