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Translation
King James Version
The altar of wood was three cubits high, and the length thereof two cubits; and the corners thereof, and the length thereof, and the walls thereof, were of wood: and he said unto me, This is the table that is before the LORD.
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KJV (with Strong's)
The altar H4196 of wood H6086 was three H7969 cubits H520 high H1364, and the length H753 thereof two H8147 cubits H520; and the corners H4740 thereof, and the length H753 thereof, and the walls H7023 thereof, were of wood H6086: and he said H1696 unto me, This is the table H7979 that is before H6440 the LORD H3068.
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Complete Jewish Bible
The altar was of wood, five-and-a-quarter feet high and three-and-a-half feet long; its length and walls were also of wood. He said to me, "This is the table which is in the presence of ADONAI."
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Berean Standard Bible
There was an altar of wood three cubits high and two cubits square. Its corners, base, and sides were of wood. And the man told me, “This is the table that is before the LORD.”
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American Standard Version
The altar was of wood, three cubits high, and the length thereof two cubits; and the corners thereof, and the length thereof, and the walls thereof, were of wood: and he said unto me, This is the table that is before Jehovah.
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World English Bible Messianic
The altar was of wood, three cubits high, and its length two cubits; and its corners, and its length, and its walls, were of wood: and he said to me, This is the table that is before the LORD.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
The altar of wood was three cubites hie, and the length thereof two cubites, and the corners thereof and the length thereof and the sides thereof were of wood. And he sayd vnto me, This is the table that shalbe before the Lord.
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Young's Literal Translation
Of the altar, the wood is three cubits in height, and its length two cubits; and its corners are to it, and its length, and its walls are of wood, and he speaketh unto me, `This is the table that is before Jehovah.'
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Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Ezekiel 41:22 describes a pivotal object within the inner sanctuary of the visionary temple, initially identified as an "altar of wood" but immediately clarified by the angelic guide as "the table that is before the LORD." This verse, embedded in Ezekiel's extensive temple vision, highlights a profound theological reorientation from sacrifice to intimate communion and divine provision, underscoring God's desire for unhindered fellowship with His people. The meticulous description of its dimensions and wooden construction further contributes to the rich symbolism of this sacred furniture.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Ezekiel 41:22 is intricately woven into the highly detailed and architecturally precise temple vision that spans Ezekiel 40-48. Following the comprehensive measurements of the temple's outer and inner courts, the prophet is guided into the interior of the sanctuary itself. Chapter 41 specifically delineates the dimensions and features of the temple building, including the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. This particular verse describes a central fixture within the inner sanctuary, likely the Holy Place, immediately before the description of the Most Holy Place and the glorious return of God's presence in Ezekiel 43. The meticulous detail throughout these chapters underscores the divine origin and authoritative nature of the vision, emphasizing God's precise design for His dwelling place and the perfect order He desires for worship in a restored covenant community.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: The profound vision of the temple was granted to Ezekiel during the traumatic period of the Babylonian exile (circa 593-571 BC). For the exiled Judeans, the destruction of the Jerusalem temple and their forced displacement from their homeland represented a catastrophic blow to their national identity and spiritual life. In this context of profound despair, the detailed blueprint of a new, glorious temple served as an extraordinary beacon of hope and reassurance. It was a divine promise of a future restoration of God's presence among His people, a re-establishment of proper worship, and the ultimate renewal of the covenant. Culturally, the temple was the very epicenter of Israelite identity, communal life, and worship; its destruction was not merely a physical loss but a theological crisis. This vision, therefore, was far more than an architectural plan; it was a deeply theological message addressing the core anxieties of a displaced people, reaffirming God's unwavering faithfulness to His promises, even amidst judgment and exile.
  • Key Themes: The description of the "altar of wood" identified as "the table that is before the LORD" contributes significantly to several overarching themes within Ezekiel's prophecy. First, it powerfully speaks to the theme of Divine Presence and Immanence, as the table's explicit position "before the LORD" signifies a place of intimate encounter and God's dwelling among His people. Second, the striking re-identification of an "altar" as a "table" introduces the profound theme of Communion and Provision, suggesting a future shift from solely sacrificial atonement to a primary emphasis on fellowship and divine sustenance. This foreshadows a deeper, more personal, and unhindered relationship with God. Third, the meticulous architectural details presented throughout Ezekiel 40-48 collectively emphasize Holiness and Order, reflecting God's perfect and precise design for a renewed covenant community that lives in His presence. Finally, the entire temple vision, culminating in the life-giving river flowing from the temple in Ezekiel 47, embodies the overarching theme of Future Hope and Restoration, offering a tangible promise of God's faithfulness and the eventual re-establishment of His dwelling place among a purified and reconciled Israel.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • Altar (Hebrew, mizbêach', H4196): From the root meaning "to slaughter" or "to sacrifice," this noun typically designates a raised structure upon which sacrifices were offered to God. Its initial use in Ezekiel 41:22 immediately evokes the traditional sacrificial system of the Old Covenant, setting up an expectation of a place for atonement. However, this expectation is deliberately recontextualized by the subsequent identification as a "table," highlighting a profound theological re-interpretation or dual symbolism unique to this visionary temple.
  • Table (Hebrew, shulchân', H7979): Derived from a root meaning "to send" or "to spread out," this word refers to a flat surface, commonly used for eating, presenting food, or conducting business. In the Tabernacle and Solomon's Temple, the "Table of Showbread" (or "Table of Presence Bread") was a prominent feature, symbolizing God's continuous provision and His desire for communion with His people. Its explicit designation here, overriding the initial "altar" label, powerfully emphasizes themes of fellowship, sustenance, and intimate divine presence over the singular focus on ritual sacrifice.
  • Before (Hebrew, pânîym', H6440): This word, literally meaning "face" or "presence," when used with a preposition (as here, "before the LORD"), denotes being in the direct sight, presence, or immediate vicinity of someone. It signifies accessibility, intimacy, and a direct, unmediated relationship. The table's position "before the LORD" underscores its profound sacredness and its function as a focal point for direct communion with God Himself, rather than merely an object within a sacred space.

Verse Breakdown

  • "The altar of wood was three cubits high, and the length thereof two cubits;": This opening clause introduces the object with its initial designation as an "altar" and provides its precise dimensions. The material, "wood," is explicitly stated, and its height (three cubits, approximately 4.5 feet or 1.35 meters) and length (two cubits, approximately 3 feet or 0.9 meters) are given, suggesting a substantial but not overwhelming structure. The immediate use of "altar" brings to mind the sacrificial rites of the Old Covenant, creating an intentional tension with the subsequent clarification.
  • "and the corners thereof, and the length thereof, and the walls thereof, were of wood:": This segment reiterates and expands upon the material composition, emphasizing that the entire structure—including its corners, overall length, and vertical sides (or "walls")—was constructed entirely of wood. This detail is noteworthy because the Table of Showbread in the Tabernacle was overlaid with pure gold (Exodus 25:24), making the unadorned wooden construction of Ezekiel's visionary table a distinct and potentially symbolic feature, perhaps signifying simplicity, humility, or a different covenantal reality.
  • "and he said unto me,": This transitional phrase identifies the speaker as the angelic guide who has been leading Ezekiel through the intricate temple vision since Ezekiel 40:3. It serves to draw the prophet's, and thus the reader's, attention to an authoritative interpretation or crucial clarification of the object Ezekiel is observing, highlighting the divine significance of the statement that follows.
  • "This is the table that is before the LORD.": This is the pivotal and climactic declaration of the verse. The angelic guide explicitly redefines the object, clarifying that despite its altar-like appearance or initial designation, its true identity and primary function are those of a "table." The phrase "before the LORD" powerfully conveys its sacred position in the immediate and direct presence of God, signifying a place of divine communion, abundant provision, and intimate fellowship, rather than solely a site for blood sacrifice.

Literary Devices

Ezekiel 41:22 skillfully employs several significant literary devices to convey its profound theological message. The most prominent is Juxtaposition, where the object is first identified as an "altar" and immediately thereafter as a "table." This creates a deliberate tension and then resolves it, compelling the reader to consider the profound theological shift being communicated. It forces a re-evaluation of traditional temple functions and expectations. Closely related is Symbolism, as the "table" itself profoundly symbolizes divine provision, intimate communion, and unhindered fellowship, echoing the Table of Showbread in earlier temple traditions but with a new, heightened emphasis. The explicit wooden construction, in stark contrast to the gold-overlaid furniture of the Tabernacle, also carries Symbolic weight, potentially suggesting humility, simplicity, or a different covenantal reality that transcends the need for external adornment. Finally, the entire passage is an integral part of a Prophetic Vision, a common literary device in prophetic literature, where detailed and often enigmatic imagery is employed to convey future realities or profound spiritual truths in a tangible, yet sometimes mysterious, manner.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Ezekiel 41:22 offers a profound theological insight into the ultimate nature of God's desire for His people. The striking re-identification of an "altar" as a "table" signifies a monumental shift from a primary emphasis on atonement through sacrifice to a focus on intimate communion and divine provision. While the sacrificial system was divinely ordained and absolutely essential under the Old Covenant for dealing with sin and enabling a sinful humanity to approach a holy God, this visionary table suggests a future reality where direct fellowship and sustenance with God are paramount. It implies that the means of reconciliation will be so utterly complete that the primary mode of interaction will be one of shared life and nourishing communion in God's very presence. This vision anticipates a time of unhindered access and a deeper, more personal relationship, where the focus moves from what humanity offers to God (sacrifice) to what God abundantly offers to His people (provision and fellowship).

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Ezekiel 41:22 serves as a powerful and transformative reminder that God's ultimate desire is not merely for ritualistic adherence, religious duty, or a transactional relationship based on appeasement, but for deep, personal, and intimate communion with His people. The profound transformation of an "altar" into a "table before the LORD" beckons us to critically examine our own approach to God. Do we primarily perceive our relationship with Him as one of obligation, duty, or appeasement, constantly striving to earn His favor? Or do we joyfully embrace the profound invitation to sit at His table, to receive His abundant provision, and to revel in His unhindered presence? This verse encourages us to transcend a performance-based faith and move towards one rooted in intimate fellowship, recognizing that in Christ, the ultimate and perfect sacrifice has been made, opening the way for us to feast at God's table. It calls us to seek spiritual nourishment from Him daily, to fully embrace His sustaining grace, and to delight in the unparalleled privilege of being "before the LORD." Our worship, then, becomes less about what we are compelled to give and more about what we are freely given—His life, His presence, His love, and His sustenance.

Questions for Reflection

  • How does the striking shift from "altar" to "table" challenge or affirm your current understanding of your relationship with God?
  • In what tangible ways do you currently experience God's provision and intimate communion in your daily life?
  • What does it practically mean for you to "sit at the table that is before the LORD" in your personal walk of faith?
  • Beyond mere religious duty, how can you intentionally cultivate a deeper sense of God's presence and spiritual nourishment in your life?

FAQ

Why is the structure first called an "altar" and then "the table"?

Answer: The initial designation as an "altar" (Hebrew: mizbêach) likely refers to its appearance, dimensions, or general sacred function within the visionary temple's inner sanctuary, as altars were central to Israelite worship and sacrifice. However, the immediate and authoritative clarification by the angelic guide—"This is the table" (Hebrew: shulchân)—is profoundly significant. This re-identification signals a crucial theological emphasis. It deliberately shifts the focus from a place of blood sacrifice (which altars typically facilitated for atonement) to a place of communion, fellowship, and divine provision. This visionary temple, unlike the Tabernacle or Solomon's Temple, emphasizes a future reality where the primary mode of interaction with God is not through repeated atonement rituals but through shared sustenance and unhindered presence, powerfully anticipating the New Covenant.

Does this vision describe a literal future temple?

Answer: The interpretation of Ezekiel's intricate temple vision (chapters Ezekiel 40-48) is a subject of ongoing and diverse theological debate among scholars. Some interpret it as a precise blueprint for a literal, physical temple to be constructed in Jerusalem during a future millennial reign of Christ. Others view it as primarily a symbolic representation of spiritual realities, such as the New Testament church as God's dwelling place, the heavenly temple, or the perfect worship that will characterize the new heavens and new earth. A third perspective suggests it was a conditional prophecy that was never fully realized due to Israel's unfaithfulness, but whose enduring spiritual principles remain eternally valid. Regardless of the exact mode of fulfillment, the profound spiritual truths conveyed—God's desire for His presence among His people, His holiness, and His intimate communion—are universally applicable and deeply enriching for believers.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Ezekiel 41:22, with its striking re-identification of an "altar" as "the table that is before the LORD," finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. In the Old Covenant, the altar was the designated place where sacrifices were made for the atonement of sins, providing a temporary and foreshadowing means for humanity to approach a holy God. However, Christ Himself became the ultimate, perfect, and once-for-all sacrifice, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, offering His own body on the cross (Hebrews 10:10-14). His completed work on Calvary definitively eliminated the need for repeated animal sacrifices, thereby fundamentally transforming the primary mode of interaction with God. The "table before the LORD" in Ezekiel's vision thus powerfully prefigures the new covenant reality where, through Christ's perfect sacrifice, believers are invited not to an altar of death and judgment, but to a table of life, communion, and fellowship. Jesus declared Himself to be the Bread of Life, offering true spiritual sustenance and eternal life to all who believe in Him. The Lord's Supper, where believers partake of bread and wine in sacred remembrance of His body broken and blood shed, stands as the quintessential "table before the LORD" in the New Testament, signifying our ongoing fellowship with Christ and with one another in His abiding presence (1 Corinthians 10:16-17). Through Christ, we have not only complete atonement but also intimate, unhindered access to God's very presence, where we are nourished by Him and commune with Him, fulfilling the deepest longings and spiritual realities foreshadowed in Ezekiel's visionary table.

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Commentary on Ezekiel 41 verses 12–26

Here is, 1. An account of a building that was before the separate place (that is, before the temple), at the end towards the west (Eze 41:12), which is here measured, and compared (Eze 41:13) with the measure of the house, and appears to be of equal dimensions with it. This stood in a court by itself, which is measured (Eze 41:15) and its galleries, or chambers belonging to it, its posts and windows, and the ornaments of them, Eze 41:15-17. But what use was to be made of this other building we are not told; perhaps, in this vision, it signified the setting up of a church among the Gentiles not inferior to the Jewish temple, but of quite another nature, and which should soon supersede it. 2. A description of the ornaments of the temple, and the other building. The walls on the inside from top to bottom were adorned with cherubim and palm-trees, placed alternately, as in Solomon's temple, Kg1 6:29. Each cherub is here said to have two faces, the face of a man towards the palm tree on one side and the face of a young lion towards the palm-tree on the other side, Eze 41:19. These seem to represent the angels, who have more than the wisdom of a man and the courage of a lion; and in both they have an eye to the palms of victory and triumph which are set before them, and which they are sure of in all their conflicts with the powers of darkness. And in the assemblies of the saints angels are in a special manner present, Co1 11:10. 3. A description of the posts of the doors both of the temple and of the sanctuary; they were squared (Eze 41:21), not round like pillars; and the appearance of the one was as the appearance of the other. In the tabernacle, and in Solomon's temple, the door of the sanctuary, or most holy, was narrower than that of the temple, but here it was fully as broad; for in gospel-times the way into the holiest of all is made more manifest than it was under the Old Testament (Heb 9:8) and therefore the door is wider. These doors are described, Eze 41:23, Eze 41:24. The temple and the sanctuary had each of them its door, and they were two-leaved, folding doors. 4. We have here the description of the altar of incense, here said to be an altar of wood, Eze 41:22. No mention is made of its being over-laid with gold; but surely it was intended to be so, else it would not bear the fire with which the incense was to be burned, unless we will suppose that it served only to put the censers upon. Or else it intimates that the incense to be offered in the gospel-temple shall be purely spiritual, and the fire spiritual, which will not consume an altar of wood. Therefore this altar is called a table. This is the table that is before the Lord. Here, as before, we find the altar turned into a table; for, the great sacrifice being now offered, that which we have to do is to feast upon the sacrifice at the Lord's table. 5. Here is the adorning of the doors and windows with palm-trees, that they might be of a piece with the walls of the house, Eze 41:25, Eze 41:26. Thus the living temples are adorned, not with gold, or silver, or costly array, but with the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 12–26. Public domain.
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JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Ezekiel
(Versed. 8 seqq.) 'And I saw in the house a height all around, with foundations of reed measuring six cubits, and the width along the outer wall of the side chamber, five cubits. And the inner part of the house and the space between the storehouses, twenty cubits wide all around the house. And there were doors in the side chambers toward the outer court, one door toward the north, and another door toward the south. And the width of the place for worship, five cubits all around.' And the building, which was separate and facing the road towards the sea, was seventy cubits wide. The wall of the building was five cubits wide all around, and its length was ninety cubits. After he reached the Holy of Holies, of which we spoke earlier, that venerable man measured the wall of the Holy of Holies. It had a height of six cubits because of the structure of the world and all visible creation, which was created in six days, and a width of one side of four cubits, not on one side only, but all around. But the width of the house, measured around, was four cubits, to represent the four elements from which all things are composed, especially human bodies. Against these, the holy ones fight and subject themselves to the power of the soul, so that they may deserve to enter the inner regions and know the secrets of the Lord. The sides of the house, which were around it and were separated from the walls of the temple by a space of four cubits, were joined together. So that one side touched another side, and it had a length not of thirty-three cubits, but of sixty-six, that is, sixty-six. In the book of Leviticus, it is said that after one week in the birth of a male child, the mother and the child must wait for thirty-three days in order to undergo purification (Lev. XII). However, if the child is female, the waiting period is doubled to sixty-six days. And because, in order to enter the holy of holies, we need not only the first birth, but also the second, to be born in the flesh and be reborn in the spirit: therefore, the number is not sixty-six, but twice thirty and three, so that both births are owed to God the creator and his mercy, and the two sides of the house that support the structure of the temple are enclosed by a double wall. And what follows according to the Hebrew: 'And there were certain heights that would go out through the wall of the house on the sides all around, to contain, and not touch the wall of the temple,' signifies this: that holy men, amidst the multitude of believers, burst forth through the wall of the temple, through all the sides all around, and uphold the foundations of the Church, and yet do not touch the wall of the temple: content with having seen only, and from afar, worship the indescribable mysteries. Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. (1 Corinthians 13:12-13) But through the circular and spiral ascent we reach the upper room of the temple, which, among all shapes, is also approved by philosophers of this age as the most beautiful: for both the sky, the sun, the moon, and the other stars, and the earth, in human bodies as well, the eyes are like other stars, and the shape of the head, which is the receptacle of all the senses, and the rounded fingers, and women, and arms, exhibit this roundness. Moreover, I think that the upper room of the temple, which we ascend from the lower to the higher, is the same one that Elijah and Elisha had, as mentioned in the book of Kings, and also Tabitha had it in the Acts of the Apostles, which means 'the gazelle' in Greek, and our damsel who had reached the highest through good works (3 Kings 17; 4 Kings 4; Acts 9; Acts 10). But the Apostle Peter, on whom the Lord established the foundations of the Church, surpasses the upper room and comes to the roof, which is more significantly called 'dorma' in Greek, that is, the solarium of the roof, and he came to know the mysteries of the Church, previously unknown to the world. The Savior also made the Pasch in the upper room, and in a large and wide upper room, and after all impurity had been cleansed and the bed prepared, and the spiritual feast prepared, where he delivered the mystery of his body and blood to his disciples, and left to us the eternal celebration of the immaculate Lamb. And he added: And from the middle to the saddest, that is, the third upper room and Thrael, it seems to me that it should be marked with a note. For why do we need to discuss doubtful and unwritten things when we should devote ourselves to the books held by the Hebrews? It follows: 'And I saw in the house a height encompassed by sides, measured by a reed, a space of six cubits; and a width by the outer wall of the side of five cubits; and between the treasuries' (which Symmachus calls 'exedrae') 'a width of twenty cubits around the house.' By these measurements it is shown that we are deserving of ascending not only into the Holy of Holies, but also into their upper room, and that we should always remember that through the six days of our earthly condition, and through the five senses, and through the twenty cubits of width, we ascend to the upper room of the temple, leaving behind earthly humility and the sense of the letter, and we pass over to the summit of the Church, and rejoice in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.' And the entrance, he says, of the side toward the north (Jer. 1:14), from which evil spreads over all the earth, and which the Lord promises to drive away from us, saying: 'And I will drive away from you him who is from the north' (Joel 2:20). And it is a beautiful place for prayer at the entrance opposite the north, so that, according to the Apostle, we may pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5), and say with Jeremiah: 'Let not the apple of my eye be silent' (Lam. 2:18), whether we desire to avoid present evils or give thanks for the past. For as long as we are in the tent of this body, we groan and say: Wretched me, who will set me free from this body of death? (Rom. VII, 24). But there was also a door to the South, which had a place of prayer nearby according to the Hebrew custom, and it extended five cubits around. For after the cold of the North, we pass through the heat of the South, and yet we still seek a place for prayer, in the door of the North, in order to escape dangers; in the South, to give thanks for the past and to have a secure possession of victory. But five cubits, and in this place they indicate divine senses, through which we ascend from earthly things to higher things. And the building, he says, which was separated and turned toward the road facing the sea, was seventy cubits wide: so that after labors and dangers, and the waves and shipwrecks of this world, and seventy years, of which Jeremiah, Daniel, and Zechariah write (Jer. 25 and 29; Dan. 9, Zech. 9); but also the legitimate sabbath of seven decades we may attain: so that we may have eternal rest, and through the width of five cubits we may come to a length of ninety cubits: in which age Sarah gave birth to a son according to the promise, who, at the age of ninety, that is, at the end of nine decades, was born to Abraham, who was one hundred years old (Gen. 21), that is, having the mystery of ten decades. The following Scripture will show what the number signifies.

(Verses 13 and following) And the house was measured in length a hundred cubits. And the separate building, and its walls, were also a hundred cubits in length. The width before the face of the house, and that which was separate against the East, was a hundred cubits. And the length of the building over against the face thereof, which was separated at the back, was also a hundred cubits. And there were chambers exceeding in height on either side a hundred cubits; and the inner temple, and the porches of the court. Doorways and slanted windows were set outward, in a perimeter on three sides against the threshold of each, and a wooden floor went all the way around. And the earth was up to the windows: and the windows were closed. Above the doors, and up to the inner house; and on the outside, through every wall on the inside; and on the outside, to the measurement. And cherubs and palm trees were carved: and a palm tree was between cherub and cherub: and each cherub had two faces: the face of a man next to the palm tree on one side, and the face of a lion next to the palm tree on the other side; carved throughout the whole house on the inside. From the ground up to the upper gates, there were carved cherubim and palm trees on the wall of the temple. The threshold was square. The sanctuary faced the shape of the wooden altar, its height being three cubits. Its length was two cubits. Its corners, length, and walls were all made of wood. Seventy: It measured against the length of the house, one hundred cubits. And the remaining and separating walls, in the length of one hundred cubits. And the width against the face of the temple, and the remaining opposite one hundred cubits. And he measured the length of the separating wall facing the back of the house, and the remaining width of one hundred cubits. And the temple and the corners, and the outer Aelam covered with wood, and three windows made like a net, for light to shine through, that one could look through them. And the house and the adjacent structures, all covered with wood around. And the floor, and from the floor to the windows. And the windows were opened threefold, so that one could look through them: both into the inner and outer house, and through every wall around inside and outside the measurement, and carved cherubim, and palm trees between cherub and cherub. Two faces of cherub: the face of a man towards the palm tree on one side, and the face of a lion towards the palm tree on the other side: the entire wall was carved all around from the floor to the rafters with cherubim and carved palm trees. And the sanctuary and the temple were opened on four corners towards the face of the saints: a vision as if the appearance of a wooden altar: its height being three cubits, and its length two cubits: and its width two cubits: and it had horns, and its bases and walls were wooden.» The word 'contra', which the LXX translated at the beginning of the testimony, where it is written: 'And he measured against the house', is not found in Hebrew, and therefore it must be marked with an obelus, in order for it to be correct and true, and he measured the house with a length of one hundred cubits, and so on. The Holy of Holies and the inner sanctuary are described, which is said to have a perfect number of ten decades, after ninety cubits, with three sides having one hundred cubits each: so that we may serve the Lord with our mind, speech, and deeds, remembering that Apostolic example in which it is said: 'That we may know the breadth, and length, and depth, and height' (Ephesians 3:18). But what is said in Hebrew, the separate structure and its walls, the Septuagint translates as separating and not clinging to the walls of the temple, but having their own nearby walls. The temple itself, as well as its corners and the porch or entrance hall (propylon), were covered with wood, a symbol of wisdom, as the Scripture records the tree of life being located in paradise (Gen. II). The windows were made in the form of a net, similar to lattice screens, so that they were not covered with stone or glass, but with wooden lattices woven with twists and turns. In Hebrew, they have diagonal windows, which were only present in three parts of the temple: on the right, on the left, and at the back, that is, to the South, North, and West. The eastern part, however, did not have windows because the entrance itself let in bright light from within, and all the interior of the temple was filled with the light of the doors, so that someone could look inside through each window and opening. And not only were the exterior areas covered with wood, but there was such an abundance of wood all around that the floor and everything up to the windows were connected with wood. The windows were opened in three ways according to the Seventy, so that when they were opened, a triple understanding of God's temple would be revealed, according to what is said elsewhere: 'But you, write down these things in three ways' (Prov. 22:20). And through them, both the interior and the exterior are seen: so that we may know the invisible things that are within, and the visible things that are without; so that one thing may show the mind, another the flesh, another the spiritual understanding, and another the simple historical account; and through all the surrounding walls, internally and externally, their measurements were consistent. For nothing is done in the temple of God without reason and measure, especially in the holy of holies made by God. The Cherubim were also carved, no doubt in wood, extending from the floor to the windows, and the carvings were so finely made that they appeared not sculpted, but applied. Cherubim are interpreted as a multitude of knowledge. Therefore, within the innermost part of the temple, after the multitude of knowledge, there are carvings and palm trees, in which the sign of victory is, as the Apostle says: But I press on to the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God, in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). Which palms were between the Cherub and the Cherub, so that one Cherub was surrounded on both sides by two palms: which Cherub did not, as we read at the beginning of this prophet, have four faces, namely, of a man, a lion, a calf, and an eagle; but only two, that is, of a man and a lion, of which the first pertains to reason, and the second to fury, which is more significantly called θυμὸς in Greek. By fury, however, we mean not that which is close to disturbance and vice, but that which consolidates the softness of the mind and makes the soul of the combatant stronger. For in the beginning, we are subject to concupiscence, which pertains to the earthly works; and some are carnal, others are spiritual, of which the ultimate is attributed to eagles. But when we enter the innermost sanctuary, and possess the inner parts of the temple, we have no need for anything else except reason and strength, of which one pertains to perception and prudence, the other to the perseverance of the soul. Therefore, every wall around the temple, from the floor to the ceiling, had Cherubim and palms skillfully carved: after which the sanctuary and the temple were opened from the four corners opposite the faces of the holy ones. First, we have a multitude of knowledge, through which we achieve victory over the enemy, and then a sanctuary and temple are opened to us, which has four angles, and a very strong position, and which is inclined in no direction. For it has the nature of a square measure, so that it may stand on a stable base, and it possesses, in a mystical number that is clear to the wise reader, four elements from which all things consist, solid and everlasting. And they looked at everything opposite the face of the sanctuary: before which was the sanctuary, or in which was the image of the wooden altar three cubits high, and two cubits long, and two cubits wide, which together make seven cubits. This altar had horns; and both its bases and its walls, that is, its sides, were made of wood, in which the holy Scriptures mysteries, human speech cannot explain: how the altar, in which the fire was to be kindled, namely the incense offering, should suffer nothing from the fire, but, so to speak, becomes more pure through the fire. For just as the works of the saints, of which the Apostle writes, 'The work of each will be made manifest; for the Day will disclose it' (1 Corinthians 3:13), do not perish, but are made even more pure through fire, so too the wood of the altar, which is from the trees of paradise, is not consumed by nearby fire, but is made even more pure. It is not surprising to believe this about the sanctuary and the inner parts of the temple and the altar of incense, since even linen, which is a type of flax, or something with a similar appearance to linen, is found to be cleaner the more it is burned. Forgive, reader, the difficulty, and grant pardon to the impoverished understanding. For through slanted and net-like windows, which are always closed, we can barely allow our eye to enter into the inner chamber of our heart, so that all that we see, we see in shadow and in image, and with the Apostle, we cry out: O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments, and how unsearchable his ways (Rom. XI, 13)! And: Who has known the mind of God (Isaiah XL, 13), except the one who is the angel of great counsel, and who has the power to reveal worthy mysteries? And in Rome, they call the projections on the walls of dining rooms 'solaria,' or 'Meniana' from the one who first invented them, which some Greeks call 'exōstras.'
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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