Bible in 90 Days
Israel to Come Home
36 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say: ‘Mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord. 2 This is what the Lord God says: The enemy has said about you, “[L Aha!] ·Now the old places to worship gods [The ancient heights] have become ·ours [L our possession].”’ 3 So prophesy and say: ‘This is what the Lord God says: They have made you an ·empty ruin [desolation] and have crushed you from all around. So you became a possession of the ·other [rest of the] nations. People have ·talked [gossiped] and ·whispered [slandered] against you. 4 So, mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God. The Lord God speaks to the mountains, hills, ravines, and valleys, to the ·empty ruins [desolate wasteland] and abandoned cities that have ·been ·robbed [plundered] and ·laughed at [ridiculed; derided] by the other nations. 5 This is what the Lord God says: I speak ·in hot anger [with burning zeal] against the other nations. I speak against the people of Edom, who took my land for themselves with joy and with ·hate [contempt] in their hearts. They ·forced out the people and took their pastureland [seized their pastureland as spoil].’ 6 So prophesy about the land of Israel and say to the mountains, hills, ravines, and valleys: ‘This is what the Lord God says: I speak in my jealous anger, because you have suffered the ·insults [scorn; reproach] of the nations. 7 So this is what the Lord God says: I ·promise [vow] that the nations around you will also have to suffer ·insults [scorn; reproach].
8 “‘But you, mountains of Israel, will grow branches and fruit for my people, who will soon come home. 9 [L Look; T Behold] I am ·concerned about [for] you; I ·am on your side [L will turn to you]. You will be plowed, and seed will be planted in you. 10 I will increase the number of people who live on you, all the ·people [L house] of Israel. The cities will ·have people living in them [be inhabited], and the ruins will be rebuilt. 11 I will ·increase the number of people and animals living [multiply man and beast] on you. They will grow and ·have many young [be fruitful]. You will have people living on you as ·you did before [in former times], and I will make you better off than at the beginning. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 12 I will cause my people Israel to ·walk [live] on you and ·own [possess] you, and you will ·belong to them [become their inheritance]. You will never again ·take their children away from them [bereave them of their children].
13 “‘This is what the Lord God says: People say about you, “You ·eat [devour] people and ·take children [bereave children] from your nation.” 14 But you will not ·eat [devour] people anymore or ·take away the [bereave your nation of] children, says the Lord God. 15 I will not make you listen to ·insults [taunts] from the nations anymore; you will not ·suffer shame [endure scorn/disgrace] from them anymore. You will not cause your nation to ·fall [stumble] anymore, says the Lord God.’”
The Lord Acts for Himself
16 The ·Lord spoke his word to me [L word of the Lord came] again, saying: 17 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], when the ·nation [L house] of Israel was living in their own land, they ·made it unclean [defiled it; C ritually] by their ways and the things they did. Their ways were like ·a woman’s uncleanness in her time of monthly bleeding [menstrual impurity; C ritually]. 18 So I poured out my anger against them, because they ·murdered in [shed blood on] the land and because they made the land ·unclean [defiled] with their idols. 19 I scattered them among the nations, and they were ·spread [dispersed] through the countries. I ·punished [judged] them for how they lived and what they did. 20 They ·dishonored [defiled; profaned; C ritually] my holy name in the nations where they went. The nations said about them, ‘These are the people of the Lord, but they had to leave the land which he gave them.’ 21 But I had concern for my holy name, which the ·nation [L house] of Israel had ·dishonored [defiled; profaned; C ritually] among the nations where they went.
22 “So say to the ·people [L house] of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord God says: [L house of] Israel, I am going to act, but not for your sake. I will do something to help my holy name, which you have ·dishonored [defiled; profaned; C ritually] among the nations where you went. 23 I will prove the holiness of my great name, which has been ·dishonored [defiled; profaned; C ritually] among the nations. You have ·dishonored [defiled; profaned; C ritually] it among these nations, but the nations will know that I am the Lord when I ·prove myself holy [vindicate my holiness] before their eyes, says the Lord God.
24 “‘I will take you from the nations and gather you out of all the lands and bring you back into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your uncleanness [C ritual impurity] and your idols. 26 Also, I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new ·way of thinking [L spirit] inside you. I will ·take out [remove from you] ·the stubborn hearts of stone from your bodies [L your heart of stone], and I will give you ·obedient hearts [L a heart] of flesh. 27 I will put my ·Spirit [or spirit] ·inside you [or among you; C the pronoun is plural] and ·help you [cause you to] ·live by [walk in] my ·rules [statutes] and carefully obey my ·laws [rules; judgments]. 28 You will live in the land I gave to your ·ancestors [fathers], and you will be my people, and I will be your God. 29 So I will save you from all your ·uncleanness [defilement; C ritual]. I will ·command [summon; call for] the grain to ·come and grow [multiply]; I will not ·allow a time of hunger to hurt [bring famine upon] you. 30 I will increase the harvest of fruit trees and the crops in the field so you will never again suffer ·shame [disgrace] among the nations because of ·hunger [famine]. 31 Then you will remember your evil ways and actions that were not good, and you will ·hate [loathe] yourselves because of your sins and your ·terrible acts that I hate [detestable/abominable acts]. 32 I want you to know that I am not going to do this for your sake, says the Lord God. Be ashamed and embarrassed about your ways, [L house of] Israel.
33 “‘This is what the Lord God says: This is what will happen on the day I cleanse you from all your sins: I will ·cause the cities to have people living in them again [repopulate/resettle your towns/cities], and the ·destroyed places [ruins] will be rebuilt. 34 The ·empty [desolate] land will be plowed so it will no longer be a ·ruin [desolation] for everyone who passes by to see. 35 They will say, “This land was ·ruined [desolate], but now it has become like the garden of Eden. The cities were destroyed, empty, and ruined, but now they are ·protected [fortified] and ·have people living in them [inhabited].” 36 Then those nations still around you will know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt ·what was destroyed [the ruins] and have planted what was ·empty [desolate]. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do it.’
37 “This is what the Lord God says: I will let myself be asked by the ·people [L house] of Israel to do this for them again: I will ·make their people grow in number [multiply their people] like a flock. 38 They will be as many as the flocks ·brought to Jerusalem during her holy feasts [for offerings]. Her ruined cities will be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
The Vision of Dry Bones
37 I felt the ·power [L hand] of the Lord on me, and he brought me out by the ·Spirit [or spirit] of the Lord and put me down in the middle of a valley. It was full of bones. 2 He led me around among the bones, and I saw that there were many bones in the valley and [L look; T behold] that they were very dry. 3 Then he asked me, “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], can these bones live?”
I answered, “Lord God, only you know.”
4 He said to me, “Prophesy ·to [over] these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5 This is what the Lord God says to the bones: I will cause breath to enter you so you will come to life. 6 I will put ·muscles [tendons; sinews] on you and flesh on you and cover you with skin. Then I will put breath in you so you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. While I prophesied, there was a noise and a rattling. The bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked and saw ·muscles [sinews; tendons] come on the bones, and flesh grew, and skin covered the bones. But there was no breath in them.
9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the ·wind [breath; Spirit]. Prophesy, ·human [T son of man; 2:1], and say to the ·wind [breath; Spirit], ‘This is what the Lord God says: ·Wind [Breath; Spirit], come from the four winds, and breathe on these ·people who were killed [slain] so they can come back to life.’” 10 So I prophesied as the Lord commanded me. And the ·breath [wind; Spirit] came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, a very large army.
11 Then he said to me, “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], these bones are like all the ·people [L house] of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope has ·gone [perished]. We are ·destroyed [cut off].’ 12 So, prophesy and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: [L Look; T Behold] My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves. Then I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13 My people, you will know that I am the Lord when I open your graves and cause you to come up from them. 14 And I will put my ·Spirit [breath; wind] inside you, and you will come to life. Then I will ·put [settle] you in your own land. And you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and ·done it [or will do it], says the Lord.’”
Judah and Israel Back Together
15 The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying, 16 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], take ·a [one] ·stick [branch] and write on it, ‘For Judah and all the Israelites with him.’ Then take another ·stick [branch] and write on it, ‘The ·stick [branch] of Ephraim, for Joseph and all the ·Israelites [L house of Israel; C the northern kingdom] with him.’ 17 Then join them together into one stick so they will be one in your hand.
18 “When your people say to you, ‘Explain to us what you mean by this,’ 19 say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: I will take the ·stick [branch] for Joseph and the tribes of Israel with him, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and I will put it with the ·stick [branch] of Judah. I will make them into one ·stick [branch], and they will be one in my hand [C the northern and southern kingdoms will be united again; 33:29; Jer. 3:18; 23:5–6; Hos. 1:11; Amos 9:11].’ 20 Hold the sticks on which you wrote these names in your hand ·so the people can see them [L before their eyes]. 21 Say to the people, ‘This is what the Lord God says: [L Look; T Behold] I am going to take the ·people [L house] of Israel from among the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them into their own land. 22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. One king will rule all of them. They will never again be two nations; they will not be divided into two kingdoms anymore. 23 They will not continue to ·make themselves unclean [defile themselves] by their idols, their ·statues of gods which I hate [detestable things], or by ·their sins [all their transgressions/offenses]. I will save them from all ·the ways they sin and turn against me [their backsliding/unfaithfulness/apostasies], and I will ·make them clean [purify them]. Then they will be my people, and I will be their God.
24 “‘My servant David will be their king [34:23], and they will all have one shepherd. They will ·live by [L walk in] my ·laws [rules; judgments] and be careful to keep my ·rules [statutes]. 25 They will live on the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land in which your ·ancestors [fathers] lived. They will all live on the land forever: they, their children, and their grandchildren. David my servant will be their king forever. 26 I will make an ·agreement [covenant; treaty] of peace with them, an ·agreement that continues forever [everlasting covenant/treaty; Jer. 31:31–34]. I will ·put them in their land [establish them] and ·make them grow in number [multiply them; Gen. 12:1–3]. Then I will put my ·Temple [sanctuary] among them forever. 27 ·The place where I live [My dwelling place] will be with them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 28 When my ·Temple [sanctuary] is among them forever, the nations will know that I, the Lord, ·make Israel holy [sanctify Israel].’”
Prophecy Against Gog
38 The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying, 2 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], ·look [L turn your face] toward Gog of the land of Magog [Rev. 20:8], the chief ·ruler [prince] of the nations of Meshech and Tubal [C two nations in northeast Asia Minor; 32:26]. Prophesy against him 3 and say, ‘The Lord God says this: [L Look; T Behold] I am against you, Gog, chief ·ruler [prince] of Meshech and Tubal. 4 I will turn you around and put hooks in your jaws. And I will bring you out with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all of whom will be dressed in ·beautiful uniforms [or full armor]. They will be a ·large army [great horde/host] with large and small shields and all ·having [brandishing; wielding] swords. 5 Persia, Cush [C Ethiopia], and Put [C Lydia] will be with them, all of them having shields and helmets. 6 There will also be Gomer [C people living north of the Black Sea; Gen. 10:3; 1 Chr. 1:6] with all its ·troops [hordes] and the nation of Beth-Togarmah [27:14; Gen. 10:3] from the far north with all its troops—many nations with you.
7 “‘Be prepared. Be prepared, you and all the ·armies [hosts; hordes] that have come together to ·make you their commander [or be a guard for them]. 8 After ·a long time [L many days] you will be ·called for service [called to arms; mustered]. ·After those [In the latter] years you will come into a land that has been ·rebuilt [recovered; restored] from war. The people in the land will have been gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which were ·empty [in ruins; a wasteland] for a long time. These people were brought out from the nations, and they will all be living in safety. 9 You will ·come [advance] like a storm. You, all your troops, and the many nations with you will be like a cloud covering the land.
10 “‘This is what the Lord God says: ·At that time [L On that day] ideas will come into your mind, and you will ·think up [devise] an evil plan. 11 You will say, “I will ·march [L go up] against a land of towns without walls. I will ·attack [L come to] those who are at rest and live in safety. All of them live without city walls or gate bars or gates. 12 I will ·capture treasures [plunder] and take loot. I will turn my ·power [L hand] against the ·rebuilt [resettled; inhabited] ruins that now have people living in them. ·I will attack […and] these people who have been gathered from the nations, who have become rich with ·farm animals [livestock] and ·property [goods], who live at the center of the world.” 13 Sheba [27:22], Dedan [27:20], and the traders of Tarshish [27:12], with all its ·villages [or warriors; L young lions], will say to you, “Did you come to ·capture treasure [plunder]? Did you bring your troops together to take loot? Did you bring them to carry away silver and gold and to take away ·farm animals [livestock] and property?”’
14 “So prophesy, ·human [T son of man; 2:1], and say to Gog, ‘This is what the Lord God says: ·Now [L On the day] that my people Israel are living in safety, you will know about it. 15 You will come with many people from your place in the ·far [or remote parts of the] north. You will have ·a large group [many nations/peoples] with you, a ·mighty army [great horde/host], all riding on horses. 16 You will ·attack [come up against] my people Israel like a cloud that covers the land. This will happen in the ·days to come [latter days] when I bring you against my land. Gog, then the nations will ·know [acknowledge] me when ·they see me prove how holy I am [I vindicate my holiness] in what I do through you.
17 “‘This is what the Lord God says: ·You are [L Are you…?] the one about whom I spoke in ·past [former] days. I spoke through my servants, the prophets of Israel, who prophesied for many years that I would bring you against them. 18 This is what will happen: On the day Gog ·attacks [comes against] the land of Israel, ·I will become very angry [my wrath/fury will mount up/be aroused], says the Lord God. 19 With ·jealousy [zeal] and ·great anger [fiery wrath] I tell you that ·at that time [on that day] there will surely be a great earthquake in Israel. 20 The fish of the sea, the birds of the ·sky [heavens], the wild ·animals [beasts], everything that crawls on the ground, and all the people on the earth will ·shake with fear [tremble; quake] before me. Also the mountains will be thrown down, the cliffs will fall, and every wall will fall to the ground. 21 Then I will call for a ·war [L sword] against Gog on all my mountains, says the Lord God. Everyone’s sword will ·attack the soldier next to him [L be against his brother]. 22 I will ·punish [execute judgment on] Gog with ·disease [plague; pestilence] and ·death [bloodshed]. I will send a heavy rain with hailstones and ·burning sulfur [brimstone] on Gog, his ·army [hordes], and the many nations with him. 23 Then I will show how great I am. I will show my holiness, and I will make myself known ·to the many nations that watch [L in the eyes of many nations]. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’
The Death of Gog and His Army
39 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], prophesy against Gog and say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: I am against you, Gog, chief ·ruler [prince] of Meshech and Tubal [38:2]. 2 I will turn you around and ·lead [drag; or drive] you. I will bring you from the ·far [remotest] north and send you to attack the mountains of Israel. 3 I will knock your bow out of your left hand and ·throw down [make fall] your arrows from your right hand. 4 You, all your troops, and the nations with you will fall dead on the mountains of Israel. I will let you be ·food for [devoured by] every bird ·that eats meat [of prey; Rev. 19:21] and for every ·wild animal [beast of the field]. 5 You will ·lie fallen on the ground [fall in the open field], because I have spoken, says the Lord God. 6 I will send fire on Magog and those who live in safety on the coastlands. Then they will know that I am the Lord.
7 “‘I will make my holy name known among my people Israel, and I will not let my holy name be ·dishonored [defiled; profaned; C ritually] anymore. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. 8 [L Look; T Behold] It is coming! It will happen, says the Lord God. The ·time [L day] I talked about is coming.
9 “‘Then those who live in the cities of Israel will come out and make fires with the enemy’s weapons. They will burn them, both large and small shields, bows and arrows, war clubs, and spears. They will use the weapons to burn in their fires for seven years. 10 They will not need to take wood from the field or chop firewood from the forests, because they will make fires with the weapons. In this way they will ·take the treasures of [plunder] those who ·took their treasures [plundered them]; they will take the loot of those who took their loot, says the Lord God.
11 “‘·At that time [L On that day] I will give Gog a burial place in Israel, in the Valley of the Travelers, east of the Dead Sea. It will block the road for travelers. Gog and all his ·army [hordes; multitudes] will be buried there, so people will call it The Valley of ·Gog’s Army [L Hamon-gog].
12 “‘The ·people [L house] of Israel will be burying them for seven months to ·make the land clean again [cleanse the land]. 13 All the people in the land will bury them, and ·they will be honored [or it will be a memorial for them; or their fame will spread] on the day ·of my victory [I display my glory; C his manifest presence], says the Lord God.
14 “‘The ·people [L house] of Israel will ·choose [appoint] men to work through the land to ·make it clean [cleanse/purify it]. Along with others, they will bury ·Gog’s soldiers still [L those] lying dead on the ground. After the seven months, they will ·still search [or begin their search]. 15 As they go through the land, anyone who sees a human bone is to put a ·marker [sign] by it. The sign will stay there until the gravediggers bury the bone in The Valley of ·Gog’s Army [L Hamon-gog]. 16 A city will be there named Hamonah [C perhaps a feminine form of Hamon-gog, meaning Army of Gog]. So they will ·make the land clean again [cleanse/purify the land].’
17 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], this is what the Lord God says: Speak to every kind of bird and ·wild animal [all the beasts of the field]: ‘·Come [Assemble] together, come! ·Come together [Gather] from all around to my ·sacrifice [or slaughter], a great ·sacrifice [or slaughter] which I will prepare for you on the mountains of Israel. Eat flesh and drink blood [Rev. 19:17–21]! 18 You are to eat the flesh of the mighty and drink the blood of the ·rulers [princes] of the earth ·as if they were [L all of them] fat animals from Bashan: ·male sheep [rams], lambs, goats, and bulls. 19 You are to eat and drink from my sacrifice which I have prepared for you, eating fat until you are ·full [satisfied; glutted] and drinking blood until you are drunk. 20 At my table you are to eat until you are full of horses and ·riders [or charioteers], ·mighty men [warriors] and all kinds of soldiers,’ says the Lord God.
21 “I will ·show [display] my glory [C manifest presence] among the nations. All the nations will see ·my power when I punish [L the judgment I executed and the hand I laid on] them. 22 From that time onward the ·people [L house] of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God. 23 The nations will know [L the house of] Israel ·was taken away captive [went into exile] because they sinned and were unfaithful to me. So I ·turned away [L hid my face] from them and handed them over to their enemies until all of them died ·in war [L by the sword]. 24 Because of their uncleanness [C ritual] and their ·sins [transgressions], I ·punished [dealt with] them and ·turned away [hid my face] from them.
25 “So this is what the Lord God says: Now I will ·bring the people of Jacob back from captivity [L restore the fortunes of Jacob], and I will have ·mercy [compassion] on the whole ·nation [L house] of Israel. I will ·not let them dishonor me [L be zealous/jealous for my holy name]. 26 The people will forget their shame and ·how they rejected [their unfaithfulness to] me when they live again in safety on their own land with no one to make them afraid. 27 I will bring the people back from ·other lands [the nations/peoples] and gather them from the lands of their enemies. So I will use my people to ·show many nations that I am holy [L display my holiness in the eyes of many nations.]. 28 Then my people will know that I am the Lord their God, because I sent them into ·captivity [exile] among the nations, but then I ·brought them back [gathered them] to their own land, leaving no one behind. 29 I will not ·turn away [L hide my face] from them anymore, because I will put my ·Spirit [or spirit] into the ·people [L house] of Israel, says the Lord God [11:19; 36:26–27; 37:14].”
The New Temple
40 It was the twenty-fifth year [C since King Jehoiachin’s exile (1:2)], at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month [C April 19, 573 bc]. It was in the fourteenth year after ·Jerusalem was captured [L the city was struck down]. On that same day ·I felt the power of the Lord [L the hand of the Lord was upon me], and he brought me to Jerusalem. 2 In the visions of God he brought me to the land of Israel and put me down on a very high mountain. On the south of the mountain there were some buildings that looked like a city. 3 He took me closer to the buildings, and ·I saw [L look; T behold] a man ·who looked as if he were made of [whose appearance was like] bronze, standing in the gateway. He had a cord made of linen and a stick in his hand, both for measuring. 4 The man said to me, “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], look with your eyes and hear with your ears. ·Pay attention to [L Set your heart upon] all that I will show you, because that’s why you have been brought here. Tell the ·people [L house] of Israel all that you see.”
The East Gateway
5 ·I saw [L And look/T behold] a wall that surrounded the ·Temple area [L house]. The measuring ·stick [rod] in the man’s hand was ·ten and one-half feet long [L six long cubits, each being a cubit and a handbreadth; C a regular cubit was eighteen inches long; this long cubit was about twenty-one inches long]. So the man measured the wall, which was ·ten and one-half feet [L six long cubits] thick and ·ten and one-half feet [L one rod/stick] high.
6 Then the man went to the east gateway. He went up its steps and measured the opening of the gateway. It was ·ten and one-half feet [L one rod/stick; v. 5] deep. 7 The ·rooms for the guards [alcoves] were ·ten and one-half feet [L one rod/stick] long and ·ten and one-half feet [L one rod/stick] wide. ·The walls that came out between the guards’ rooms [L Between the alcoves] were ·about nine feet [L five cubits; v. 5] thick. The ·opening [threshold] of the gateway next to the ·porch [portico] that faced the Temple was ·ten and one-half feet [L one rod/stick] deep.
8 Then the man measured the porch of the gateway. 9 It was ·about fourteen feet [L eight cubits] deep, and its ·side walls [or jambs] were ·three and one-half feet [L two cubits] thick. The ·porch [portico] of the gateway faced the Temple.
10 On each side of the east gateway were three ·rooms [alcoves], which ·measured the same on each side [had the same measurement]. The ·walls between each room [dividing walls; or jambs] ·were the same thickness [or had the same measurement]. 11 The man measured the width of the entrance to the gateway, which was ·seventeen and one-half feet [L ten cubits; v. 5] wide. The ·width [or length] of the gate was ·about twenty-three feet [L thirteen cubits]. 12 And there was a low ·wall [barrier] ·about twenty-one inches [L one cubit] high in front of each ·room [alcove]. The ·rooms [alcoves] were ·ten and one-half feet [L six cubits] on each side. 13 The man measured the gateway from the roof of one ·room [alcove] to the roof of the opposite one. It was ·about forty-four feet [L twenty-five cubits] from one door to the opposite door. 14 The man also measured the ·porch [or jambs], which was ·about thirty-five feet [L twenty cubits] wide. The courtyard was around the ·porch [or jamb; C the meaning of this verse is uncertain]. 15 From the front of the ·outer side of the [entrance] gateway to the front of the porch of the ·inner side of the [inner] gateway was ·eighty-seven and one-half feet [L fifty cubits]. 16 The ·rooms [alcoves] and porch had small windows on both sides. The windows were narrower on the side facing the gateway. Carvings of palm trees were on each side wall of the rooms.
The Outer Courtyard
17 Then the man brought me into the outer courtyard ·where I saw [L and look/T behold] rooms and a pavement of stones all around the court. Thirty rooms ·were along the edge of [faced] the paved walkway. 18 The pavement ran alongside the gates and was as deep as the gates were wide. This was the lower pavement. 19 Then the man measured from the ·outer wall [front of the lower gate] to the ·inner wall [L exterior face of the inner court]. The outer court between these two walls was ·one hundred seventy-five feet [L one hundred cubits] on the east and on the north.
The North Gateway
20 The man measured the length and width of the north gateway leading to the outer courtyard. 21 Its three ·rooms [alcoves] on each side, its ·inner walls [or jambs], and its ·porch [portico] measured the same as the first gateway. It was ·eighty-seven and one-half feet [L fifty cubits] long and ·forty-four feet [L twenty-five cubits] wide. 22 Its windows, ·porch [portico], and carvings of palm trees measured the same as the east gateway. Seven steps went up to the gateway, and the gateway’s ·porch [portico] was at the inner end. 23 The inner courtyard had a gateway across from the northern gateway like the one on the east. The man measured it and found it was ·one hundred seventy-five feet [L one hundred cubits] from inner gateway to outer gateway.
The South Gateway
24 Then the man led me south ·where I saw [L and look/T behold] a gateway facing south. He measured its ·inner walls [or jambs] and its ·porch [portico], and they measured the same as the other gateways. 25 The gateway and its porch had windows all around like the other gateways. It was ·eighty-seven and one-half feet [L fifty cubits] long and ·forty-four feet [L twenty-five cubits] wide. 26 Seven steps went up to this gateway. Its porch was at the inner end, and it had carvings of palm trees on its inner walls. 27 The inner courtyard had a gateway on its south side. The man measured from gate to gate on the south side, which was ·one hundred seventy-five feet [L one hundred cubits].
The Inner Courtyard
28 Then the man brought me through the south gateway into the inner courtyard. The inner south gateway measured the same as the gateways in the outer wall. 29 The inner south gateway’s ·rooms [alcoves], ·inner walls [or jambs], and ·porch [portico] measured the same as the gateways in the outer wall. There were windows all around the gateway and its porch. The gateway was ·eighty-seven and one-half feet [L fifty cubits] long and ·forty-four feet [L twenty-five cubits] wide. 30 Each porch of each inner gateway was ·about forty-four feet [L twenty-five cubits] long and ·about nine feet [L five cubits] wide. 31 The inner south gateway’s ·porch [portico] faced the outer courtyard. Carvings of palm trees were on its ·side walls [or jambs], and its stairway had eight steps.
32 The man brought me into the inner courtyard on the east side. He measured the inner east gateway, and it was the same as the other gateways. 33 The inner east gateway’s ·rooms [alcoves], ·inside walls [or jambs], and ·porch [portico] measured the same as the other gateways. Windows were all around the gateway and its ·porch [portico]. The inner east gateway was ·eighty-seven and one-half feet [L fifty cubits] long and ·forty-four feet [L twenty-five cubits] wide. 34 Its porch faced the outer courtyard. Carvings of palm trees were on its ·inner walls [or jambs] on each side, and its stairway had eight steps.
35 Then the man brought me to the inner north gateway. He measured it, and it was the same as the other gateways. 36 Its ·rooms [alcoves], ·inside walls [or jambs], and ·porch [portico] measured the same as the other gateways. There were windows all around the gateway, which was ·eighty-seven and one-half feet [L fifty cubits] long and ·forty-four feet [L twenty-five cubits] wide. 37 Its ·porch [portico] faced the outer courtyard. Carvings of palm trees were on its inner walls on each side, and its stairway had eight steps.
Rooms for Preparing Sacrifices
38 There was a room with a door that opened onto the ·porch [portico] of the inner north gateway. ·In this room the priests washed animals for the burnt offerings [L …where the burnt offering was washed; Lev. 1:1–17]. 39 There were two tables on each side of the ·porch [portico], on which animals for burnt offerings, ·sin [or purification] offerings [Lev. 4:3], and ·penalty [guilt; reparation] offerings [Lev. 5:14—6:7] were killed. 40 Outside, by each side wall of the ·porch [portico], at the entrance to the north gateway, were two more tables. 41 So there were four tables inside the gateway, and four tables outside. In all there were eight tables on which ·the priests killed animals for sacrifices [L to slaughter]. 42 There were four tables made of cut stone for the burnt offering [Lev. 1:1–17]. These tables were ·about three feet [L a cubit and a half] long, ·three feet [L a cubit and a half] wide, and ·about two feet [L a cubit] high. On these tables the priests put their tools which they used to kill animals for burnt offerings and the other sacrifices. 43 Double shelves[a] ·three inches [L one handbreadth] wide were put up on all the walls. The flesh for the offering was put on the tables.
The Priests’ Rooms
44 There were two rooms in the inner courtyard. One was beside the north gateway and faced south. The other room was beside the south gateway and faced north. 45 The man said to me, “The room which faces south is for the priests who ·serve in [or guard; or have charge of] the Temple area, 46 while the room that faces north is for the priests who ·serve at [or guard; or have charge of] the altar. This second group of priests are descendants of Zadok, the only descendants of Levi who can come near the Lord to ·serve [minister to] him.”
47 The man measured the inner courtyard. It was a square—·one hundred seventy-five feet [L one hundred cubits] long and ·one hundred seventy-five feet [L one hundred cubits] wide. The altar was in front of the Temple.
The Temple Porch
48 The man brought me to the ·porch [portico] of the Temple and measured each ·side wall [or jamb] of the ·porch [portico]. Each was ·about nine feet [L five cubits] thick. The doorway was ·twenty-four and one-half feet [L fourteen cubits] wide. The side walls of the doorway were each ·about five feet [L three cubits] wide. 49 The ·porch [portico] was ·thirty-five feet [L twenty cubits] long and ·twenty-one feet [L twelve cubits] wide, with ten steps leading up to it. Pillars were by the ·side walls [or jambs], one on each side of the entrance.
The Holy Place of the Temple
41 The man brought me to the ·Holy Place [outer sanctuary; main hall] and measured its ·side walls [or jambs], which were each ·ten and one-half feet [L six cubits] thick. 2 The entrance was ·seventeen and one-half feet [L ten cubits] wide. The walls alongside the entrance were each ·about nine feet wide [L five cubits]. The man measured the ·Holy Place [outer sanctuary; main hall], which was ·seventy feet [L forty cubits] long and ·thirty-five feet [L twenty cubits] wide.
3 Then the man went ·inside [into the inner sanctuary] and measured the ·side walls [or jambs] of the next doorway. Each was ·three and one-half feet [L two cubits] thick. The doorway was ·ten and one-half feet [L six cubits] wide, and the walls next to it were each more than ·twelve [L seven cubits] feet thick. 4 Then the man measured the room ·at the end of [or adjacent to] the ·Holy Place [outer sanctuary; main hall]. It was ·thirty-five feet [L twenty cubits] long and ·thirty-five feet [L twenty cubits] long wide. The man said to me, “This is the Most Holy Place.”
5 Then the man measured the wall of the ·Temple [L house], which was ·ten and one-half feet [L six cubits] thick. There were side rooms ·seven feet [L four cubits] wide all around the Temple. 6 The side rooms were on three different stories, each above the other, with thirty rooms on each story. All around the Temple walls there were ledges for the side rooms. The upper rooms rested on the ledges but were not attached to the Temple walls. 7 The side rooms around the Temple were wider on each higher story, so rooms were wider on the top story. ·A stairway went [or So one went] up from the lowest story to the highest through the middle story.
8 I also saw that the Temple had a raised ·base [platform] all around. Its edge was the foundation for the side rooms, and it was ·ten and one-half feet thick [L a full rod/stick of six cubits]. 9 The outer wall of the side rooms was ·about nine feet [L five cubits] thick. There was an open area between the side rooms of the Temple 10 and some other rooms. It was ·thirty-five feet [L twenty cubits] wide and went all around the Temple. 11 The side rooms had doors which led to the open area around the outside of the Temple. One door faced north, and the other faced south. The open area was ·about nine feet [L five cubits] wide all around.
12 The building facing the ·private area [temple courtyard] at the west side was ·one hundred twenty-two and one-half feet [L seventy cubits] wide. The wall around the building was ·about nine feet [L five cubits] thick and ·one hundred fifty-seven and one-half feet [L ninety cubits] long.
13 Then the man measured the Temple. It was ·one hundred seventy-five feet [L one hundred cubits] long. The ·private area [temple courtyard], including the building and its walls, was in all ·one hundred seventy-five feet [L one hundred cubits] long. 14 Also the front of the Temple and the ·private area [courtyard] on its east side were ·one hundred seventy-five feet [L one hundred cubits] wide.
15 The man measured the length of the building facing the ·private area [courtyard] ·on the west side [or at the rear], and it was ·one hundred seventy-five feet [L one hundred cubits] ·from one wall to the other [or with its galleries on each side].
The ·Holy Place, the Most Holy Place [or interior of the outer sanctuary/main hall], and the outer porch 16 had wood panels on the walls. By the ·doorway [thresholds], the Temple had wood panels on the walls. The wood covered all the walls from the floor up to the windows, 17 up to the part of the wall above the entrance.
All the walls inside the ·Most Holy Place and the Holy Place [inner and outer sanctuary], and on the outside, in the ·porch [portico], 18 had carvings of ·creatures with wings [L cherubim] and palm trees. A palm tree was between each ·carved creature [L cherub], and every ·creature [L cherub] had two faces. 19 One was a human face looking toward the palm tree on one side. The other was a lion’s face looking toward the palm tree on the other side. They were carved all around the Temple walls. 20 From the floor to above the entrance, palm trees and ·creatures with wings [L cherubim] were carved. The walls of the Holy Place 21 had square doorposts. In front of the ·Most Holy Place [sanctuary] was something that looked like 22 an altar of wood. It was more than ·five feet [L three cubits] high and ·three feet [L two cubits] wide. Its corners, base, and sides were wood. The man said to me, “This is the table that is ·in the presence of [before] the Lord.” 23 Both the ·Holy Place [main hall; outer sanctuary] and the ·Most Holy Place [inner sanctuary] had double doors. 24 Each of the doors had two ·pieces [leaves] that would swing open. Two for one and two for the other. 25 Carved on the doors of the ·Holy Place [main hall; outer sanctuary] were palm trees and ·creatures with wings [L cherubim], like those carved on the walls. And there was a wood ·roof [canopy] over the front Temple ·porch [portico]. 26 There were narrow windows and palm trees on both side walls of the ·porch [portico]. The side rooms of the Temple were also covered by a ·roof [canopy] over the stairway.
The Priests’ Rooms
42 Then the man led me north out into the outer courtyard and to the rooms across from the ·private area [temple courtyard] and the building. 2 These rooms on the north side were ·one hundred seventy-five feet [L one hundred cubits] long and ·eighty-seven and one-half feet [L fifty cubits] wide. 3 There was ·thirty-five feet [L twenty cubits] of the inner courtyard between them and the Temple. On the other side, they faced the stone pavement of the outer courtyard. The rooms were built in three stories like steps ·and had balconies [with gallery facing gallery]. 4 There was a ·path [passageway; walkway] in front of the rooms on the inner side, which was ·seventeen and one-half feet [L ten cubits] wide and ·one hundred seventy-five feet [L one hundred cubits] long. The entrances to the rooms were on the north. 5 The ·top [upper] rooms were narrower, because the ·balconies [galleries] took more space from them. The rooms on the first and second stories of the building were wider. 6 The rooms were on three stories. They did not have pillars like the pillars of the courtyards. So the ·top [upper] rooms were farther back than those on the first and second stories. 7 There was a wall outside parallel to the rooms and to the outer courtyard. It ran in front of the rooms for ·eighty-seven and one-half feet [L fifty cubits]. 8 The row of rooms along the outer courtyard was ·eighty-seven and one-half feet [L fifty cubits] long, and the rooms that faced the ·Temple [main hall; sanctuary] were ·about one hundred seventy-five feet [L one hundred cubits] long. 9 The lower rooms had an entrance on the east side so a person could enter them from the outer courtyard, 10 at the start of the wall beside the courtyard [C some interpret this phrase as beginning the next sentence].
There were rooms on the south side, which were across from the ·private area [Temple courtyard] and the building. 11 These rooms had a path in front of them. They were like the rooms on the north with the same length and width and the same exits, measurements and doors. 12 The doors of the south rooms were like the doors of the north rooms. There was an entrance at the ·open end [or beginning] of a path beside the wall, so a person could enter at the east end.
13 The man said to me, “The north and south rooms across from the ·private area [courtyard] are holy rooms. There the priests who ·go near [approach] the Lord will eat the most holy offerings. There they will put the most holy offerings: the ·grain [L gift; tribute] offerings [Lev. 2:1], ·sin [or purification] offerings [Lev. 4:3], and the ·penalty [guilt; reparation] offerings [Lev. 5:14–6:7], because the place is holy. 14 The priests who enter the Holy Place must leave ·their serving clothes [garments in which they minister] there before they go into the outer courtyard, because these ·clothes [garments] are holy. After they put on other ·clothes [garments], they may go to the part of the Temple area which is for the people.”
Outside the Temple Area
15 When the man finished measuring inside the Temple area, he brought me out through the east gateway. He measured the area all around. 16 The man measured the east side with the measuring stick; it was ·eight hundred seventy-five feet [L five hundred cubits] by the measuring ·stick [rod]. 17 He measured the north side; it was ·eight hundred seventy-five feet [L five hundred cubits] by the measuring stick. 18 He measured the south side; it was ·eight hundred seventy-five feet [L five hundred cubits] by the measuring stick. 19 He went around to the west side; it measured ·eight hundred seventy-five feet [L five hundred cubits] by the measuring stick. 20 So he measured the Temple area on all four sides. The Temple area had a wall all around it that was ·eight hundred seventy-five feet long [L five hundred cubits] and ·eight hundred seventy-five feet [L five hundred cubits] wide. It separated what was holy from ·that which was not holy [the common/profane; C ritually].
The Lord Among His People
43 Then the man led me to the outer east gateway, 2 and [L look; T behold] I saw the glory of the God of Israel [C his manifest presence] coming from the east. It sounded like the roar of rushing water, and ·its brightness made the earth shine [the earth radiated/shone with his glory]. 3 The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when the Lord came to destroy the city [ch. 9] and also like the vision I had seen by the Kebar ·River [Canal; 1:1]. I ·bowed [fell] facedown on the ground. 4 The glory of the Lord came into the ·Temple area [L house] through the east gateway.
5 Then ·the Spirit [or the spirit; or a wind; 2:2; 3:12] picked me up and brought me into the inner courtyard. ·There I saw [L And look/T behold] the Lord’s glory filling the ·Temple [L house]. 6 As the man stood at my side, I heard someone speaking to me from inside the ·Temple [L house]. 7 The voice said to me, “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], this is my throne and the place ·where my feet rest [L for the soles of my feet]. I will live here among the ·Israelites [L sons/T children or Israel] forever. The ·people [L house] of Israel will not make my holy name ·unclean [defiled; C ritually] again. Neither the people nor their kings will ·make it unclean [defile my holy name; C ritually] with their ·sexual sins [prostitution] or with the ·dead bodies [L corpses in their death; or funeral monuments/pillars] of their kings. 8 The kings ·made my name unclean [defiled my holy name; C ritually] by putting their ·doorway [threshold] next to my ·doorway [threshold], and their doorpost next to my doorpost so only a wall separated me from them [C kings erected monuments to themselves around the temple]. When they did their ·acts that I hate [detestable/abominable acts], they ·made my holy name unclean [defiled my holy name; C ritually], and so I ·destroyed [consumed] them in my anger. 9 Now let them stop their ·sexual sins [prostitution] and take the ·dead bodies [or funeral pillars; v. 7] of their kings far away from me. Then I will live among them forever.
10 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], tell the ·people [L house] of Israel about the ·Temple [L house] so they will be ashamed of their ·sins [iniquities]. Let them ·think about the plan of the Temple [study its plan; or consider its perfection]. 11 If they are ashamed of all they have done, let them know the design of the ·Temple [L house] and how it is built. Show them its exits and entrances, all its designs, and also all its ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] and ·teachings [laws; instructions]. Write it down ·as they watch [in their sight] so they will obey all its ·teachings [laws; instructions] and its ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements]. 12 This is the ·teaching about [law of] the ·Temple [L house]: All the area around the top of the mountain is most holy. This is the ·teaching about [law/instruction of] the ·Temple [L house].
The Altar
13 “These are the measurements of the altar, ·using the measuring stick [L in long cubits, each being a cubit and a handbreadth; 40:5]. The altar’s ·gutter [base] is ·twenty-one inches [L one cubit] high and ·twenty-one inches [L one cubit] wide, and its rim is ·about nine inches [L one span] around its edge. And the altar is this tall: 14 From the base on the ground up to the lower ledge, it measures ·three and one-half feet [L two cubits]. It is ·twenty-one inches [L one cubit] wide. It measures ·seven feet [L four cubits] from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge and is ·twenty-one inches [L one cubit] wide. 15 The ·place where the sacrifice is burned on the altar [altar hearth] is ·seven feet [L four cubits] high, with its four ·corners shaped like horns and reaching up above it [horns projecting upward; Ex. 27:2]. 16 It is square, ·twenty-one feet [L twelve cubits] long and ·twenty-one feet [L twelve cubits] wide. 17 The upper ledge is also square, ·twenty-four and one-half feet [L fourteen cubits] long and ·twenty-four and one-half feet [L fourteen cubits] wide. The rim around the altar is ·ten and one-half inches [L one-half cubit] wide, and its ·gutter [base] is ·twenty-one inches [L one cubit] wide all around. Its steps ·are on the east side [L face east].”
18 Then the man said to me, “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], this is what the Lord God says: These are the ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] for the altar. ·When [L On the day] it is built, use these rules to offer burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] and to sprinkle blood on it [Lev. 1:5]. 19 You must give a young bull as a ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3] to the priests, the Levites who are from the ·family [seed; offspring] of Zadok and who come near me to ·serve [minister to] me, says the Lord God. 20 Take some of the bull’s blood and put it on the four ·corners [L horns; Ex. 27:2] of the altar, on the four corners of the ledge, and all around the rim. This is how you will ·make the altar pure [cleanse/purify the altar] and ·ready for God’s service [L make atonement for it]. 21 Then take the bull for the ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3] and burn it in the ·proper [appointed; designated] place ·in the Temple area [L of the house], outside the ·Temple building [sanctuary].
22 “On the second day offer a male goat ·that has nothing wrong with it [without blemish/defect] for a sin offering. The priests will ·make the altar pure and ready for God’s service [cleanse/purify the altar] as they did with the young bull. 23 When you finish ·making the altar pure and ready [purifying it], offer a young bull and a male sheep from the flock, ·which have nothing wrong with them [without blemish/defect]. 24 You must offer them ·in the presence of [before] the Lord, and the priests are to throw salt on them and offer them as a burnt offering [Lev. 1:1–17] to the Lord.
25 “You must prepare a goat every day for seven days as a sin offering. Also, the priests must prepare a young bull and ·male sheep [ram] from the flock, ·which have nothing wrong with them [without blemish/defect]. 26 For seven days the priests are to make ·the altar pure and ready for God’s service [L atonement for the altar and cleanse it]. Then they will ·give the altar to God [consecrate/dedicate it; L fill its hands]. 27 ·After these seven days [L When these days are completed], on the eighth day, the priests must offer your burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] and your ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offerings [Lev. 3:1] on the altar. Then I will accept you, says the Lord God.”
The Outer East Gate
44 Then the man brought me back to the outer east gateway of the ·Temple area [sanctuary], but the gate was shut. 2 The Lord said to me, “This gate will stay shut; it will not be opened. No one may enter through it, because the Lord God of Israel has entered through it. So it must stay shut. 3 Only the ·ruler [prince] himself may sit in the gateway to eat ·a meal [L bread; C probably his portion of the fellowship offering; Lev. 7:15; Deut. 12:7] ·in the presence of [before] the Lord. He must enter through the porch of the gateway and go out the same way.”
4 Then the man brought me through the outer north gate to the front of the ·Temple [L house]. As I looked, ·I saw [L look; T behold] the glory of the Lord [C his manifest presence] filling the Temple of the Lord, and I ·bowed [fell] facedown on the ground.
5 The Lord said to me, “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], pay attention. Use your eyes to see, and your ears to hear. See and hear everything I tell you about all the ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] and ·teachings [laws; instructions] of the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord. Pay attention to the entrance to the Temple and to all the exits from the ·Temple area [sanctuary]. 6 Then speak to ·those who refuse to obey [the rebellious]. Say to the ·people [L house] of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord God says: ·Stop doing all [Enough of] your ·acts that I hate [detestable/abominable acts], [L house of] Israel! 7 You brought foreigners into my ·Holy Place [sanctuary] who were not circumcised in the flesh and ·had not given themselves to serving me [L uncircumcised in the heart; Jer. 9:26; Acts 7:51]. You ·dishonored [defiled; profaned; C ritually] my ·Temple [L house] when you offered me food, fat, and blood. You broke my ·agreement [covenant; treaty] by all ·the things you did that I hate [your detestable/abominable acts]. 8 You did not take ·care [charge] of my holy things yourselves but put ·foreigners [or others] ·in charge of [to take care of] my ·Temple [sanctuary]. 9 This is what the Lord God says: Foreigners who ·do not give themselves to serving me [L are uncircumcised in heart] and who are uncircumcised in flesh may not enter my ·Temple [sanctuary]. Not even a foreigner living among the ·people [L sons/T children] of Israel may enter.
10 “‘But the Levites who ·stopped obeying [L went far from] me when Israel ·left me [went astray] and who followed their idols must ·be punished [be responsible; bear the penalty] for their sin. 11 These Levites are to be ·servants in [ministers of] my ·Holy Place [sanctuary]. They may guard the gates of the ·Temple [L house] and serve in the ·Temple area [L house]. They may ·kill the animals for [L slaughter] the burnt offering [Lev. 1:1–17] and the sacrifices for the people. They may stand before the people to ·serve [minister to] them. 12 But these Levites ·helped the people worship [L ministered to them before] their idols and caused the ·people [L house] of Israel to ·fall [stumble], so I ·make this promise [L swear with uplifted hand]: They will ·be punished [be responsible; bear the penalty] for their sin, says the Lord God. 13 They will not come near me to serve as priests, nor will they come near any of my holy things or the most holy offerings. But they will ·be made ashamed of [bear the shame for] ·the things they did that I hate [their detestable/abominable actions]. 14 Yet I will ·put them in charge of taking care [appoint them to guard/keep charge] of the ·Temple area [L house], all the work that must be done in it.
15 “‘But the priests who are Levites and descendants of Zadok took care of my ·Holy Place [sanctuary] when [L the sons/T children of] Israel ·left me [went astray], so they may come near to serve me. They may stand in my presence to offer me the fat and blood [C of sacrificial animals], says the Lord God. 16 They ·are the only ones who may [L will] enter my ·Holy Place [sanctuary]. ·Only they [L They] may come near my table to ·serve [minister to] me and ·take care of the things I gave them to do [keep my charge; or serve me as guards].
17 “‘When they enter the gates of the inner courtyard, they must wear linen robes. They must not wear wool to ·serve [minister] at the gates of the inner courtyard or in the ·Temple [L house]. 18 They will wear linen turbans on their heads and linen underclothes [Lev. 6:10]. They will not ·wear [bind/gird themselves with] anything that makes them perspire. 19 When they go out into the outer courtyard to the people, they must take off their serving ·clothes [garments] before they go. They must leave these clothes in the ·holy rooms [sacred chambers] and put on other ·clothes [garments]. Then they will not ·let their holy clothes hurt [or transmit holiness with their garments to] the people.
20 “‘They must not shave their heads or let their hair grow long but must keep the hair of their heads trimmed [Lev. 21:5]. 21 None of the priests may drink wine when they enter the inner courtyard [Lev. 10:9]. 22 The priests must not marry widows or divorced women. They may marry only virgins from the ·people [L offspring/seed of the house] of Israel or widows of priests [Lev. 21:7–8]. 23 They must teach my people the difference between what is holy and what is ·not holy [common; profane; C ritually]. They must help my people know what is unclean [C ritually] and what is clean.
24 “‘In ·court [a dispute/controversy] they will act as judges. When they judge, they will follow my ·teachings [judgments]. They must obey my ·laws [teachings; instructions] and my ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] at all my ·special feasts [appointed festivals] and keep my Sabbaths holy.
25 “‘They must not go near a dead person, ·making themselves unclean [defiling themselves; C ritually]. But they are allowed to ·make themselves unclean [defile themselves; C ritually] if the dead person is their father, mother, son, daughter, brother, or a sister who has not married. 26 After a priest has been ·made clean again [cleansed; C ritually], he must wait seven days. 27 Then he may go into the inner courtyard to serve in the ·Temple [sanctuary], but he must offer a sin offering for himself, says the Lord God [Lev. 21:1–4].
28 “‘·These are the rules about the priests and their property [L This will be their inheritance]: ·They will have me instead of property [L I am their inheritance]. You will not give them any ·land to own [possessions] in Israel; I am ·what they will own [their possession]. 29 They will eat the ·grain [L gift; tribute] offerings [Lev. 2:1], ·sin [or purification] offerings [Lev. 4:3], and ·penalty [guilt; reparation] offerings [Lev. 5:14—6:7]. ·Everything Israel gives to me [L Every devoted thing in Israel] will be theirs. 30 The ·best [first] fruits of all the first harvests and all the special gifts offered to me will belong to the priests. You will also give to the priests the first part of your ·grain that you grind [dough] ·and so bring a blessing [L that a blessing may rest] on your family. 31 The priests must not eat any bird or animal that died a natural death or one that has been torn by wild animals.
The Land Is Divided
45 “‘When you divide the land for the Israelite tribes by throwing lots, you must give a part of the land to belong to the Lord. It will be ·about seven miles [L twenty-five thousand cubits] long and ·about six miles [L twenty thousand cubits] wide; all of this land will be holy. 2 From this land, an area ·eight hundred seventy-five feet [L five hundred cubits] square will be for the ·Temple [sanctuary]. There will be an open space around the Temple that is ·eighty-seven and one-half feet [L fifty cubits] wide. 3 In the holy area you will measure a part ·about seven miles [L twenty-five thousand cubits] long and ·three miles wide [L ten thousand cubits], and in it will be the sanctuary, the Most Holy Place. 4 This ·holy part [sacred portion] of the land will be for the priests who ·serve [minister] in the ·Temple [sanctuary], who come near to the Lord to ·serve [minister to] him. It will be a place for the priests’ houses and ·for the Temple [L a holy place for the sanctuary]. 5 Another area ·about seven miles [L twenty-five thousand cubits] long and ·three miles wide [L ten thousand cubits] will be for the Levites, who ·serve [minister] in the Temple area. It will belong to them so they will have cities in which to live.
6 “‘You must give the city an area that is ·about one and one-half miles [L five thousand cubits] wide and ·about seven miles [L twenty-five thousand cubits] long, along the side of the holy area. It will belong to all the ·people [L house] of Israel.
7 “‘The ·ruler [prince] will have land on both sides of the holy ·area [allotment; contribution] and the city. On the west of the holy area, his land will reach to the eastern border [C apparently the Mediterranean Sea]. On the east of the holy area, his land will reach to the eastern border [C of the country]. It will be as long as the land given to each tribe. 8 Only this land will be the ruler’s ·property [possession] in Israel. So my rulers will not ·be cruel to [oppress] my people anymore [C such a large portion would keep the king from wanting to seize land, as Ahab had done (1 Kin. 21); see v. 9], but they will let each tribe in the ·nation [L house] of Israel have its share of the land.
9 “‘This is what the Lord God says: ·You have gone far enough [Enough!], you ·rulers [princes] of Israel! Stop ·being cruel and hurting people [your violence and oppression], and do what is right and ·fair [just]. Stop ·forcing my people out of their homes [evicting my people], says the Lord God. 10 You must have ·honest [just] scales, an ·honest [just] ·dry measurement [L ephah] and an ·honest [just] ·liquid measurement [L bath]. 11 The dry measure [L ephah] and the liquid measure [L bath] will be the same: The ·liquid measure [L bath] will always be a tenth of a homer [C the Hebrew means “donkey-load,” and was about five bushels of dry measure and 55 gallons of liquid measure], and the dry measure [L ephah] will always be a tenth of a homer. The ·measurement they follow [standard measure] will be the homer. 12 The shekel [C coin weighing about two-fifths of an ounce] will be worth twenty gerahs, and a mina will be worth ·sixty shekels [L twenty shekels and twenty-five shekels and fifteen shekels].
Offerings and Holy Days
13 “‘This is the ·gift [offering] you should offer: a sixth of an ephah [v. 11] from every homer [v. 11] of wheat, and a sixth of an ephah from every homer of barley. 14 The amount of oil you are to offer is a tenth of a bath [v. 11] from each cor. (Ten baths make a homer and also make a cor.) 15 You should give one sheep from each flock of two hundred from the watering places of Israel. All these are to be offered for the ·grain [L gift; tribute] offerings [Lev. 2:1], burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17], and ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offerings [Lev. 3:1] to ·remove the sins of [make atonement for] the people, says the Lord God. 16 All people in the land will give this special offering to the ·ruler [prince] of Israel. 17 It will be the ·ruler’s [prince’s] responsibility to supply the burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17], ·grain [L gift; tribute] offerings [Lev. 2:1], and drink offerings. These offerings will be given at the ·feasts [appointed festivals], at the New Moons, on the Sabbaths, and at all the other feasts of [L the house of] Israel. He will supply the ·sin [or purification] offerings [Lev. 4:3], ·grain [L gift; tribute] offerings, and ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offerings [Lev. 3:1] to pay for the sins of [L the house of] Israel.
18 “‘This is what the Lord God says: On the first day of the first month take a young bull ·that has nothing wrong with it [without blemish/defect]. Use it to ·make the Temple pure and ready for God’s service [L purify the sanctuary]. 19 The priest will take some of the blood from this ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3] and put it on the doorposts of the ·Temple [L house], on the four corners of the ledge of the altar, and on the posts of the gate to the inner courtyard. 20 You will do the same thing on the seventh day of the month for anyone who has sinned ·by accident [unintentionally] or ·without knowing it [through ignorance]. This is how you make ·the Temple pure and ready for God’s service [L atonement for the house].
Passover Feast Offerings
21 “‘On the fourteenth day of the first month you will celebrate the Feast of Passover [Ex. 12:1–20; Lev. 23:4–8; Num. 28:16–25; Deut. 16:1–5]. It will be a feast of seven days when you eat ·bread made without yeast [unleavened bread]. 22 On that day the ·ruler [prince] ·must offer [will provide] a bull for himself and for all the people of the land as a ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3]. 23 During the seven days of the feast he ·must offer [will provide] seven bulls and seven ·male sheep [rams] ·that have nothing wrong with them [without blemish/defect]. They will be burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] to the Lord, which the ruler will offer every day of the seven days of the feast. He must also offer a male goat every day as a ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3]. 24 The ruler ·must give [will provide] as a ·grain [L gift; tribute] offering [Lev. 2:1] ·one-half bushel [L an ephah; v. 11] for each bull and ·one-half bushel [L an ephah] for each sheep. He must give a ·gallon [L hin] of olive oil for each half bushel.
25 “‘Beginning on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you celebrate the ·Feast of Shelters [L Feast/Festival; Lev. 23:33–44; Num. 28:12–40], the ruler will supply the same ·things [provisions] for seven days: the ·sin [or purification] offerings [Lev. 4:3], burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17], ·grain [L gift; tribute] offerings [Lev. 2:1], and the olive oil.
Rules for Worship
46 “‘This is what the Lord God says: The east gate of the inner courtyard will stay shut on the six working days, but it will be opened on the Sabbath day and on the day of the New Moon. 2 The ·ruler [prince] will enter from outside through the ·porch [portico] of the gateway and stand by the gatepost, while the priests offer the ·ruler’s [prince’s] burnt offering [Lev. 1:1–17] and ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [Lev. 3:1]. The ruler will ·worship [bow down] at the ·entrance [threshold] of the gateway, and then he will go out. But the gate will not be shut until evening. 3 The people of the land will worship at the entrance of that gateway ·in the presence of [before] the Lord on the Sabbaths and New Moons. 4 This is the burnt offering [Lev. 1:1–17] the ruler will offer to the Lord on the Sabbath day: six male lambs ·that have nothing wrong with them [without blemish/defect] and a ·male sheep [ram] ·that has nothing wrong with it [without blemish/defect]. 5 He must give a ·half-bushel [L ephah; 45:11] ·grain [L gift; tribute] offering with the male sheep, but he ·may [or will] give as much grain offering with the lambs as ·he pleases [or he is able; L a gift of his hand]. He must also give a ·gallon [L hin] of olive oil for each ·half bushel [L ephah] of grain. 6 On the day of the New Moon he must offer a young bull ·that has nothing wrong with it [without blemish/defect]. He must also offer six lambs and a male sheep ·that have nothing wrong with them [all without blemish/defect]. 7 The ruler must give a ·half-bushel [L ephah] ·grain [L gift; tribute] offering [Lev. 2:1] with the bull and ·one-half bushel [L an ephah] with the ·male sheep [ram]. With the lambs, he ·may [or will] give as much grain ·as he pleases [or as he is able; L a gift of his hand]. But he must give a ·gallon [L hin] of olive oil for each half bushel of grain. 8 When the ·ruler [prince] enters, he must go in through the ·porch [portico] of the gateway, and he must go out the same way.
9 “‘When the people of the land come ·into the Lord’s presence [before the Lord] at the ·special feasts [appointed festivals], those who enter through the north gate to worship must go out through the south gate. Those who enter through the south gate must go out through the north gate. They must not return the same way they entered; everyone must go out ·the opposite way [straight ahead]. 10 The ·ruler [prince] will go in with the people when they go in and go out with them when they go out.
11 “‘At the feasts and ·regular times of worship [appointed festivals] ·one-half bushel [L an ephah] of grain must be offered with a young bull, and ·one-half bushel [L an ephah] of grain must be offered with a ·male sheep [ram]. But with an offering of lambs, the ruler may give as much grain as ·he pleases [or he is able; L a gift of his hand]. He should give a ·gallon [L hin] of olive oil for each ·half bushel [L ephah] of grain. 12 The ·ruler [prince] may give an ·offering as a special gift to the Lord [freewill offering]; it may be a burnt offering [Lev. 1:1–17] or ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [Lev. 3:1]. When he gives it to the Lord, the ·inner east gate [gate facing east] is to be opened for him. He must offer his burnt offering or his ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [Lev. 3:1] as he does on the Sabbath day. Then he will go out, and the gate will be shut after he has left.
13 “‘Every day you will give a year-old lamb ·that has nothing wrong with it [without blemish/defect] for a burnt offering [Lev. 1:1–17] to the Lord. Do it ·every morning [morning by morning]. 14 Also, you must offer a ·grain [L gift; tribute] offering [Lev. 2:1] with the lamb ·every morning [morning by morning]. For this you will give ·three and one-third quarts [L a sixth of an ephah] of grain and ·one and one-third quarts [L a third of an ephah] of olive oil, to make the fine flour moist, as a ·grain [L gift; tribute] offering [Lev. 2:1] to the Lord. This is a ·rule that must be kept from now on [perpetual statute; lasting ordinance]. 15 So you must always give the lamb, together with the ·grain [L gift; tribute] offering [Lev. 2:1] and the olive oil, ·every morning [morning by morning] as a ·regular [perpetual] burnt offering [Lev. 1:1–17].
Rules for the Ruler
16 “‘This is what the Lord God says: If the ·ruler [prince] gives a gift from his ·land [inheritance] to any of his sons, that land will belong to the son and then to the son’s children. It is their property ·passed down from their family [L by inheritance]. 17 But if the ruler gives a gift from his ·land [inheritance] to any of his servants, that land will belong to the servant only until the year of freedom [C the year of Jubilee; Lev. 25:8–15]. Then the land will go back to the ·ruler [prince]. ·Only the ruler’s sons may keep a gift of land from the ruler [L His inheritance shall be only for his sons]. 18 The ·ruler [prince] must not take any of the people’s ·land [inheritance], forcing them out of their land. He must give his sons ·some of his own land [inheritance from his own property] so my people will not be scattered out of their own land.’”
The Special Kitchens
19 The man led me through the entrance at the side of the gateway to the priests’ ·holy rooms [sacred chambers] that face north. ·There I saw [L And look/T behold] a place at the far west end. 20 The man said to me, “This is where the priests will boil the ·meat of the penalty [L penalty; or guilt; reparation] offering [Lev. 5:14—6:7] and ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3] and bake the ·grain [L gift; tribute] offering [Lev. 3:1]. Then they will not need to bring these holy offerings into the outer courtyard, ·because that would hurt [L which would transmit holiness to] the people [C the purity of God’s holiness would destroy sinful human beings; Lev. 16:2].”
21 Then the man brought me out into the outer courtyard and led me to its four corners. [L And look/T behold] In each corner of the courtyard was a smaller courtyard. 22 Small courtyards were in the four corners of the courtyard. Each small courtyard was the same size, ·seventy feet [L forty cubits] long and ·fifty-two and one-half feet [L thirty cubits] wide. 23 A ·stone wall [L row] was around each of the four small courtyards, and ·places for cooking [fireplaces; boiling places] were built in each of the ·stone walls [rows]. 24 The man said to me, “These are the kitchens where those who ·work [minister] in the Temple will boil the sacrifices offered by the people.”
The River from the Temple
47 The man led me back to the door of the ·Temple [L house], and ·I saw [L look; T behold] water coming out from under the ·doorway [threshold] and flowing east. (The Temple faced east.) The water flowed down from the south side wall of the Temple and then south of the altar. 2 The man brought me out through the outer north gate and led me around outside to the outer east gate. ·I found [L And look/T behold] the water ·coming [trickling] out on the south side of the gate.
3 The man went toward the east with a measuring line in his hand and measured ·about one-third of a mile [L a thousand cubits]. Then he led me through water that came up to my ankles. 4 The man measured ·about one-third of a mile [L a thousand] again and led me through water that came up to my knees. Then he measured ·about one-third of a mile [L a thousand] again and led me through water up to my waist. 5 The man measured ·about one-third of a mile [L a thousand] again, but it was now a river that I could not cross. The water had risen too high; it was deep enough for swimming; it was a river that no one could cross. 6 The man asked me, “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], do you see this?”
Then the man led me back to the bank of the river. 7 As I went back, I saw many trees on both sides of the river. 8 The man said to me, “This water will flow toward the eastern areas and go down into the ·Jordan Valley [L Arabah]. When it enters the ·Dead Sea [L Sea], it will ·become fresh [L be healed; C the Dead Sea has no fish or other living creatures due to its high mineral content]. 9 Everywhere the river goes, there will be many fish. Wherever this water goes the ·Dead Sea [L Sea] will become fresh, and so where the river goes there will be ·many [swarms of] living things. 10 Fishermen will stand by ·the Dead Sea [L it]. From En Gedi [C midway along the western side of the Dead Sea] all the way to En Eglaim [C an unknown location, perhaps on the east bank of the Dead Sea] there will be places to spread fishing nets. There will be many kinds of fish there, as many as in the ·Mediterranean [L Great] Sea. 11 But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will ·be left for salt [or remain salty]. 12 All kinds of fruit trees will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not ·dry and die [wither] and ·there will always be fruit on them [L their fruit will not fail]. The trees will bear fruit every month, because the water for them comes from the ·Temple [sanctuary]. The fruit from the trees will be used for food, and their leaves for ·medicine [L healing].”
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.