Today was all about describing the vision of the new temple.
In the twenty-fifth year of the exile, the hand of the Lord was on Ezekiel and He took him to the city. In visions, God took Ezekiel to the land of Israel and set him down on a very high mountain where he could see a structure that was like a city to the south.
When he got there he saw a man whose appearance was like bronze, with a linen cord and a measuring reed in his hand. And he was standing in the gateway. And the man said to Ezekiel,
“Son of man, look with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart upon all that I shall show you, for you were brought here in order that I might show it to you. Declare all that you see to the house of Israel.” -Ezekiel 40:4
The rest of the reading went on to describe the measurements and size descriptions of:
-The East Gate to the Outer Court
-The Outer Court
-The North Gate
-The South Gate
-The Inner Court
-The Chambers for the Priests
-The Vestibule of the Temple
-The Inner Temple
It described the measurements of all the gates to be the same and where they were to be laid out, even down to where palm trees would be.
When it discussed The Inner Court, it described where the offerings would take place: the burnt offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering.
The Chambers for the Priests were described, and how the chamber that faced the north was for the sons of Zadok, who alone among the sons of Levi could go near the Lord to minister to Him. The altar was in front of the temple, and The Inner Temple held the “Most Holy Place.”
It went on to describe the pattern on the walls all around the inside and outside. It was carved cherubim and palm trees. There was a palm tree between cherub and cherub. Every cherub had two faces: a human face toward the palm tree on the one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm tree on the other side. They were carved on the whole temple all around. From the floor to above the door, cherubim and palm trees were carved.
Lastly, it described the front of the Holy Place and what resembled an altar of wood. Ezekiel was told, “This is the table that is before the Lord.”