Ezekiel 41 – “A Vision of the Temple – Part II”

palm tree crown palmetteHebrew-English Text

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)

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