Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 42

Verse 1

Eze 42:1

Ezekiel 42:1-12
Here is contained a special description of the chambers for housing the priests, and also special information regarding the outer court.

Priest Chambers and External Temple Measurements

(Ezekiel 42:1-12)

“Then he brought me forth into the outer court, the way toward the north: and he brought me into the chamber that was over against the separate place, and which was over against the building toward the north. Before the length of a hundred cubits was the north door, and the breadth was fifty cubits. Over against the twenty cubits which belonged to the inner court, and over against the pavement which belonged to the outer court, was gallery against gallery in the third story. And before the chambers was a walk of ten cubits’ breadth inward, a way of one cubit; and their doors were toward the north. Now the upper chambers were shorter; for the galleries took away from these, more than from the lower and the middlemost, in the building. For they were in three stories, and they had not pillars as the pillars of the courts: therefore the uppermost was straitened more than the lowest and the middlemost from the ground. And the wall that was without by the side of the chambers, toward the outer court before the chambers, the length thereof was fifty cubits. For the length of the chambers that were in the outer court was fifty cubits: and, lo, before the temple were a hundred cubits. And from under these chambers was the entry on the east side, as one goeth into them from the outer court. In the thickness of the wall of the court toward the east, before the separate place, and before the building, there were chambers. And the way before them was like the appearance of the way of the chambers which were toward the north; according to their length so was their breadth: and all their egresses were both according to their fashions, and according to their doors. And according to the doors of the chambers that were toward the south was a door at the head of the way, even the way directly before the wall toward the east, as one entereth into them” (Ezekiel 42:1-12).

Ezekiel 42:1-12 lists the measurements of the chamber buildings in the outer court.

Verses 13-14

Eze 42:13-14

The Holy Chambers - Ezekiel 42:13-14

“Then said he unto me, The north chambers and the south chambers, which are before the separate place, they are the holy chambers, where the priests that are near unto Jehovah shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meal-offering, and the sin-offering, and the trespass-offering; for the place is holy. When the priests enter in, then shall they not go out of the holy place into the outer court, but there they shall lay their garments wherein they minister; for they are holy: and they shall put on other garments, and shall approach to that which pertaineth to the people” (Ezekiel 42:13-14).

The “Holy chambers” of the Temple are described here. Holy chambers were to be the place where the priests eat of the sacrifices made.

Verses 15-20

Eze 42:15-20

The Holy and the Common - Ezekiel 42:15-20

“Now when he had made an end of measuring the inner house, he brought me forth by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east, and measured it round about. He measured on the east side with the measuring reed five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about. He measured on the north side five hundred reeds with the measuring reed round about. He measured on the south side five hundred reeds with the measuring reed. He turned about to the west side, and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed. He measured it on the four sides: it had a wall round about, the length five hundred, and the breadth five hundred, to make a separation between that which was holy and that which was common” (Ezekiel 42:15-20).

The description contained in Ezekiel 42:15-20 reveals the extent of the Holy domain around the temple.

The Architecture of the New Temple

Ezekiel 40:1 to Ezekiel 42:20

Open It

1. What are some of the more impressive examples of architecture that you have seen?

2. How difficult would it be for you to find your way around your home blindfolded?

Explore It

3. What was the specific time of Ezekiel’s vision of the temple? (Ezekiel 40:1)

4. Whom did Ezekiel meet when God transported him to Jerusalem in a vision? (Ezekiel 40:2-3)

5. What instructions did the man have for Ezekiel before they set out on their exploration? (Ezekiel 40:4)

6. What was impressive about the wall that surrounded the temple Ezekiel saw? (Ezekiel 40:5)

7. What are some examples of how detailed Ezekiel’s description of the east gate area becomes? (Ezekiel 40:6-16)

8. What did the man do each time he stopped at the outer court, the north gate, and the south gate? (Ezekiel 40:17-27)

9. What sorts of rooms did Ezekiel see before he actually came into the temple? (Ezekiel 40:28-47)

10. What was at the center of the temple structure? (Ezekiel 40:48 to Ezekiel 41:15)

11. How were the internal parts of the temple decorated? (Ezekiel 41:16-26)

12. What important activity was to take place in the side rooms around the temple? (Ezekiel 42:1-13)

13. What specific regulations were given with regard to the priests’ garments inside and outside the temple? (Ezekiel 42:14)

14. How was the whole temple area kept distinct from the "common" parts of the city? (Ezekiel 42:15-20)

Get It

15. Why do you think the exiles to whom Ezekiel spoke might have "eaten up" every detail of his description of the temple?

16. What point did the temple buildings and worship practices make by separating the holy from the common?

17. In what respect was Ezekiel a "servant" of the exiled people of Israel?

18. If someone could bring you a blueprint of heaven, what details would you want it to include?

19. How would you describe heaven to someone unfamiliar with the Bible?

Apply It

20. How could you express your gratitude for the care that has gone into the planning and maintenance of your place of worship?

21. How can the prospect of a new heaven and a new earth inspire you in a specific problem you are presently facing?