Ezekiel 42:10
The chambers were in the thickness of the wall of the court toward the east, over against the separate place, and over against the building.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
The term "separate place" (gizrah) occurs nine times in Ezekiel 41-42, always denoting the restricted zone around the temple building itself. In Solomon's temple, similar spatial distinctions existed (1 Kings 6-7), but Ezekiel's vision intensifies the separation between holy and common. This wasn't arbitrary exclusivism but recognition that sinful humanity cannot casually approach the infinitely holy God. The priestly system, with its chambers, courts, and restricted areas, taught Israel that access to God required mediation, purification, and consecration. The New Testament reveals these spatial separations were shadows: Christ's death tore the temple veil (Matthew 27:51), opening direct access to God's presence for all believers (Hebrews 10:19-22). Yet the principle remains—we approach God on His terms, not ours, through the mediator Christ, not through presumption.
Questions for Reflection
- How do the 'separate places' in Ezekiel's temple teach us about God's holiness and our need for a mediator?
- In what ways does Christ's priesthood fulfill and surpass the spatial separations of the Old Testament temple?
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Analysis & Commentary
The chambers were in the thickness of the wall of the court toward the east, over against the separate place, and over against the building. The Hebrew rochav (רֹחַב, "thickness") emphasizes the substantial construction—these weren't flimsy additions but integral to the temple structure, built into the very walls. The separate place (gizrah, גִּזְרָה) appears repeatedly in Ezekiel's vision, referring to the restricted area around the temple proper, off-limits to all but priests performing sacred duties.
The positioning over against (literally "to the face of") the separate place indicates these chambers faced the most holy area, serving as transition zones between the outer court where laity assembled and the inner sanctum where only consecrated priests could enter. This architectural arrangement embodied the holiness code: gradations of sacred space protected God's transcendent holiness while providing access through proper mediation. The priests serving in these chambers stood, literally and figuratively, between the people and God's dwelling.