1 Yahweh’s Glory Returns to the Temple Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing toward the east;
2 and behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the way of the east. And His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory.
3 Andit waslike the appearance of the vision which I saw, like the vision which I saw when 43:3As in some mss and ancient versions; M.T. I He came to bring the city to ruin. And the visionswerelike the vision which I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell on my face.
4 And the glory of Yahweh came into the house by the way of the gate facing toward the east.
5 And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of Yahweh filled the house.
6 Then I heard one speaking to me from the house, while a man was standing beside me.
7 He said to me, “Son of man,this isthe place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the sons of Israel forever. And the house of Israel will not again defile My holy name, neither they nor their kings, by their harlotry and by the 43:7Ugaritic monuments corpses of their kings 43:7Or in their high places when they die,
8 by putting their threshold by My threshold and their door post beside My door post, withonlythe wall between Me and them. And they have defiled My holy name by their abominations which they have done. So I have consumed them in My anger.
9 Now let them put away their harlotry and the 43:9Ugaritic monuments corpses of their kings far from Me; and I will dwell among them forever.
10 “As for you, son of man, 43:10Lit declare describe the houseof Yahwehto the house of Israel, that they may feel dishonor for their iniquities; and let them measure the 43:10Lit perfection, pattern plan.
11 If they feel dishonor for all that they have done, make known to them the 43:11Or form(s) design of the house, its structure, its exits, its entrances, all its designs, all its statutes 43:11M.T. adds and all its designs , and all its laws. And writeitin their sight so that they may keep its whole 43:11Or form(s) design and all its statutes and do them.
12 This is the 43:12Or instruction for law of the house:withinits entire boundary, on the top of the mountain all around,shall bemost holy. Behold, this is the 43:12Or instruction for law of the house.The Altar and Offerings
13 “And these are the measurements of the altar by cubits (the cubit being a 43:13A cubit was approx. 18 in. or 45 cm cubit and a 43:13A handbreadth was approx. 3 in. or7.6cm handbreadth): the 43:13Lit lap baseshall bea cubit and the width a cubit, and its border on its edge round about one 43:13A span was approx. 9 in. or 23 cm span; and thisshall be the height ofthe 43:13Or back base of the altar.
14 And from the base on the ground to the lower ledgeshall betwo 43:14A cubit was approx. 18 in. or 45 cm cubits and the width one cubit; and from the smaller ledge to the larger ledgeshall befour cubits and the width 43:14Lit the one cubit.
15 And the 43:15Or ariel altar hearthshall befour cubits; and from the 43:15Or ariel altar hearthshallextend upwards four horns.
16 Now the 43:16Or ariel shall altar hearthshall be 43:16Approx.17.11ft. or5.4m twelvecubitslong by twelve wide, square in its four sides.
17 The ledgeshall be 43:17Approx.20.11ft. or6.3m fourteencubitslong by fourteen wide in its four sides; the border around itshall behalf a cubit, and its baseshall bea cubit round about; and its steps shall 43:17Or be on the east side face the east.”
18 And He said to me, “Son of man, thus says Lord Yahweh, ‘These are the statutes for the altar on the day it is made, to offer burnt offerings on it and to splash blood on it.
19 And you shall give to the Levitical priests who are from the seed of Zadok, who draw near to Me to minister to Me,’ declares Lord Yahweh, ‘a bull from the herd for a sin offering.
20 You shall also take some of its blood and put it on its four horns and on the four corners of the ledge and on the border round about; thus you shall purify it and make atonement for it.
21 And you shall take the bull for the sin offering, and it shall be burned in the appointed place of the house, outside the sanctuary.
22 ‘Now on the second day you shall bring near a male goat without blemish for a sin offering, and they shall purify the altar as they purifieditwith the bull.
23 When you have finished purifyingit, you shall present a bull from the herd without blemish and a ram without blemish from the flock.
24 And you shall bring them near before Yahweh, and the priests shall throw salt on them, and they shall offer them up as a burnt offering to Yahweh.
25 For seven days you shall offer daily a goat for a sin offering; also a bull from the herd and a ram from the flock, without blemish, shall be offered.
26 For seven days they shall make atonement for the altar and purify it; so shall they 43:26Lit fill its hands ordain it.
27 So they will complete the days. And it shall be that on the eighth day and onward, the priests shall 43:27Lit make offer on the altar your burnt offerings and your peace offerings; and I will accept you,’ declares Lord Yahweh.”