וַיּוֹלִכֵ֖נִי אֶל־הַשָּׁ֑עַר שַׁ֕עַר אֲשֶׁ֥ר פֹּנֶ֖ה דֶּ֥רֶךְ הַקָּדִֽים׃ Then he led me to a gate, the gate that faced east.
וְהִנֵּ֗ה כְּבוֹד֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בָּ֖א מִדֶּ֣רֶךְ הַקָּדִ֑ים וְקוֹל֗וֹ כְּקוֹל֙ מַ֣יִם רַבִּ֔ים וְהָאָ֖רֶץ הֵאִ֥ירָה מִכְּבֹדֽוֹ׃ And there, coming from the east with a roar like the roar of mighty waters, was the Presence of the God of Israel, and the earth was lit up by that Presence.
וּכְמַרְאֵ֨ה הַמַּרְאֶ֜ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר רָאִ֗יתִי כַּמַּרְאֶ֤ה אֲשֶׁר־רָאִ֙יתִי֙ בְּבֹאִי֙ לְשַׁחֵ֣ת אֶת־הָעִ֔יר וּמַרְא֕וֹת כַּמַּרְאֶ֕ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָאִ֖יתִי אֶל־נְהַר־כְּבָ֑ר וָאֶפֹּ֖ל אֶל־פָּנָֽי׃ The vision was like the vision I had seen when IaI Six mss. and two ancient versions read “He.” came to destroy the city, the very same vision that I had seen by the Chebar Canal. Forthwith, I fell on my face.
וּכְב֥וֹד יְהֹוָ֖ה בָּ֣א אֶל־הַבָּ֑יִת דֶּ֣רֶךְ שַׁ֔עַר אֲשֶׁ֥ר פָּנָ֖יו דֶּ֥רֶךְ הַקָּדִֽים׃ The Presence of GOD entered the temple by the gate that faced eastward.
וַתִּשָּׂאֵ֣נִי ר֔וּחַ וַתְּבִאֵ֕נִי אֶל־הֶחָצֵ֖ר הַפְּנִימִ֑י וְהִנֵּ֛ה מָלֵ֥א כְבוֹד־יְהֹוָ֖ה הַבָּֽיִת׃ A spirit carried me into the inner court, and lo, the Presence of GOD filled the temple;
וָאֶשְׁמַ֛ע מִדַּבֵּ֥ר אֵלַ֖י מֵהַבָּ֑יִת וְאִ֕ישׁ הָיָ֥ה עֹמֵ֖ד אֶצְלִֽי׃ and I heard speech addressed to me from the temple, though that figurebthat figure I.e., the guide of 40.3–4. was standing beside me.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י בֶּן־אָדָם֙ אֶת־מְק֣וֹם כִּסְאִ֗י וְאֶת־מְקוֹם֙ כַּפּ֣וֹת רַגְלַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֧ר אֶשְׁכׇּן־שָׁ֛ם בְּת֥וֹךְ בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְעוֹלָ֑ם וְלֹ֣א יְטַמְּא֣וּ ע֣וֹד בֵּֽית־יִ֠שְׂרָאֵ֠ל שֵׁ֣ם קׇדְשִׁ֞י הֵ֤מָּה וּמַלְכֵיהֶם֙ בִּזְנוּתָ֔ם וּבְפִגְרֵ֥י מַלְכֵיהֶ֖ם בָּמוֹתָֽם׃ It said to me:
O mortal, this is the place of My throne and the place for the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people Israel forever. The House of Israel and their kings must not again defile My holy name by their apostasy and by the corpses of their kings at their death.cat their death So with a number of Heb. mss. The usual vocalization yields “their shrines.”
בְּתִתָּ֨ם סִפָּ֜ם אֶת־סִפִּ֗י וּמְזֽוּזָתָם֙ אֵ֣צֶל מְזוּזָתִ֔י וְהַקִּ֖יר בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֵיהֶ֑ם וְטִמְּא֣וּ ׀ אֶת־שֵׁ֣ם קׇדְשִׁ֗י בְּתֽוֹעֲבוֹתָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשׂ֔וּ וָאֲכַ֥ל אֹתָ֖ם בְּאַפִּֽי׃ When they placed their threshold next to My threshold and their doorposts next to My doorposts with only a wall between Me and them,dwith only a wall between Me and them The south wall of the First Temple enclosure was also the north wall of the royal enclosure; the two communicated by the Gate of the Guard (2 Kings 11.19). Thus temple and palace could be regarded as a single dwelling (“tent”) in the sense of Num. 19.14, and the death of a king in the palace would defile the temple. Hence the zoning provisions of 45.2ff. they would defile My holy name by the abominations that they committed, and I consumed them in My anger.
עַתָּ֞ה יְרַחֲק֧וּ אֶת־זְנוּתָ֛ם וּפִגְרֵ֥י מַלְכֵיהֶ֖ם מִמֶּ֑נִּי וְשָׁכַנְתִּ֥י בְתוֹכָ֖ם לְעוֹלָֽם׃ {ס} Therefore, let them put their apostasy and the corpses of their kings far from Me, and I will dwell among them forever.
אַתָּ֣ה בֶן־אָדָ֗ם הַגֵּ֤ד אֶת־בֵּֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶת־הַבַּ֔יִת וְיִכָּלְמ֖וּ מֵעֲוֺנֽוֹתֵיהֶ֑ם וּמָדְד֖וּ אֶת־תׇּכְנִֽית׃ [Now] you, O mortal, describe the temple to the House of Israel,edescribe the temple to the House of Israel In accordance with the three preceding chapters; cf. 40.4. and let them measure its design. But let them be ashamed of their iniquities:
וְאִֽם־נִכְלְמ֞וּ מִכֹּ֣ל אֲשֶׁר־עָשׂ֗וּ צוּרַ֣ת הַבַּ֡יִת וּתְכוּנָת֡וֹ וּמוֹצָאָ֡יו וּמוֹבָאָ֣יו וְֽכׇל־צוּרֹתָ֡ו וְאֵ֣ת כׇּל־חֻקֹּתָיו֩ וְכׇל־צ֨וּרֹתָ֤ו וְכׇל־תּֽוֹרֹתָו֙ הוֹדַ֣ע אוֹתָ֔ם וּכְתֹ֖ב לְעֵינֵיהֶ֑ם וְיִשְׁמְר֞וּ אֶת־כׇּל־צוּרָת֛וֹ וְאֶת־כׇּל־חֻקֹּתָ֖יו וְעָשׂ֥וּ אוֹתָֽם׃ When they are ashamed of all they have done, make known to them the plan of the temple and its layout, its exits and entrances—its entire plan, and all the laws and instructions pertaining to its entire plan. Write it down before their eyes, that they may faithfully follow its entire plan and all its laws.
זֹ֖את תּוֹרַ֣ת הַבָּ֑יִת עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ הָ֠הָ֠ר כׇּל־גְּבֻל֞וֹ סָבִ֤יב ׀ סָבִיב֙ קֹ֣דֶשׁ קׇדָשִׁ֔ים הִנֵּה־זֹ֖את תּוֹרַ֥ת הַבָּֽיִת׃ Such are the instructions for the temple on top of the mountain: the entire area of its enclosure shall be most holy. Thus far the instructions for the temple.
וְאֵ֨לֶּה מִדּ֤וֹת הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ בָּאַמּ֔וֹת אַמָּ֥ה אַמָּ֖ה וָטֹ֑פַח וְחֵ֨יק הָאַמָּ֜ה וְאַמָּה־רֹ֗חַב וּגְבוּלָ֨הּ אֶל־שְׂפָתָ֤הּ סָבִיב֙ זֶ֣רֶת הָאֶחָ֔ד וְזֶ֖ה גַּ֥ב הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ fSome of the terms and details in vv. 13–17 are obscure. And these are the dimensions of the altar, in cubits where each is a cubit and a handbreadth. The trenchgtrench Lit. “bosom.” shall be a cubit deep and a cubit wide, with a rim one span high around its edge. And the heighthheight Lit. “bulge.” shall be as follows:
וּמֵחֵ֨יק הָאָ֜רֶץ עַד־הָעֲזָרָ֤ה הַתַּחְתּוֹנָה֙ שְׁתַּ֣יִם אַמּ֔וֹת וְרֹ֖חַב אַמָּ֣ה אֶחָ֑ת וּמֵהָעֲזָרָ֨ה הַקְּטַנָּ֜ה עַד־הָעֲזָרָ֤ה הַגְּדוֹלָה֙ אַרְבַּ֣ע אַמּ֔וֹת וְרֹ֖חַב הָאַמָּֽה׃ From the trench in the ground to the lower ledge, which shall be a cubit wide: 2 cubits; from the lower ledge to the upperilower ledge to the upper Lit. “lesser ledge to the greater.” ledge, which shall likewise be a cubit wide: 4 cubits;
וְהַהַרְאֵ֖ל אַרְבַּ֣ע אַמּ֑וֹת (ומהאראיל) [וּמֵהָאֲרִיאֵ֣ל] וּלְמַ֔עְלָה הַקְּרָנ֖וֹת אַרְבַּֽע׃ and the height of the altar hearth shall be 4 cubits, with 4 horns projecting upward from the hearth: 4 cubits.
(והאראיל) [וְהָאֲרִיאֵ֗ל] שְׁתֵּ֤ים עֶשְׂרֵה֙ אֹ֔רֶךְ בִּשְׁתֵּ֥ים עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה רֹ֑חַב רָב֕וּעַ אֶ֖ל אַרְבַּ֥עַת רְבָעָֽיו׃ Now the hearth shall be 12 cubits long and 12 broad, square, with 4 equal sides.
וְהָעֲזָרָ֞ה אַרְבַּ֧ע עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה אֹ֗רֶךְ בְּאַרְבַּ֤ע עֶשְׂרֵה֙ רֹ֔חַב אֶ֖ל אַרְבַּ֣עַת רְבָעֶ֑יהָ וְהַגְּבוּל֩ סָבִ֨יב אוֹתָ֜הּ חֲצִ֣י הָאַמָּ֗ה וְהַחֵֽיק־לָ֤הּ אַמָּה֙ סָבִ֔יב וּמַעֲלֹתֵ֖הוּ פְּנ֥וֹת קָדִֽים׃ Hence, the [upper] basejbase Heb. ʻazarah, which in v. 14 means “ledge.” The altar consists of 3 blocks, each smaller than the one below it. shall be 14 cubits broad, with 4 equal sides. The surrounding rim shall be half a cubit [high],k[high] Half a cubit is identical with the one span of v. 13. and the surrounding trench shall measure one cubit. And the ramplramp Leading up to the altar; cf. Exod. 20.23. shall face east.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י בֶּן־אָדָם֙ כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה אֵ֚לֶּה חֻקּ֣וֹת הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ בְּי֖וֹם הֵעָשׂוֹת֑וֹ לְהַעֲל֤וֹת עָלָיו֙ עוֹלָ֔ה וְלִזְרֹ֥ק עָלָ֖יו דָּֽם׃ Then that figuremthat figure Heb. “he.” See note at v. 6. said to me: O mortal, thus said the Sovereign GOD: These are the directions for the altar on the day it is erected, so that burnt offerings may be offered up on it and blood dashed against it.
וְנָתַתָּ֣ה אֶל־הַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים הַלְוִיִּ֡ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֵם֩ מִזֶּ֨רַע צָד֜וֹק הַקְּרֹבִ֣ים אֵלַ֗י נְאֻ֛ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִ֖ה לְשָׁרְתֵ֑נִי פַּ֥ר בֶּן־בָּקָ֖ר לְחַטָּֽאת׃ You shall give to the levitical priests who are of the stock of Zadok, and so eligible to minister to Me—declares the Sovereign GOD—a young bull of the herd for a purgation offering.
וְלָקַחְתָּ֣ מִדָּמ֗וֹ וְנָ֨תַתָּ֜ה עַל־אַרְבַּ֤ע קַרְנֹתָיו֙ וְאֶל־אַרְבַּע֙ פִּנּ֣וֹת הָעֲזָרָ֔ה וְאֶֽל־הַגְּב֖וּל סָבִ֑יב וְחִטֵּאתָ֥ אוֹת֖וֹ וְכִפַּרְתָּֽהוּ׃ You shall take some of its blood and apply it to the four horns [of the altar],nthe four horns [of the altar] Heb. “its four horns.” to the four corners of the base, and to the surrounding rim; thus you shall purge it and perform purification upon it.
וְלָ֣קַחְתָּ֔ אֵ֖ת הַפָּ֣ר הַחַטָּ֑את וּשְׂרָפוֹ֙ בְּמִפְקַ֣ד הַבַּ֔יִת מִח֖וּץ לַמִּקְדָּֽשׁ׃ Then you shall take the bull of purgation offering and burn it in the designated areaodesignated area Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields “burning place”; cf. Lev. 6.2; Isa. 33.14; Ps. 102.4 (for the word), and Lev. 4.12; 6.4 (for the place). of the temple, outside the Sanctuary.
וּבַיּוֹם֙ הַשֵּׁנִ֔י תַּקְרִ֛יב שְׂעִיר־עִזִּ֥ים תָּמִ֖ים לְחַטָּ֑את וְחִטְּאוּ֙ אֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר חִטְּא֖וּ בַּפָּֽר׃ On the following day, you shall offer a goat without blemish as a purgation offering; and the altar shall be purged [with it] just as it was purged with the bull.
בְּכַלּוֹתְךָ֖ מֵחַטֵּ֑א תַּקְרִיב֙ פַּ֣ר בֶּן־בָּקָ֣ר תָּמִ֔ים וְאַ֥יִל מִן־הַצֹּ֖אן תָּמִֽים׃ When you have completed the ritual of purging, you shall offer a bull of the herd without blemish and a ram of the flock without blemish.
וְהִקְרַבְתָּ֖ם לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְהִשְׁלִ֨יכוּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֤ים עֲלֵיהֶם֙ מֶ֔לַח וְהֶעֱל֥וּ אוֹתָ֛ם עֹלָ֖ה לַיהֹוָֽה׃ Offer them to GOD; let the priests throw salt on them and offer them up as a burnt offering to GOD.
שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֔ים תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה שְׂעִיר־חַטָּ֖את לַיּ֑וֹם וּפַ֧ר בֶּן־בָּקָ֛ר וְאַ֥יִל מִן־הַצֹּ֖אן תְּמִימִ֥ים יַֽעֲשֽׂוּ׃ Every day, for seven days, you shall present a goat of purgation offering, as well as a bull of the herd and a ram of the flock; youpyou Heb. “they.” shall present unblemished ones.
שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֗ים יְכַפְּרוּ֙ אֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ וְטִהֲר֖וּ אֹת֑וֹ וּמִלְא֖וּ יָדָֽו׃ Seven days they shall purge the altar and purify it; thus shall it be consecrated.qthus shall it be consecrated Lit. “they shall fill its hands”; cf. note at Exod. 28.41.
וִֽיכַלּ֖וּ אֶת־הַיָּמִ֑ים {ס} וְהָיָה֩ בַיּ֨וֹם הַשְּׁמִינִ֜י וָהָ֗לְאָה יַעֲשׂ֨וּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֤ים עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ אֶת־עוֹלֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ וְאֶת־שַׁלְמֵיכֶ֔ם וְרָצִ֣אתִי אֶתְכֶ֔ם נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ {ס} And when these days are over, then from the eighth day onward the priests shall offer your burnt offerings and your offerings of well-being on the altar; and I will extend My favor to you—declares the Sovereign GOD.