Ezekiel: Chapter 42
Setting
Ezekiel 42:1-20 is a continuation of Ezekiel 40:1-49 and Ezekiel 41:1-26.
| Verses | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1-12 | Measuring the chambers |
| 13-14 | The priest's role |
| 15-20 | More measurements of the northern chamber in the outer court |
In Ezekiel 42:1, Ezekiel is guided from the inner court back into the outer court, via the northern gate. There, his attention was directed toward the chambers that were up against the wall of the inner court and over toward the western wall where the special place, behind the temple in the inner court is located. The symmetry of the entire temple area is again evident, wherein all that is measured in Ezekiel 42:1-12 is applicable to the chambers located across from the temple in the southern side of the outer court.
In these passages, the door's length and breadth of the northern chambers are measured. Also measured were the galleries, the three stories of the chambers, the walkway, doors, the dimensions of the different stories of the chambers, the pillars of the courts, the length and thickness of the walls.
In Ezekiel 42:13-14, the bronze man informs Ezekiel the purpose of the two chambers to the north and south of the temple. Both are considered holy chambers and are the place where only the priests that approach the Lord, eat the most holy things.
Though they are not identified here, the only priests allowed such access and privilege are the sons of Zadok, Ezekiel 40:46, Ezekiel 44:15-16. Those offerings that they are allowed to partake of are the grain offerings, sin offerings, and the guilt offerings.
In Ezekiel 42:14, the rules governing the clothing worn by the sons of Zadok are given. Once the priests enter the holy parts of the temple with the prescribed set of holy clothing, they must change their clothes that they wore to minister the Lord. They are to put on other clothes before leaving the inner court to inter in the common area where the people are.
In Ezekiel 42:15-20, there is a continuation of the measurements of the inner house of the northern chamber in the outer court. The bronze man brought Ezekiel toward the eastern gate of the chamber, and began measuring the area of the northern chamber opposite the inner house. Here, the measurements continued, with the final verse of this chapter indicating that the structure was designed to separate the holy things of the sanctuary from the common area where the people had access.h.
