The Temple Area Restored
1In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month, in the fourteenth year after the fall of the city—on that very day the hand of the Lord was on me and he took me there. 2In visions of God he took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, on whose south side were some buildings that looked like a city. 3He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze; he was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand. 4The man said to me, “Son of man, look carefully and listen closely and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here. Tell the people of Israel everything you see.”
The East Gate to the Outer Court
5I saw a wall completely surrounding the temple area. The length of the measuring rod in the man’s hand was six long cubits,40:5 That is, about 11 feet or about 3.2 meters; also in verse 12. The long cubit of about 21 inches or about 53 centimeters is the basic unit of measurement of length throughout chapters 40–48. each of which was a cubit and a handbreadth. He measured the wall; it was one measuring rod thick and one rod high.
6Then he went to the east gate. He climbed its steps and measured the threshold of the gate; it was one rod deep. 7The alcoves for the guards were one rod long and one rod wide, and the projecting walls between the alcoves were five cubits40:7 That is, about 8 3/4 feet or about 2.7 meters; also in verse 48 thick. And the threshold of the gate next to the portico facing the temple was one rod deep.
8Then he measured the portico of the gateway; 9it40:8,9 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts gateway facing the temple; it was one rod deep. 9 Then he measured the portico of the gateway; it was eight cubits40:9 That is, about 14 feet or about 4.2 meters deep and its jambs were two cubits40:9 That is, about 3 1/2 feet or about 1 meter thick. The portico of the gateway faced the temple.
10Inside the east gate were three alcoves on each side; the three had the same measurements, and the faces of the projecting walls on each side had the same measurements. 11Then he measured the width of the entrance of the gateway; it was ten cubits and its length was thirteen cubits.40:11 That is, about 18 feet wide and 23 feet long or about 5.3 meters wide and 6.9 meters long 12In front of each alcove was a wall one cubit high, and the alcoves were six cubits square. 13Then he measured the gateway from the top of the rear wall of one alcove to the top of the opposite one; the distance was twenty-five cubits40:13 That is, about 44 feet or about 13 meters; also in verses 21, 25, 29, 30, 33 and 36 from one parapet opening to the opposite one. 14He measured along the faces of the projecting walls all around the inside of the gateway—sixty cubits.40:14 That is, about 105 feet or about 32 meters The measurement was up to the portico40:14 Septuagint; Hebrew projecting wall facing the courtyard.40:14 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain. 15The distance from the entrance of the gateway to the far end of its portico was fifty cubits.40:15 That is, about 88 feet or about 27 meters; also in verses 21, 25, 29, 33 and 36 16The alcoves and the projecting walls inside the gateway were surmounted by narrow parapet openings all around, as was the portico; the openings all around faced inward. The faces of the projecting walls were decorated with palm trees.
The Outer Court
17Then he brought me into the outer court. There I saw some rooms and a pavement that had been constructed all around the court; there were thirty rooms along the pavement. 18It abutted the sides of the gateways and was as wide as they were long; this was the lower pavement. 19Then he measured the distance from the inside of the lower gateway to the outside of the inner court; it was a hundred cubits40:19 That is, about 175 feet or about 53 meters; also in verses 23, 27 and 47 on the east side as well as on the north.
The North Gate
20Then he measured the length and width of the north gate, leading into the outer court. 21Its alcoves—three on each side—its projecting walls and its portico had the same measurements as those of the first gateway. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 22Its openings, its portico and its palm tree decorations had the same measurements as those of the gate facing east. Seven steps led up to it, with its portico opposite them. 23There was a gate to the inner court facing the north gate, just as there was on the east. He measured from one gate to the opposite one; it was a hundred cubits.
The South Gate
24Then he led me to the south side and I saw the south gate. He measured its jambs and its portico, and they had the same measurements as the others. 25The gateway and its portico had narrow openings all around, like the openings of the others. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 26Seven steps led up to it, with its portico opposite them; it had palm tree decorations on the faces of the projecting walls on each side. 27The inner court also had a gate facing south, and he measured from this gate to the outer gate on the south side; it was a hundred cubits.
The Gates to the Inner Court
28Then he brought me into the inner court through the south gate, and he measured the south gate; it had the same measurements as the others. 29Its alcoves, its projecting walls and its portico had the same measurements as the others. The gateway and its portico had openings all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 30(The porticoes of the gateways around the inner court were twenty-five cubits wide and five cubits deep.) 31Its portico faced the outer court; palm trees decorated its jambs, and eight steps led up to it.
32Then he brought me to the inner court on the east side, and he measured the gateway; it had the same measurements as the others. 33Its alcoves, its projecting walls and its portico had the same measurements as the others. The gateway and its portico had openings all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 34Its portico faced the outer court; palm trees decorated the jambs on either side, and eight steps led up to it.
35Then he brought me to the north gate and measured it. It had the same measurements as the others, 36as did its alcoves, its projecting walls and its portico, and it had openings all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 37Its portico40:37 Septuagint (see also verses 31 and 34); Hebrew jambs faced the outer court; palm trees decorated the jambs on either side, and eight steps led up to it.
The Rooms for Preparing Sacrifices
38A room with a doorway was by the portico in each of the inner gateways, where the burnt offerings were washed. 39In the portico of the gateway were two tables on each side, on which the burnt offerings, sin offerings40:39 Or purification offerings and guilt offerings were slaughtered. 40By the outside wall of the portico of the gateway, near the steps at the entrance of the north gateway were two tables, and on the other side of the steps were two tables. 41So there were four tables on one side of the gateway and four on the other—eight tables in all—on which the sacrifices were slaughtered. 42There were also four tables of dressed stone for the burnt offerings, each a cubit and a half long, a cubit and a half wide and a cubit high.40:42 That is, about 2 2/3 feet long and wide and 21 inches high or about 80 centimeters long and wide and 53 centimeters high On them were placed the utensils for slaughtering the burnt offerings and the other sacrifices. 43And double-pronged hooks, each a handbreadth40:43 That is, about 3 1/2 inches or about 9 centimeters long, were attached to the wall all around. The tables were for the flesh of the offerings.
The Rooms for the Priests
44Outside the inner gate, within the inner court, were two rooms, one40:44 Septuagint; Hebrew were rooms for singers, which were at the side of the north gate and facing south, and another at the side of the south40:44 Septuagint; Hebrew east gate and facing north. 45He said to me, “The room facing south is for the priests who guard the temple, 46and the room facing north is for the priests who guard the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, who are the only Levites who may draw near to the Lord to minister before him.”
47Then he measured the court: It was square—a hundred cubits long and a hundred cubits wide. And the altar was in front of the temple.
The New Temple
48He brought me to the portico of the temple and measured the jambs of the portico; they were five cubits wide on either side. The width of the entrance was fourteen cubits40:48 That is, about 25 feet or about 7.4 meters and its projecting walls were40:48 Septuagint; Hebrew entrance was three cubits40:48 That is, about 5 1/4 feet or about 1.6 meters wide on either side. 49The portico was twenty cubits40:49 That is, about 35 feet or about 11 meters wide, and twelve40:49 Septuagint; Hebrew eleven cubits40:49 That is, about 21 feet or about 6.4 meters from front to back. It was reached by a flight of stairs,40:49 Hebrew; Septuagint Ten steps led up to it and there were pillars on each side of the jambs.
Eneo La Hekalu Jipya
140:1 2Fal 25:7; Yer 52:4-11; Eze 29:17; Yer 39:1-10Katika mwaka wa ishirini na tano wa uhamisho wetu, mwanzoni mwa huo mwaka, siku ya kumi ya mwezi, katika mwaka wa kumi na nne baada ya kuanguka kwa mji, siku hiyo hiyo mkono wa Bwana ulikuwa juu yangu, naye akanipeleka huko. 240:2 Kut 24:10; Dan 7:7; Yer 31:12; Ufu 21:10Nikiwa katika maono ya Mungu alinichukua mpaka nchi ya Israeli, naye akaniweka kwenye mlima mrefu sana, ambako upande wa kusini kulikuwepo baadhi ya majengo ambayo yalionekana kama mji. 340:3 Dan 10:6; Ufu 1:15; Zek 2:1-2; Ufu 11:1; Eze 47:3Akanipeleka huko, nami nikamwona mtu ambaye kuonekana kwake kulikuwa kama kuonekana kwa shaba. Alikuwa amesimama kwenye lango akiwa na kamba ya kitani na ufito wa kupimia mkononi mwake. 440:4 Yer 26:1; Eze 44:5; Kum 6:6Mtu huyo akaniambia, “Mwanadamu, angalia kwa macho yako na usikie kwa masikio yako nawe uzingatie kitu nitakachokuonyesha, kwa kuwa ndiyo sababu umeletwa hapa. Iambie nyumba ya Israeli kila kitu utakachoona.”
Lango La Mashariki Kuelekea Ukumbi Wa Nje
540:5 Isa 26:1; Eze 42:20Nikaona ukuta uliozunguka eneo lote la Hekalu. Ule ufito wa kupimia uliokuwa mkononi mwa yule mtu ulikuwa na urefu wa dhiraa ndefu sita,40:5 Dhiraa ndefu 6 ni sawa na mita 3.18. yaani, dhiraa ndefu ni sawa na dhiraa na nyanda nne, akapima ule ukuta. Ukuta huo ulikuwa na unene wa dhiraa ndefu sita na kimo cha dhiraa ndefu sita.
640:6 Eze 8:16Kisha akaenda kwenye lango linaloelekea mashariki. Akapanda ngazi zake akapima kizingiti cha lango, nacho kilikuwa na kina cha huo ufito. 7Vyumba vya kupumzikia vya walinzi vilikuwa na urefu wa huo ufito mmoja na upana wa huo ufito, kuta zilizogawa vyumba hivyo vya mapumziko zilikuwa na unene wa dhiraa tano.40:7 Dhiraa 5 ni sawa na mita 2.25. Nacho kizingiti cha lango lililokuwa karibu na ukumbi unaoelekea hekaluni ulikuwa na kina cha huo ufito.
8Kisha akapima baraza ya njia ya lango, 9ambayo ilikuwa na kina cha dhiraa nane40:9 Dhiraa 8 ni sawa na mita 3.6. na miimo yake ilikuwa na unene wa dhiraa mbili.40:9 Dhiraa 2 ni sawa na sentimita 90. Baraza ya lango ilielekea Hekalu.
10Ndani ya lango la mashariki kulikuwepo vyumba vitatu vya kupumzikia kila upande, vyote vitatu vilikuwa na vipimo vilivyo sawa, nazo nyuso za kuta zilizotenganisha kila upande zilikuwa na vipimo vilivyo sawa. 11Kisha akapima upana wa ingilio la lango, ilikuwa dhiraa kumi na urefu wake ulikuwa dhiraa kumi na tatu. 12Mbele ya kila chumba cha kupumzikia kulikuwepo ukuta uliokuwa na kimo cha dhiraa moja40:12 Dhiraa 1 ni sawa na sentimita 45. kwenda juu, navyo hivyo vyumba vilikuwa dhiraa sita mraba. 13Kisha akapima njia ya lango kuanzia juu ya ukuta wa nyuma wa chumba kimoja cha kupumzikia hadi juu ya ukuta wa nyuma wa chumba upande wa pili; kukawa na nafasi ya dhiraa ishirini na tano kuanzia lango la ukuta mmoja hadi lango la ukuta uliokuwa upande mwingine. 1440:14 Kut 27:9; Isa 62:9Akapima pia ukumbi, urefu wa dhiraa ishirini40:14 Dhiraa 20 ni sawa na mita 9. na lango linalofuatia hiyo nguzo kila upande wa huo ukumbi. 15Umbali kuanzia ingilio la njia ya lango hadi mwisho kabisa wa baraza yake ulikuwa dhiraa hamsini.40:15 Dhiraa 50 ni sawa na mita 22.5. 1640:16 2Nya 3:5; Eze 41:6; 42:1; 1Fal 6:4; Eze 41:26Kulikuwa na vidirisha kwenye hivyo vyumba vya walinzi na nguzo za hivyo vyumba zilikuwa kwenye mzunguko wa hilo lango, vivyo hivyo kulikuwa na madirisha yaliyozunguka kuelekeana na ua na juu ya kila nguzo kulikuwa na mapambo ya miti ya mitende.
Ukumbi Wa Nje
17Kisha akanileta katika ukumbi wa nje. Huko nikaona vyumba vingine pamoja na njia iliyokuwa imejengwa kuzunguka ukumbi wote, kulikuwa na vyumba thelathini vimepangana kando ya hiyo njia. 18Njia hii iliyojengwa iliambaa na lango, ikiwa na urefu sawa na lango, hii ilikuwa ni njia ya chini. 1940:19 Eze 40:23, 27; 46:1Kisha akapima umbali kutoka ndani ya lango la chini mpaka nje ya ukumbi wa ndani, nao ulikuwa dhiraa mia moja40:19 Dhiraa 100 ni sawa na mita 45. upande wa mashariki na dhiraa mia moja upande wa kaskazini.
Lango La Kaskazini
20Kisha akapima urefu na upana wa lango linaloelekea kaskazini, kukabili ukumbi wa nje. 2140:21 Eze 40:7Vyumba vyake vilikuwa vitatu kila upande, kuta zilizogawanya vyumba na baraza ilikuwa na vipimo sawa na zile kuta za lango la kwanza. Zilikuwa na urefu wa dhiraa hamsini na upana wa dhiraa ishirini na tano.40:21 Dhiraa 25 ni sawa na mita 11.25. 2240:22 Eze 40:16, 26, 49Madirisha yake, baraza yake na nakshi yake ya miti ya mitende vilikuwa na vipimo sawasawa na vile vya lango linaloelekea mashariki. Kulikuwa na ngazi saba za kupandia huko, pamoja na baraza yake mkabala nazo. 2340:23 Eze 40:19Kulikuwa na lango kwenye ukumbi wa ndani lililoelekea lile lango la kaskazini, kama vile ilivyokuwa ule upande wa mashariki. Akapima kutoka lango moja hadi lile lililo mkabala nalo, lilikuwa dhiraa mia moja.
Lango La Kusini
2440:24 Eze 40:32, 35Ndipo akaniongoza mpaka upande wa kusini, nami nikaona lango linaloelekea kusini. Akaipima miimo yake na baraza yake, navyo vilikuwa na vipimo sawa kama hivyo vingine. 2540:25 Eze 40:33Lango na baraza yake vilikuwa na madirisha membamba pande zote, kama madirisha ya huko kwingine. Ilikuwa na urefu wa dhiraa hamsini na upana wake dhiraa ishirini na tano. 2640:26 Eze 40:22Kulikuwa na ngazi saba za kupandia huko, pamoja na baraza yake mkabala nazo. Ilikuwa na nakshi za miti ya mitende kwenye kuta zilizogawanya vyumba kila upande. 2740:27 Eze 40:19, 32Ukumbi wa ndani pia ulikuwa na lango lililoelekea kusini. Naye akapima kutoka lango hili mpaka kwenye lango la nje upande wa kusini; ilikuwa dhiraa mia moja.
Malango Ya Kuelekea Ukumbi Wa Ndani
2840:28 Eze 40:35Kisha akanileta mpaka ukumbi wa ndani kwa kupitia lango la kusini, naye akapima lango la kusini, ambalo lilikuwa na vipimo sawa na yale mengine. 2940:29 1Fal 6:5-10; 1Nya 28:11-12; Neh 10:38-39Vyumba vyake, kuta zilizogawanya vyumba na ukumbi wake zilikuwa na vipimo sawasawa na zile nyingine. Hilo lango na baraza yake vilikuwa na madirisha pande zote. Navyo vilikuwa na urefu wa dhiraa hamsini na upana wa dhiraa ishirini na tano. 3040:30 Eze 40:21(Baraza za malango zilizozunguka ukumbi wa ndani zilikuwa na upana wa dhiraa ishirini na tano na kina cha dhiraa tano.) 3140:31 Eze 40:22, 34, 37Baraza yake ilielekeana na ukumbi wa nje, miimo yake ilinakshiwa miti ya mitende, kulikuwa na ngazi nane za kupandia huko.
32Kisha akanileta mpaka kwenye ukumbi wa ndani ulioko upande wa mashariki, naye akalipima lango hilo, lilikuwa na vipimo vilivyo sawasawa na yale mengine. 3340:33 Eze 40:7Vyumba vyake, kuta zake na baraza yake vilikuwa na vipimo vilivyo sawa na vile vingine. Lile lango pamoja na baraza yake vilikuwa na madirisha pande zote. Urefu wake ulikuwa dhiraa hamsini na upana wake dhiraa ishirini na tano. 3440:34 Eze 40:22Baraza yake ilielekea ukumbi wa nje, miimo yake ilinakshiwa miti ya mitende pande zote. Kulikuwa na ngazi nane za kupandia huko.
3540:35 Eze 44:4; 47:2Kisha akanileta mpaka kwenye lango la kaskazini na kulipima. Lilikuwa na vipimo sawa na yale mengine, 3640:36 Eze 40:7kama vile ilivyokuwa kwa vyumba, kuta zake na baraza yake, tena kulikuwa na madirisha pande zote. Ilikuwa na urefu wa dhiraa hamsini na upana wake dhiraa ishirini na tano. 3740:37 Eze 40:22, 34Baraza yake ilielekeana na ukumbi wa nje, miimo yake ilinakshiwa miti ya mitende pande zote, kulikuwa na ngazi nane za kupandia huko.
Vyumba Vya Kutayarishia Dhabihu
3840:38 2Nya 4:6; Eze 42:13; Ebr 9:14Kulikuwa na chumba na mlango karibu na baraza katika kila njia ya ndani ya lango ambamo sadaka za kuteketezwa zilioshwa. 3940:39 Eze 46:2; Law 4:28; Hes 6:12; Ebr 10:12-14; 2Kor 5:21Kwenye baraza ya lile lango kulikuwepo meza mbili kila upande, ambako sadaka za kuteketezwa, sadaka za dhambi na sadaka za hatia zilichinjiwa. 40Karibu na ukuta wa nje wa baraza ya lile lango karibu na ngazi kwenye ingilio kuelekea kaskazini kulikuwa na meza mbili, nako upande mwingine wa ngazi kulikuwepo na meza mbili. 41Kwa hiyo kulikuwa na meza nne upande mmoja wa lango na nyingine nne upande mwingine, zote zilikuwa meza nane, ambapo dhabihu zilichinjiwa. 4240:42 Kut 20:25Pia kulikuwa na meza nne za mawe yaliyochongwa kwa ajili ya sadaka za kuteketezwa, kila meza ilikuwa na urefu wa dhiraa moja na nusu,40:42 Dhiraa 1.5 ni sawa na sentimita 67.5. upana wake dhiraa moja na nusu na kimo cha dhiraa moja. Juu ya meza hizo viliwekwa vyombo vya kuchinjia sadaka za kuteketezwa na dhabihu nyingine mbalimbali. 43Kulikuwa na kulabu, urefu wake nyanda nne,40:43 Nyanda 4 ni sawa na sentimita 8. zilikuwa zimeshikizwa ukutani pande zote. Meza zilikuwa kwa ajili ya nyama za sadaka.
Vyumba Kwa Ajili Ya Makuhani
4440:44 1Nya 6:31; Kol 3:16; Efe 5:19Nje ya lango la ndani, kwenye ukumbi wa ndani, kulikuwa na vyumba viwili, kimoja upande wa lango la kaskazini nacho kilielekea kusini, kingine upande wa lango la kusini nacho kilielekea kaskazini. 4540:45 1Nya 9:23; Law 8:35Akaniambia, “Chumba kinachoelekea upande wa kusini ni kwa ajili ya makuhani ambao wana usimamizi wa hekaluni, 4640:46 Hes 18:5; 16:5; 2Sam 8:17; Eze 48:11; 42:13; Kol 4:12; Eze 43:19; Ezr 7:2; Eze 44:15nacho chumba kinachoelekea upande wa kaskazini ni kwa ajili ya makuhani wenye usimamizi wa madhabahuni. Hawa ni wana wa Sadoki, ambao ndio Walawi pekee wanaoweza kumkaribia Bwana ili kuhudumu mbele zake.”
4740:47 Eze 41:13-14Ndipo alipopima ukumbi: nao ulikuwa mraba wa dhiraa mia moja urefu na upana. Madhabahu yalikuwa mbele ya Hekalu.
Hekalu
4840:48 1Fal 6:2Akanileta mpaka kwenye baraza ya Hekalu naye akaipima miimo ya hiyo baraza, nayo ilikuwa na upana wa dhiraa tatu40:48 Dhiraa 3 ni sawa na mita 1.35. kila upande. Upana wa ingilio ulikuwa dhiraa kumi na nne40:48 Dhiraa 14 ni sawa na mita 6.3. na kuta zake zilikuwa na upana wa dhiraa tatu kila upande. 4940:49 1Fal 6:3; 7:15Baraza ilikuwa na dhiraa ishirini kwenda juu na dhiraa kumi na mbili40:49 Dhiraa 12 ni sawa na mita 5.4. kuanzia mbele hadi nyuma. Kulikuwa na ngazi kumi za kupandia huko, pia kulikuwa na nguzo kwa kila upande wa miimo.
