I. Summary
The temple’s middle room, innermost room, and side rooms are measured and described.
II. Photo
The temple was decorated: “And all over the wall, both in the inner one and in the outer, ran a pattern. It consisted of cherubs and palm trees, with a palm tree between every two cherubs.” (vv. 17-18)
III. Select Verses
4: Then he measured the depth, 20 cubits; and the width at the inner end of the great hall was also 20 cubits. And he said to me, “This is the Holy of Holies.”
17-20: And all over the wall, both in the inner one and in the outer, ran a pattern. It consisted of cherubs and palm trees, with a palm tree between every two cherubs. Each cherub had two faces: a human face turned toward the palm tree on one side and a lion’s face turned toward the palm tree on the other side. This was repeated all over the Temple; the cherubs and the palm trees were carved on the wall from the floor to above the openings.
21-22: and before the Shrine was something resembling a wooden altar 3 cubits high and 2 cubits long and having inner corners; and its length and its walls were of wood. And he said to me, “This is the table that stands before the LORD.”
IV. Outline
1-2. The middle room
3-4. The innermost room
5-11. The temple’s side rooms, entrances, and courtyard
12. The building to the west
13-15. Area of the temple, its inner courtyard, and the building to the west
16. The outer windows
17-20a. The decorations: palmettes and human/lion faced cherubs
20b-21a. The mezzuzot to the middle room
21b-22. The altar in the middle room
23-25a. The doors for the middle and innermost rooms
25b-26. The outermost room with its windows and decorations
V. Comment
For a helpful video explaining this difficult chapter, see bibliaprints.com.
Part of the video can be seen here:
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Photo copied from http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x72OKCQaybU/TNqwsT21c1I/AAAAAAAAAIc/GwgMad4P_vQ/s1600/1280267_crown_of_a_palm_tree.jpg
