Ezekiel42

Ezekiel is shown the chambers on the north and south sides of the temple, detailing their structure and dimensions. These are identified as holy chambers where priests are to eat sacred offerings and change their holy garments before entering the outer court. Finally, the entire temple complex is measured, revealing a square enclosure of five hundred reeds on each side, designed to separate the holy sanctuary from the profane.
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The Northern Chambers Described

1
Then he brought me forth into the utter court, the way toward the north: and he brought me into the chamber that was over against the separate place, and which was before the building toward the north. ​
2
Before the length of an hundred cubits was the north door, and the breadth was fifty cubits.
3
Over against the twenty cubits which were for the inner court, and over against the pavement which was for the utter court, was gallery against gallery in three stories. ​
4
And before the chambers was a walk of ten cubits breadth inward, a way of one cubit; and their doors toward the north.
5
Now the upper chambers were shorter: for the galleries were higher than these, than the lower, and than the middlemost of the building.
6
For they were in three stories, but had not pillars as the pillars of the courts: therefore the building was straitened more than the lowest and the middlemost from the ground. ​
7
And the wall that was without over against the chambers, toward the utter court on the forepart of the chambers, the length thereof was fifty cubits.
8
For the length of the chambers that were in the utter court was fifty cubits: and, lo, before the temple were an hundred cubits.
9
And from under these chambers was the entry on the east side, as one goeth into them from the utter court.
10
The chambers were in the thickness of the wall of the court toward the east, over against the separate place, and over against the building.
11
And the way before them was like the appearance of the chambers which were toward the north, as long as they, and as broad as they: and all their goings out were both according to their fashions, and according to their doors.
12
And according to the doors of the chambers that were toward the south was a door in the head of the way, even the way directly before the wall toward the east, as one entereth into them.

Purpose of the Holy Chambers

13
Then said he unto me, The north chambers and the south chambers, which are before the separate place, they be holy chambers, where the priests that approach unto the LORD shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; for the place is holy. ​
14
When the priests enter therein, then shall they not go out of the holy place into the utter court, but there they shall lay their garments wherein they minister; for they are holy; and shall put on other garments, and shall approach to those things which are for the people. ​

Measurement of the Outer Boundary

15
Now when he had made an end of measuring the inner house, he brought me forth toward the gate whose prospect is toward the east, and measured it round about. ​
16
He measured the east side with the measuring reed, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about. ​
17
He measured the north side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about.
18
He measured the south side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed.
19
He turned about to the west side, and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed.
20
He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place. ​

Study Notes for Ezekiel 42

Verse 1

These chambers, located in the outer court facing the Temple proper (the 'separate place'), were essential service rooms for the priests. They are described first in the north, mirroring the layout later described in the south.

Verse 3

The chambers were built in three stories and featured complex galleries. The architecture was designed to maximize the use of space between the inner court wall and the pavement of the outer court.

Verse 6

Unlike the main court structures, these chambers lacked internal supporting pillars. Consequently, the upper stories had to be narrower or 'straitened' compared to the lower floors for structural stability.

Verse 13

This verse establishes the sacred function of these rooms. They are designated 'holy chambers' for the consumption of the most sacred sacrificial portions, which only the officiating priests were permitted to eat (e.g., portions of the grain, sin, and trespass offerings).

Verse 14

This regulation emphasizes the radical separation of the holy and the profane. Priests must change out of their ministerial garments before exiting the sacred complex to ensure that the holiness of the garments is not transferred to the common people or areas.

Verse 15

Having measured the interior and functional structures of the Temple, the focus now shifts to the ultimate perimeter, defining the extent of the holy ground.

Verse 16

The measurement of five hundred reeds (a reed being six cubits, or about 10.5 feet) yields a total length of approximately 5,250 feet on each side. This describes a massive, square complex, far larger than any historical Temple in Jerusalem.

Verse 20

The ultimate purpose of this immense wall is theological: to 'make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place.' This wall physically embodies the absolute holiness of God and the need for purity in His presence.

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