7. The Glory Returns

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7. The Glory Returns

• Ezekiel 40-48

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Introduction

• 1. Parallel to Torah Instructions
• Like the instructions of the Torah, those of
  Ezek are formulated as utterances of God to the
  prophet and through him to Israel hence the
  recurrent messenger-formula, Thus said Lord
  YHWH in 43.18 44.6,9 45.9,18 46.1,16 47.13
  (a commonplace opening formula in the prophetic
  literature, absent from the instructions of the
  Torah). Greenberg, The Design and Themes of
  Ezekiels Program of Restoration,
  Interpretation, 38/2, (April, 84), 183-4
• Legislation makes up the bulk of the Torah in
  style and content Ezekiel 43-48 is particularly
  close to the priestly materials in Leviticus.
  Greenberg, Design..., 186

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Introduction

• 2. Structural Framework similar to Temple Vision
  of 8-11
• Chapters 40-48 of the book of Ezek describe,
  like chapters 8-11, a great ecstatic vision on
  the part of the prophet. Zimmerli, II, 327
• In both the prophet is transported from his
  place of exile to Jerusalem and is there led from
  the outside into the inside of the Temple and is
  confronted, at various points along his way, here
  with the ordinances for the new sanctuary, there
  with the disorder of the old. In both, the whole
  section circles round the question, more or less
  clearly explicit, of the presence of the glory of
  Yahweh in the Jerusalem Temple. While, however,
  chapters 8-11 show how Yahwehs glory departs
  from the unclean, sinful former sanctuary,
  chapters 40-48 show how it once again takes
  possession of the now cleansed temple area,
  which, in its ideal layout, provides a protective
  citadel for the sanctuary. Zimmerli, II, 327

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Introduction

• 3. Parallels with Tabernacle and Solomons
  Temple
• Instructions for making the desert tabernacle
  are found in Ex 25-30 the narrative describing
  its building is in Ex 35-40 the narrative
  description of the description of the building of
  Solomons Temple is in 1 Kgs 6 7.13-51. None are
  exactly similar in style to Eze 40-42, which is
  neither instruction for or narrative of building,
  but a vision of an already built complex. Yet
  useful observations can be made from the three
  for appreciating the last. Greenberg,
  Design..., 184
• In itemizing, there is no preferred order.
  Greenberg, Design..., 184

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Introduction

• 4. Parallels with Tabernacle and Solomons
  Temple
• Instructions for making the desert tabernacle
  are found in Ex 25-30 the narrative describing
  its building is in Ex 35-40 the narrative
  description of the description of the building of
  Solomons Temple is in 1 Kgs 6 7.13-51. None are
  exactly similar in style to Eze 40-42, which is
  neither instruction for or narrative of building,
  but a vision of an already built complex. Yet
  useful observations can be made from the three
  for appreciating the last. Greenberg,
  Design..., 184
• In itemizing, there is no preferred order.
  Greenberg, Design..., 184

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Introduction

• 5. Is the Temple Real?
• ". . . scholars to propose that Ezekiel based
  this vision on a temple plan he had preserved
  himself, or found in the archives. This, however,
  is unlikely. The massive, fortified gates of the
  complex, for example, are all out of proportion
  to its relatively scant walls. The tripartite
  structure of the Temple itself is reminiscent of
  the Solomonic Temple, but the Temple complex
  Ezekiel describes is decidedly not Solomon's. In
  fact, nothing like Ezekiel's Temple ever existed.
  Ezekiel's Temple plan is a hybrid, combining
  different sorts of structures remembered by the
  prophet into a wholly unique form. Its pattern
  came to him, as he tells us, in vision." Tuell,
  Steven Shawn, The Law of the Temple in Ezekiel
  40-48, HSM 49, 23

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Introduction

• 6. Chiastic Structure
• 40.1-4 Introduction
• 40.5-42.20 Survey of the Temple Complex
• 43.1-9 Return of the Divine dwbk
• 43.10-46.24 The Law of the Temple
• 47.1-12 The Course of the River of Life
• 47.13-48.29 Survey of Territorial Allotments and
  Borders
• 48.30-35 Conclusion
• Tuell, Steven Shawn, The Law of the Temple in
  Ezekiel 40-48, HSM 49, 20

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A. Setting

• 1. Renewed Vision of God 40.1-4
• The temple makes its appearance as a heavenly
  reality created by Yahweh himself and
  transplanted to stand on earth. Its appearance is
  inseparable from the complete transformation of
  geographical conditions, producing the towering
  world mountain with its encircling plain and the
  miraculous river proceeding form it. There is
  nothing to suggest that it should have a human
  builder. The entirely miraculous character of the
  dwelling place of God described in the following
  passage must therefore be kept in view in
  estimating its significance as a whole the same
  is true of it as of the descriptions scattered
  through Isa 40-55 of the miraculous journey home
  across the wilderness by the returning exiles, or
  the statements made about the new Jerusalem Isa
  60. Eichrodt, OTL, 542

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A. Setting

• 2. Two proleptic passages
• Ezek 20.40 In an angry conclusion of a doom
  oracle, God rejects the plan of the exiles to
  renew sacrificial worship in Babylonia by
  announcing the conditions of such a renewal only
  in the land of Israel, only on his holy mountain,
  and only when the entire nation is reconstituted
  on its soil. Then he will not only accept his
  people (that is, their tenders of worship), but
  also he will require of them the holy offerings
  that signify his reconciliation with them.
  Greenberg, The Design and Themes of Ezekiels
  Program of Restoration, Interpretation,
  XXXVIII/2, (April, 1984), 182

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A. Setting

• Ezek 37.24b-28 Thus the prophet sums up his
  prophecies of restoration in chapters 34-37 The
  hearts of the people will be bent to observe
  Gods laws as a result they will possess their
  patrimony forever under Gods pious chief. The
  five-fold repetition of forever stresses the
  irreversibility of the new dispensation. Unlike
  Gods past experiment with Israel, the future
  restoration will have a guarantee of success its
  capstone will be Gods sanctifying presence
  dwelling forever in his sanctuary amidst his
  people. The vision of the restored Temple (and
  Gods return to it) in chapters 40-48 follows as
  a proleptic corroboration of these promises.
  Greenberg, Design, 182

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B. The New Temple 40.5-42.20

• 1. Outer Wall (40.5)
• A wall around the temple area (40.5) separates
  the sacred area from the profane (42.20).
  According to 22.26 earlier priests had not
  properly maintained the distinction between the
  sacred and the profane, while according to 44.23
  the teaching of this difference was to be one of
  their major tasks in the future. Klein,
  Ezekiel, 172
• In the measurement of the wall it is noteworthy
  that thickness and height have the same
  measurement (a good three meters). The idea (or
  tradition?) that lies behind that is no longer
  discernible. Zimmerli, II, 349

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B. The New Temple 40.5-42.20

• 2. Gates, Gates and More Gates
• These six gates are not military in function,
  replete with towers, but serve primarily to ward
  off impurity from the holy region. Each gate
  leads to a progressively higher area. Klein,
  Ezekiel, 172
• The descriptions of the gates are detailed
  enough to permit the drawing of a schematic plan.
  The overall dimensions are 50 by 25 cubits
  (40.21,25,29,33,36). Extending through the center
  of each gate was a passageway lined on each side
  by three days. The passageway of the outer gates
  ended in a vestibule next to the exit into the
  outer-court the inner gates have their vestibule
  toward the outside and the threshold abuts the
  inner court. Klein, Ezekiel, 172

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B. The New Temple 40.5-42.20

• 2. Gates, Gates and More Gates
• Archaeologists have demonstrated that this
  particular style of gate reproduces the
  architectural style of the tenth century, the era
  of Solomon. The remains of such gates have been
  discovered at Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer, and it
  is reasonable to hypothesize that there would
  have been similar gates in Jerusalem as well (cf.
  1 Kgs 9.15). Ezekiels knowledge of this archaic
  style suggests that he had access to old records
  in Babylon. It also shows how he reused items
  from the tradition and adapted them to fit his
  particular theological agenda. Thus he changed
  the gates from a military to a liturgical use,
  and he transferred them from the city walls to
  the outside wall of the temple complex and to the
  border around the inner court. Klein, Ezekiel,
  172

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B. The New Temple 40.5-42.20

• 2. Gates, Gates and More Gates
• East Gate (40.6-16)
• Other Gates (40.17-27)
• Vestibules and Vestries (40.28-46)
• The effect is to make a demarcation between the
  two courts properly entry into the sanctuary
  occurs only at the point of passing into the
  inner court. One receives the impression of the
  greater holiness of the inner court (cf. 42.14
  44.19 46.1-3,3). Allen, WBC, 230

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B. The New Temple 40.5-42.20

• 3. Altar (40.47 43.1ff.)
• It is quite clear... in the continuation of the
  leading of the prophet, which has its goal not at
  the altar, but in the temple building to the west
  of the altar and there in the most westerly room
  of that building, the holy of holies. Everything
  is orientated towards that spot, as will also be
  emphasized in the later complex in 43.1 ff. and
  as is also expressed indirectly in the rules of
  procedure in the temple. Even the altar is
  orientated towards that spot, for it is precisely
  said not that it stands in the center of the
  court, but in front of the temple. It does not
  signify a new center of gravity, but stands
  submissively in front of the sanctuary whose core
  is in the holy of holies. Zimmerli, II, 355

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B. The New Temple 40.5-42.20

• 4. Outer and inner Courts (40.48-41.4)
• Although the Temple stands centrally in the
  grounds, with the Holy of Holies the epicenter,
  yet the data is sparse compared with the gates,
  courts, vestibules, etc. The idea may be that
  just as in 41.4 Ezekiel himself was not allowed
  to enter the Holy of Holies so mystery is
  intended to cover over this sacred space, even in
  description.
• The temple itself consisted of three rooms the
  vestibule (ulam), the nave (hekal), and the
  innermost room (penima). The internal
  measurements of these rooms are similar to those
  of the of Solomon, 20 by 12 cubits for the
  vestibule, 40 by 20 for the nave, and 20 by 20
  for the most holy place (cf. 1 Kgs 6). As usual,
  Ezekiel only lists length and breadth. The
  overall length and width of the temple, counting
  the structures on each side and the rear, are 50
  by 100.... Each entrance in the temple gets
  progressively narrower as one gets closer to the
  place of Yahwehs presence. Klein, Ezekiel,
  175

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B. The New Temple 40.5-42.20

• 5. The Temple Hall (41.1-2)
• 6. The Holy of Holies (41.3-4)
• 7. Annexes Surroundings (41.5-15a)
• 8. Wall Decoration Interior Furnishing
  (41.15b-26)
• The reliefs on the paneling complement the palms
  seen in the gatehouses with two-headed cherubim,
  but omit the flowers added in the Solomonic
  temple (1 Kgs 6.29,32,35). The two heads are a
  two-dimensional version of the four heads of
  1.10 10.14. The all-seeing cherubim or sphinxes
  are vigilant guardians of Gods sovereign
  holiness, while the palms, as often in ancient
  Near Eastern art, represent the tree of life (cf.
  47.1-12). Allen, WBC, 233

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B. The New Temple 40.5-42.20

• 9. Rooms for the Priestly Services (42.1-14)
• It tells of the two large room structures which
  delimit on its two sides, north and south, the
  square area lying to the west behind the temple
  building, the area which was described in 41.12
  and measured in 41.13, 15a. Zimmerli, II, 397

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Holiness Theology

• The description of the two priestly sacristies
  which match the temple building plus annexes in
  size is unmistakably at the service of very
  distinct concepts of holiness. This is not just
  true of the concluding words of the guiding
  figure which mark the climax of the whole
  description. It is already clear from the layout
  of the buildings which reveal their bridging
  function in their terrace-like ascent from the
  lay sphere to the priestly sphere. A wall built
  on the side of the building which faces the lay
  sphere prevents direct access to the buildings
  which already belong to the realm of greater
  holiness. The only entrance on the east side of
  the passage guarded by the wall makes possible an
  exact control of those who enter. Zimmerli, II,
  401

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Holiness Theology

• At the same time, there is proclaimed in the
  design of the building, and then quite clearly in
  the mans explanatory words, that any admittance
  of the profane, far less of the unsanctified,
  into the sphere of the sacred is strongly
  forbidden. And vice versa-this emerges explicitly
  in vv. 13f -any direct exposure of the sacred to
  the profane outside must be prevented.
  Zimmerli, II, 401

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B. The New Temple 40.5-42.20

• 10. Conclusion of Measuring the Temple Area
  (42.15-20)
• The stated purpose of the wall in v. 20b reveals
  the sanctity of the temple area as the domain of
  God. This sphere of the divine was set aside, in
  the world and yet not of the world, as a colony
  of heaven. Allen, WBC, 235

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C. The Glory Returns 43.1-14 44.1-4

• 1. Significance of the Return
• a. God's presence
• God appeared in the midst of, people whom God
  should have annihilated (hlk) because of their
  faithlessness (twnz). Zimmerli, II, 420
• The account of Gods coming to his people shows
  at the same time how at this coming there occurs
  first of all a terrifying self-awareness which
  leads to a deep sense of shame. The peoples
  whole previous history is illumined critically
  and revealed in its dubiousness. Zimmerli, II,
  421
• At Gods appearing there is heard at the same
  time the summons to something new which must not
  only be heard but also be done (v11). This new
  thing is described in terms of the awareness of
  the OT priest. The basis of correct obedience is
  correct differentiation and separation. Profane
  humanity must not penetrate Gods holy domain,
  but must respect the holy things of God as that
  which is circumscribed by Gods commands.
  Zimmerli, II, 421

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C. The Glory Returns 43.1-14 44.1-4

• 1. Significance of the Return
• b. Altar and sacrifices sanctified 43.13-27
• Only one thing can be discerned through its
  meager description, namely that it has been at
  pains, in contrast to the sacrileges of earlier
  times (8.16), to let the adoration of God, which
  takes place in the sacrifice, really happen
  before God. For this reason its altar turns
  from the forward (i.e. easterly) direction
  apparently preferred by nature and faces in a
  westerly direction towards the place in which God
  has taken up residence in his holy house. Through
  the orientation of the sacrificial cult and the
  obedient turning to the place in which it has
  pleased God to come near to his people, this
  altar description too gives expression to the
  idea that true worship of God does not choose
  arbitrarily for itself the way of its
  accomplishment. Zimmerli, II, 428

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C. The Glory Returns 43.1-14 44.1-4

• 1. Significance of the Return
• c. Prince, Levites and Priest re-consecration
  44.5-31
• The unit gives the practical outworking of a
  theology of an overwhelmingly transcendent God
  immanent among his covenant people. It presents a
  challenge still relevant to modern believers.
  Worship that is done decently and in order (1 Cor
  14.40 cf. Eze 46.9), the constant reconciliation
  of an imperfect people (cf. 1 Jon 1.8-2.2), and
  viable back-up systems of administration and
  economic support are issues that still confront
  the people of God. Allen, WBC, 270

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C. The Glory Returns 43.1-14 44.1-4

• 2. Glory guarded by land Division 45.1-12
• 45.1-8 Property Rights for Levites and Priests
• 45.9 An Admonition to the Princes of Israel
• 45.10-17 Right Measures and Offerings
• 3. Offerings and Feast reestablished 45.13-24
• 45.18-25 Great Festivals and the Princes
  Offering
• 45.18-20 Annual Rite of Decontaminating the Inner
  Sanctuary Area
• 45.21-25 Passover and Festival of Unleavened
  Bread

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C. The Glory Returns 43.1-14 44.1-4

• 4. Other Ordinances
• 46.1-15 Gate Ordinances
• 46.16-18 Princes Property
• 46.19-24 The Sacrificial Kitchens

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D. The River that brings fruit 47.1-12
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D. The River that brings fruit 47.1-12

• In the veiled imagery of the references to the
  temple spring and to the waters which flow from
  it 47.1-12 tries to state that the appearance of
  God in his sanctuary in the midst of his people
  does not create a self-contained holy place.
  All the preparation of the sacred place with its
  protection against unthinking access on the part
  of what is ungodly, as this is reflected in the
  architectural layout of the sanctuary, is meant
  in the last resort to serve Gods intention to
  allow life and healing to flow out from here into
  the land. This life and this healing are to be
  effective precisely where unnatural disease and
  hostility to life are most obviously operative.
  The dead Sea, that enigma of the geography of
  Palestine, with its magnified hostility to life,
  must serve as the expression of this
  proclamation. Zimmerli, II, 516

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E. New Boundaries of Land, Division of Land, and
City 47.13-48.35

• Explicit Changes
• Listing the twelve tribes as the land is
  allotted is a way of promising that the division
  of the people of Yahweh will be overcome by this
  return to the pattern of a prior era (see
  37.15-28). Hals, FOTL, 345
• The mention of resident aliens in 47.22-23 as
  having a share in the future Israel is often seen
  as reflecting the presence of converts to the
  faith of Israel from other nations, whose
  existence came to modify the word gerim from its
  original role as a technical label for a
  social-legal group (resident aliens) in the
  direction of a religio-legal class
  (proselytes). Hals, FOTL, 345

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E. New Boundaries of Land, Division of Land, and
City 47.13-48.35

• Explicit Changes
• There is an evident concern on the part of this
  new arrangement to safeguard the holiness of the
  sanctuary. Hals, FOTL, 345

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E. New Boundaries of Land, Division of Land, and
City 47.13-48.35
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F. A Theology of the Restored Glory

• 1. A re-built Temple, for the former was defied
• a. Many Gates to guard the holiness and sanctity
  of God's glory.
• b. Worship with Altar, etc. is to be central.
• c. Much larger than Solomon's or Herod.
• d. Finds its end in the Kabod of the LORD.

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F. A Theology of the Restored Glory

• 2. Holiness is directly related to God's presence
  in Glory
• a. 43.6-9, 10-12
• b. 44.1-46.24 and its rules.
• c. Jerusalem is renamed and called, The LORD is
  there.
• d. Centrality of the LORD.
• 3. God's presence in Glory means fruitfulness
  47.1-12