Yehezkiel 37:1--42:20
Konteks37:1 The hand 1 of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and placed 2 me in the midst of the valley, and it was full of bones. 37:2 He made me walk all around among them. 3 I realized 4 there were a great many bones in the valley and they were very dry. 37:3 He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said to him, “Sovereign Lord, you know.” 37:4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and tell them: ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 37:5 This is what the sovereign Lord says to these bones: Look, I am about to infuse breath 5 into you and you will live. 37:6 I will put tendons 6 on you and muscles over you and will cover you with skin; I will put breath 7 in you and you will live. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
37:7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. There was a sound when I prophesied – I heard 8 a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 37:8 As I watched, I saw 9 tendons on them, then muscles appeared, 10 and skin covered over them from above, but there was no breath 11 in them.
37:9 He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, 12 – prophesy, son of man – and say to the breath: ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these corpses so that they may live.’” 37:10 So I prophesied as I was commanded, and the breath came into them; they lived and stood on their feet, an extremely great army.
37:11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are all the house of Israel. Look, they are saying, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope has perished; we are cut off.’ 37:12 Therefore prophesy, and tell them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Look, I am about to open your graves and will raise you from your graves, my people. I will bring you to the land of Israel. 37:13 Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and raise you from your graves, my people. 37:14 I will place my breath 13 in you and you will live; I will give you rest in your own land. Then you will know that I am the Lord – I have spoken and I will act, declares the Lord.’”
37:15 The word of the Lord came to me: 37:16 “As for you, son of man, take one branch, and write on it, ‘For Judah, and for the Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another branch and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the branch of Ephraim and all the house of Israel associated with him.’ 37:17 Join 14 them as one stick; 15 they will be as one in your hand. 37:18 When your people 16 say to you, ‘Will you not tell us what these things mean?’ 37:19 tell them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Look, I am about to take the branch of Joseph which is in the hand of Ephraim and the tribes of Israel associated with him, and I will place them on the stick of Judah, 17 and make them into one stick – they will be one in my hand.’ 18 37:20 The sticks you write on will be in your hand in front of them. 37:21 Then tell them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Look, I am about to take the Israelites from among the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from round about and bring them to their land. 37:22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and one king will rule over them all. They will never again be two nations and never again be divided into two kingdoms. 19 37:23 They will not defile themselves with their idols, their detestable things, and all their rebellious deeds. I will save them from all their unfaithfulness 20 by which they sinned. I will purify them; they will become my people and I will become their God.
37:24 “‘My servant David will be king over them; there will be one shepherd for all of them. They will follow 21 my regulations and carefully observe my statutes. 22 37:25 They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, in which your fathers lived; they will live in it – they and their children and their grandchildren forever. David my servant will be prince over them forever. 37:26 I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be a perpetual covenant with them. 23 I will establish them, 24 increase their numbers, and place my sanctuary among them forever. 37:27 My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. 37:28 Then, when my sanctuary is among them forever, the nations will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel.’” 25
38:1 The word of the Lord came to me: 38:2 “Son of man, turn toward 26 Gog, 27 of the land of Magog, 28 the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 29 Prophesy against him 38:3 and say: ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Look, 30 I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 38:4 I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and bring you out with all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them fully armed, a great company with shields of different types, 31 all of them armed with swords. 38:5 Persia, 32 Ethiopia, and Put 33 are with them, all of them with shields and helmets. 38:6 They are joined by 34 Gomer with all its troops, and by Beth Togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops – many peoples are with you. 35
38:7 “‘Be ready and stay ready, you and all your companies assembled around you, and be a guard for them. 36 38:8 After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years you will come to a land restored from the ravages of war, 37 with many peoples gathered on the mountains of Israel that had long been in ruins. Its people 38 were brought out from the peoples, and all of them will be living securely. 38:9 You will advance; 39 you will come like a storm. You will be like a cloud covering the earth, you, all your troops, and the many other peoples with you.
38:10 “‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: On that day thoughts will come into your mind, 40 and you will devise an evil plan. 38:11 You will say, “I will invade 41 a land of unwalled towns; I will advance against 42 those living quietly in security – all of them living without walls and barred gates – 38:12 to loot and plunder, to attack 43 the inhabited ruins and the people gathered from the nations, who are acquiring cattle and goods, who live at the center 44 of the earth.” 38:13 Sheba and Dedan and the traders of Tarshish with all its young warriors 45 will say to you, “Have you come to loot? Have you assembled your armies to plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to haul away a great amount of spoils?”’
38:14 “Therefore, prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog: ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: On that day when my people Israel are living securely, you will take notice 46 38:15 and come from your place, from the remote parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a vast army. 38:16 You will advance 47 against my people Israel like a cloud covering the earth. In the latter days I will bring you against my land so that the nations may acknowledge me, when before their eyes I magnify myself 48 through you, O Gog.
38:17 “‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days by my servants 49 the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days 50 that I would bring you against them? 38:18 On that day, when Gog invades 51 the land of Israel, declares the sovereign Lord, my rage will mount up in my anger. 38:19 In my zeal, in the fire of my fury, 52 I declare that on that day there will be a great earthquake 53 in the land of Israel. 38:20 The fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the wild beasts, all the things that creep on the ground, and all people who live on the face of the earth will shake 54 at my presence. The mountains will topple, the cliffs 55 will fall, and every wall will fall to the ground. 38:21 I will call for a sword to attack 56 Gog 57 on all my mountains, declares the sovereign Lord; every man’s sword will be against his brother. 38:22 I will judge him with plague and bloodshed. I will rain down on him, his troops and the many peoples who are with him a torrential downpour, hailstones, fire, and brimstone. 38:23 I will exalt and magnify myself; I will reveal myself before many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’
39:1 “As for you, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say: ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Look, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal! 39:2 I will turn you around and drag you along; 58 I will lead you up from the remotest parts of the north and bring you against the mountains of Israel. 39:3 I will knock your bow out of your left hand and make your arrows fall from your right hand. 39:4 You will fall dead on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the people who are with you. I give you as food to every kind of bird and every wild beast. 39:5 You will fall dead in the open field; for I have spoken, declares the sovereign Lord. 39:6 I will send fire on Magog and those who live securely in the coastlands; then they will know that I am the Lord.
39:7 “‘I will make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; I will not let my holy name be profaned anymore. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. 59 39:8 Realize that it is coming and it will be done, declares the sovereign Lord. It is the day I have spoken about.
39:9 “‘Then those who live in the cities of Israel will go out and use the weapons for kindling 60 – the shields, 61 bows and arrows, war clubs and spears – they will burn them for seven years. 39:10 They will not need to take 62 wood from the field or cut down trees from the forests, because they will make fires with the weapons. They will take the loot from those who looted them and seize the plunder of those who plundered them, 63 declares the sovereign Lord.
39:11 “‘On that day I will assign Gog a grave in Israel. It will be the valley of those who travel east of the sea; it will block the way of the travelers. There they will bury Gog and all his horde; they will call it the valley of Hamon-Gog. 64 39:12 For seven months Israel 65 will bury them, in order to cleanse the land. 39:13 All the people of the land will bury them, and it will be a memorial 66 for them on the day I magnify myself, declares the sovereign Lord. 39:14 They will designate men to scout continually 67 through the land, burying those who remain on the surface of the ground, 68 in order to cleanse it. They will search for seven full months. 39:15 When the scouts survey 69 the land and see a human bone, they will place a sign by it, until those assigned to burial duty have buried it 70 in the valley of Hamon-Gog. 39:16 (A city by the name of Hamonah 71 will also be there.) They will cleanse the land.’
39:17 “As for you, son of man, this is what the sovereign Lord says: Tell every kind of bird and every wild beast: ‘Assemble and come! Gather from all around to my slaughter 72 which I am going to make for you, a great slaughter on the mountains of Israel! You will eat flesh and drink blood. 39:18 You will eat the flesh of warriors 73 and drink the blood of the princes of the earth – the rams, lambs, goats, and bulls, all of them fattened animals of Bashan. 39:19 You will eat fat until you are full, and drink blood until you are drunk, 74 at my slaughter 75 which I have made for you. 39:20 You will fill up at my table with horses and charioteers, 76 with warriors and all the soldiers,’ declares the sovereign Lord.
39:21 “I will display my majesty 77 among the nations. All the nations will witness the judgment I have executed, and the power I have exhibited 78 among them. 39:22 Then the house of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God, from that day forward. 39:23 The nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile due to their iniquity, 79 for they were unfaithful to me. So I hid my face from them and handed them over to their enemies; all of them died by the sword. 39:24 According to their uncleanness and rebellion I have dealt with them, and I hid my face from them.
39:25 “Therefore this is what the sovereign Lord says: Now I will restore 80 the fortunes of Jacob, and I will have mercy on the entire house of Israel. I will be zealous for my holy name. 39:26 They will bear their shame for all their unfaithful acts against me, when they live securely on their land with no one to make them afraid. 39:27 When I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them from the countries of their enemies, I will magnify myself among them in the sight of many nations. 39:28 Then they will know that I am the Lord their God, because I sent them into exile among the nations, and then gathered them into their own land. I will not leave any of them in exile 81 any longer. 39:29 I will no longer hide my face from them, when I pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel, 82 declares the sovereign Lord.”
40:1 In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city 83 was struck down, on this very day, 84 the hand 85 of the Lord was on me, and he brought me there. 86 40:2 By means of divine visions 87 he brought me to the land of Israel and placed me on a very high mountain, 88 and on it was a structure like a city, to the south. 40:3 When he brought me there, I saw 89 a man whose appearance was like bronze, with a linen cord and a measuring stick in his hand. He was standing in the gateway. 40:4 The man said to me, “Son of man, watch closely, listen carefully, and pay attention 90 to everything I show you, for you have been brought here so that I can show it to you. 91 Tell the house of Israel everything you see.”
40:5 I saw 92 a wall all around the outside of the temple. 93 In the man’s hand was a measuring stick 10½ feet 94 long. He measured the thickness of the wall 95 as 10½ feet, 96 and its height as 10½ feet. 40:6 Then he went to the gate facing east. He climbed its steps and measured the threshold of the gate as 10½ feet deep. 97 40:7 The alcoves were 10½ feet long and 10½ feet wide; between the alcoves were 8¾ feet. 98 The threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate facing inward was 10½ feet. 40:8 Then he measured the porch of the gate facing inward as 10½ feet. 40:9 He measured the porch of the gate as 14 feet, 99 and its jambs as 3½ feet; 100 the porch of the gate faced inward. 40:10 There were three alcoves on each side of the east gate; the three had the same measurement, and the jambs on either side had the same measurement. 101 40:11 He measured the width of the entrance of the gateway as 17½ feet, 102 and the length of the gateway as 22¾ feet. 103 40:12 There was a barrier in front of the alcoves, 1¾ feet 104 on either side; the alcoves were 10½ feet 105 on either side. 40:13 He measured the gateway from the roof of one alcove to the roof of the other, a width of 43¾ feet 106 from one entrance to the opposite one. 40:14 He measured 107 the porch 108 at 105 feet 109 high; 110 the gateway went all around to the jamb of the courtyard. 40:15 From the front of the entrance gate to the porch of the inner gate was 87½ feet. 111 40:16 There were closed windows toward the alcoves and toward their jambs within the gate all around, and likewise for the porches. There were windows all around the inside, and on each jamb were decorative palm trees. 112
40:17 Then he brought me to the outer court. I saw 113 chambers there, and a pavement made for the court all around; thirty chambers faced the pavement. 40:18 The pavement was beside the gates, corresponding to the length of the gates; this was the lower pavement. 40:19 Then he measured the width from before the lower gate to the front of the exterior of the inner court as 175 feet 114 on the east and on the north.
40:20 He measured the length and width of the gate of the outer court which faces north. 40:21 Its alcoves, three on each side, and its jambs and porches had the same measurement as the first gate; 87½ feet 115 long and 43¾ feet 116 wide. 40:22 Its windows, its porches, and its decorative palm trees had the same measurement as the gate which faced east. Seven steps led up to it, and its porch was in front of them. 40:23 Opposite the gate on the north and the east was a gate of the inner court; he measured the distance from gate to gate at 175 feet. 117
40:24 Then he led me toward the south. I saw 118 a gate on the south. He measured its jambs and its porches; they had the same dimensions as the others. 40:25 There were windows all around it and its porches, like the windows of the others; 119 87½ feet 120 long and 43¾ feet 121 wide. 40:26 There were seven steps going up to it; its porches were in front of them. It had decorative palm trees on its jambs, one on either side. 40:27 The inner court had a gate toward the south; he measured it from gate to gate toward the south as 175 feet. 122
40:28 Then he brought me to the inner court by the south gate. He measured the south gate; it had the same dimensions as the others. 40:29 Its alcoves, its jambs, and its porches had the same dimensions as the others, and there were windows all around it and its porches; its length was 87½ feet 123 and its width 43¾ feet. 124 40:30 There were porches all around, 43¾ feet 125 long and 8¾ feet 126 wide. 40:31 Its porches faced the outer court, and decorative palm trees were on its jambs, and its stairway had eight steps.
40:32 Then he brought me to the inner court on the east side. He measured the gate; it had the same dimensions as the others. 40:33 Its alcoves, its jambs, and its porches had the same dimensions as the others, and there were windows all around it and its porches; its length was 87½ feet 127 and its width 43¾ feet. 128 40:34 Its porches faced the outer court, it had decorative palm trees on its jambs, and its stairway had eight steps.
40:35 Then he brought me to the north gate, and he measured it; it had the same dimensions as the others – 40:36 its alcoves, its jambs, and its porches. It had windows all around it; its length was 87½ feet 129 and its width 43¾ feet. 130 40:37 Its jambs 131 faced the outer court, and it had decorative palm trees on its jambs, on either side, and its stairway had eight steps.
40:38 There was a chamber with its door by the porch of the gate; 132 there they washed the burnt offering. 40:39 In the porch of the gate were two tables on either side on which to slaughter the burnt offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering. 40:40 On the outside of the porch as one goes up at the entrance of the north gate were two tables, and on the other side of the porch of the gate were two tables. 40:41 Four tables were on each side of the gate, eight tables on which the sacrifices were to be slaughtered. 40:42 The four tables for the burnt offering were of carved stone, 32 inches 133 long, 32 inches 134 wide, and 21 inches 135 high. They would put the instruments which they used to slaughter the burnt offering and the sacrifice on them. 40:43 There were hooks 136 three inches 137 long, fastened in the house all around, and on the tables was the flesh of the offering.
40:44 On the outside of the inner gate were chambers for the singers of the inner court, one 138 at the side of the north gate facing south, and the other at the side of the south 139 gate facing north. 40:45 He said to me, “This chamber which faces south is for the priests who keep charge of the temple, 140 40:46 and the chamber which faces north is for the priests who keep charge of the altar. These are the descendants of Zadok, from the descendants of Levi, who may approach the Lord to minister to him.” 40:47 He measured the court as a square 175 feet long and 175 feet wide; 141 the altar was in front of the temple.
40:48 Then he brought me to the porch of the temple and measured the jambs of the porch as 8¾ feet 142 on either side, and the width of the gate was 24½ feet 143 and the sides 144 were 5¼ feet 145 on each side. 40:49 The length of the porch was 35 feet 146 and the width 19¼ feet; 147 steps 148 led up to it, and there were pillars beside the jambs on either side.
41:1 Then he brought me to the outer sanctuary, and measured the jambs; the jambs were 10½ feet 149 wide on each side. 41:2 The width of the entrance was 17½ feet, 150 and the sides 151 of the entrance were 8¾ feet 152 on each side. He measured the length of the outer sanctuary as 70 feet, 153 and its width as 35 feet. 154
41:3 Then he went into the inner sanctuary and measured the jambs of the entrance as 3½ feet, 155 the entrance as 10½ feet, 156 and the width of the entrance as 12¼ feet 157 41:4 Then he measured its length as 35 feet, 158 and its width as 35 feet, 159 before the outer sanctuary. He said to me, “This is the most holy place.”
41:5 Then he measured the wall of the temple 160 as 10½ feet, 161 and the width of the side chambers as 7 feet, 162 all around the temple. 41:6 The side chambers were in three stories, one above the other, thirty in each story. There were offsets in the wall all around to serve as supports for the side chambers, so that the supports were not in the wall of the temple. 41:7 The side chambers surrounding the temple were wider at each successive story; 163 for the structure 164 surrounding the temple went up story by story all around the temple. For this reason the width of the temple increased as it went up, and one went up from the lowest story to the highest by the way of the middle story.
41:8 I saw that the temple had a raised platform all around; the foundations of the side chambers were a full measuring stick 165 of 10½ feet 166 high. 41:9 The width of the outer wall of the side chambers was 8¾ feet, 167 and the open area between the side chambers of the temple 41:10 and the chambers of the court was 35 feet 168 in width all around the temple on every side. 41:11 There were entrances from the side chambers toward the open area, one entrance toward the north, and another entrance toward the south; the width of the open area was 8¾ feet 169 all around.
41:12 The building that was facing the temple courtyard at the west side was 122½ feet 170 wide; the wall of the building was 8¾ feet 171 all around, and its length 157½ feet. 172
41:13 Then he measured the temple as 175 feet 173 long, the courtyard of the temple and the building and its walls as 175 feet 174 long, 41:14 and also the width of the front of the temple and the courtyard on the east as 175 feet. 175
41:15 Then he measured the length of the building facing the courtyard at the rear of the temple, with its galleries on either side as 175 feet. 176
The interior of the outer sanctuary and the porch of the court, 177 41:16 as well as the thresholds, narrow windows and galleries all around on three sides facing the threshold were paneled with wood all around, from the ground up to the windows (now the windows were covered), 41:17 to the space above the entrance, to the inner room, and on the outside, and on all the walls in the inner room and outside, by measurement. 178 41:18 It was made with cherubim and decorative palm trees, with a palm tree between each cherub. Each cherub had two faces: 41:19 a human face toward the palm tree on one side and a lion’s face toward the palm tree on the other side. They were carved on the whole temple all around; 41:20 from the ground to the area above the entrance, cherubim and decorative palm trees were carved on the wall of the outer sanctuary. 41:21 The doorposts of the outer sanctuary were square. In front of the sanctuary one doorpost looked just like the other. 41:22 The altar was of wood, 5¼ feet 179 high, with its length 3½ feet; 180 its corners, its length, 181 and its walls were of wood. He said to me, “This is the table that is before the Lord.” 41:23 The outer sanctuary and the inner sanctuary each had a double door. 41:24 Each of the doors had two leaves, two swinging 182 leaves; two leaves for one door and two leaves for the other. 41:25 On the doors of the outer sanctuary were carved cherubim and palm trees, like those carved on the walls, and there was a canopy 183 of wood on the front of the outside porch. 41:26 There were narrow windows and decorative palm trees on either side of the side walls of the porch; this is what the side chambers of the temple and the canopies were like.
42:1 Then he led me out to the outer court, toward the north, and brought me to the chamber which was opposite the courtyard and opposite the building on the north. 42:2 Its length was 175 feet 184 on the north side, 185 and its width 87½ feet. 186 42:3 Opposite the 35 feet 187 that belonged to the inner court, and opposite the pavement which belonged to the outer court, gallery faced gallery in the three stories. 42:4 In front of the chambers was a walkway on the inner side, 17½ feet 188 wide at a distance of 1¾ feet, 189 and their entrances were on the north. 42:5 Now the upper chambers were narrower, because the galleries took more space from them than from the lower and middle chambers of the building. 42:6 For they were in three stories and had no pillars like the pillars of the courts; therefore the upper chambers 190 were set back from the ground more than the lower and upper ones. 42:7 As for the outer wall by the side of the chambers, toward the outer court facing the chambers, it was 87½ feet 191 long. 42:8 For the chambers on the outer court were 87½ feet 192 long, while those facing the temple were 175 feet 193 long. 42:9 Below these chambers was a passage on the east side as one enters from the outer court.
42:10 At the beginning 194 of the wall of the court toward the south, 195 facing the courtyard and the building, were chambers 42:11 with a passage in front of them. They looked like the chambers on the north. Of the same length and width, and all their exits according to their arrangements and entrances 42:12 were the chambers 196 which were toward the south. There was an opening at the head of the passage, the passage in front of the corresponding wall toward the east when one enters.
42:13 Then he said to me, “The north chambers and the south chambers which face the courtyard are holy chambers where the priests 197 who approach the Lord will eat the most holy offerings. There they will place the most holy offerings – the grain offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering, because the place is holy. 42:14 When the priests enter, then they will not go out from the sanctuary to the outer court without taking off their garments in which they minister, for these are holy; they will put on other garments, then they will go near the places where the people are.”
42:15 Now when he had finished measuring the interior of the temple, he led me out by the gate which faces east and measured all around. 42:16 He measured the east side with the measuring stick 198 as 875 feet 199 by the measuring stick. 42:17 He measured the north side as 875 feet by the measuring stick. 42:18 He measured the south side as 875 feet by the measuring stick. 42:19 He turned to the west side and measured 875 feet by the measuring stick. 42:20 He measured it on all four sides. It had a wall around it, 875 feet long and 875 feet wide, to separate the holy and common places.
[37:1] sn Hand in the OT can refer metaphorically to power, authority, or influence. In Ezekiel God’s hand being on the prophet is regularly associated with communication or a vision from God (3:14, 22; 8:1; 37:1; 40:1).
[37:1] 2 tn Heb “caused me to rest.”
[37:2] 3 tn Heb “and he made me pass over them, around, around.”
[37:2] 4 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and is here translated as “I realized” because it results from Ezekiel’s recognition of the situation around him. In Hebrew, the exclamation is repeated in the following sentence.
[37:5] 5 tn Heb “I am about to bring a spirit.”
[37:6] 6 tn The exact physiological meaning of the term is uncertain. In addition to v. 8, the term occurs only in Gen 32:33; Job 10:11; 40:17; and Jer 48:4.
[37:7] 8 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.
[37:8] 9 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.
[37:9] 12 tn Or “spirit,” and several times in this verse.
[37:14] 13 tn Or “spirit.” This is likely an allusion to Gen 2 and God’s breath which creates life.
[37:17] 14 tn Heb “bring near.”
[37:17] 15 tn Heb “one to one for you for one stick.”
[37:18] 16 tn Heb “the sons of your people.”
[37:19] 17 tn Heb “I will place them on it, that is, on the stick of Judah.”
[37:19] 18 sn The reunification of Israel and Judah is envisioned as well in Ezek 33:23, 29; Jer 3:18; 23:5-6; Hos 1:11; Amos 9:11.
[37:22] 19 sn Jeremiah also attested to the reuniting of the northern and southern kingdoms (Jer 3:12, 14; 31:2-6).
[37:23] 20 tc Heb “their dwellings.” The text as it stands does not make sense. Based on the LXX, a slight emendation of two vowels, including a mater, yields the reading “from their turning,” a reference here to their turning from God and deviating from his commandments. See BDB 1000 s.v. מְשׁוּבָה, and D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:407.
[37:24] 21 tn Heb “walk [in].”
[37:24] 22 tn Heb “and my statutes they will guard and they will do them.”
[37:26] 23 sn See Isa 24:5; 55:3; 61:8; Jer 32:40; 50:5; Ezek 16:60, for other references to perpetual covenants.
[37:26] 24 tn Heb “give them.”
[37:28] 25 sn The sanctuary of Israel becomes the main focus of Ezek 40-48.
[38:2] 26 tn Heb “set your face against.”
[38:2] 27 sn This may refer to a Lydian king in western Asia Minor in the seventh century
[38:2] 28 sn One of the sons of Japheth according to Gen 10:2; 1 Chr 1:5.
[38:2] 29 tn Heb “the prince, the chief of Meshech and Tubal.” Some translate “the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal,” but it is more likely that the Hebrew noun in question is a common noun in apposition to “prince,” rather than a proper name. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:434-35. As Block demonstrates, attempts by some popular writers to identify these proper names with later geographical sites in Russia are anachronistic. See as well E. Yamauchi, Foes From the Northern Frontier, 19-27.
[38:2] sn Meshech and Tubal were two nations in Cappadocia of Asia Minor. They were also sons of Japheth (Gen 10:2; 1 Chr 1:5).
[38:3] 30 tn Or “I challenge you.” The phrase “I am against you” may be a formula for challenging someone to combat or a duel. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 1:201-2, and P. Humbert, “Die Herausforderungsformel ‘h!nn#n' ?l?K>,’” ZAW 45 (1933): 101-8.
[38:4] 31 sn The Hebrew text mentions two different types of shields here.
[38:5] 32 tn D. I. Block prefers to see the Hebrew word as referring here to a western ally of Egypt or as an alternative spelling for Pathros, that is, Upper Egypt. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:439-40.
[38:6] 34 tn The words “they are joined by” are added in the translation for purposes of English style.
[38:6] 35 sn The seven-nation coalition represents the north (Meshech, Tubal, Gomer, Beth-Togarmah), the south/west (Ethiopia, Put) and the east (Persia). The use of the sevenfold list suggests completeness. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:441.
[38:7] 36 tn The second person singular verbal and pronominal forms in the Hebrew text indicate that Gog is addressed here.
[38:8] 37 tn Heb “from the sword.”
[38:10] 40 tn Heb “words will go up upon your heart.”
[38:11] 41 tn Heb “go up against.”
[38:11] 42 tn Heb “come (to).”
[38:12] 43 tn Heb “to turn your hand against.”
[38:12] 44 tn The Hebrew term occurs elsewhere only in Judg 9:37. Perhaps it means “high point, top.”
[38:13] 45 tn Heb “young lions.”
[38:14] 46 tn The Hebrew text is framed as a rhetorical question: “will you not take notice?”
[38:16] 48 tn Or “reveal my holiness.”
[38:17] 49 tn Heb “by the hand of my servants.”
[38:17] 50 tn The Hebrew text adds “years” here, but this is probably a scribal gloss on the preceding phrase. See L. C. Allen, Ezekiel (WBC), 2:201.
[38:18] 51 tn Heb “goes up against.”
[38:19] 52 sn The phrase “in the fire of my fury” occurs in Ezek 21:31; 22:21, 31.
[38:20] 55 tn The term occurs only here and in Song of Songs 2:14.
[38:21] 57 tn Heb “him”; the referent (Gog, cf. v. 18) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[39:2] 58 tn The Hebrew root occurs only here in the OT. An apparent cognate in the Ethiopic language means “walk along.” For a discussion of the research on this verb, see D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:460.
[39:7] 59 sn The basic sense of the word “holy” is “set apart from that which is commonplace, special, unique.” The
[39:9] 60 tn Heb “burn and kindle the weapons.”
[39:9] 61 tn Two different types of shields are specified in the Hebrew text.
[39:10] 62 tn Heb “they will not carry.”
[39:10] 63 tn Heb “loot their looters and plunder their plunderers.”
[39:11] 64 tn The name means “horde of Gog.”
[39:12] 65 tn Heb “the house of Israel.”
[39:14] 67 tn Heb “men of perpetuity.”
[39:14] 68 tn Heb “and bury the travelers and those who remain on the surface of the ground.” The reference to “travelers” seems odd and is omitted in the LXX. It is probably an accidental duplication (see v. 11).
[39:15] 69 tn Heb “as the scouts scout.”
[39:15] 70 tn That is, the aforementioned bone.
[39:16] 71 tn This name appears to be a feminine form of the word “horde,” used in the name Hamon-Gog.
[39:17] 72 tn Or “sacrifice” (so also in the rest of this verse).
[39:18] 73 sn See Rev 19:17-18.
[39:19] 74 sn Eating the fat and drinking blood were God’s exclusive rights in Israelite sacrifices (Lev 3:17).
[39:19] 75 tn Or “sacrifice” (so also in the rest of this verse).
[39:21] 78 tn Heb “my hand which I have placed.”
[39:23] 79 tn Or “in their punishment.” The phrase “in/for [a person’s] iniquity/punishment” occurs fourteen times in Ezekiel: here; 3:18, 19; 4:17; 7:13, 16; 18: 17, 18, 19, 20; 24:23; 33:6, 8, 9. The Hebrew word for “iniquity” may also mean the “punishment” for iniquity or “guilt” of iniquity.
[39:25] 80 tn Heb “cause to return.”
[39:28] 81 tn Heb “there,” referring to the foreign nations to which they were exiled. The translation makes the referent clear.
[39:29] 82 sn See Ezek 11:19; 37:14.
[40:1] 83 sn That is, Jerusalem.
[40:1] 84 tn April 19, 573
[40:1] sn Hand in the OT can refer metaphorically to power, authority, or influence. In Ezekiel God’s hand being on the prophet is regularly associated with communication or a vision from God (3:14, 22; 8:1; 37:1; 40:1).
[40:1] 86 sn That is, to the land of Israel (see v. 2).
[40:2] 87 tn The expression introduces the three major visions of Ezekiel (1:1; 8:3; 40:2).
[40:2] 88 tn The reference to a very high mountain is harmonious with Isa 2:2.
[40:3] 89 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.
[40:4] 90 tn Heb “look with your eyes, hear with your ears, and set your mind on.”
[40:4] 91 tn Heb “in order to show (it) to you.”
[40:5] 92 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.
[40:5] 94 tn Heb “a measuring stick of six cubits, [each] a cubit and a handbreadth.” The measuring units here and in the remainder of this section are the Hebrew “long” cubit, consisting of a cubit (about 18 inches or 45 cm) and a handbreadth (about 3 inches or 7.5 cm), for a total of 21 inches (52.5 cm). Therefore the measuring stick in the man’s hand was 10.5 feet (3.15 meters) long. Because modern readers are not familiar with the cubit as a unit of measurement, and due to the additional complication of the “long” cubit as opposed to the regular cubit, all measurements have been converted to American standard feet and inches, with the Hebrew measurements and the metric equivalents given in the notes.
[40:5] 96 tn Heb “one rod [or “reed”]” (also a second time in this verse, twice in v. 6, three times in v. 7, and once in v. 8).
[40:6] 97 tn The Hebrew text adds “the one threshold 10½ feet deep.” This is probably an accidental duplication of what precedes. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:517.
[40:7] 98 tn Heb “five cubits” (i.e., 2.625 meters) according to the “long” cubit. See the note on the first occurrence of the phrase “10½ feet” in v. 5.
[40:9] 99 tn Heb “eight cubits” (i.e., 4.2 meters).
[40:9] 100 tn Heb “two cubits” (i.e., 1.05 meters).
[40:10] 101 sn The three alcoves are parallel to the city gates found at Megiddo, Hazor, and Gezer.
[40:11] 102 tn Heb “ten cubits” (i.e., 5.25 meters).
[40:11] 103 tn Heb “thirteen cubits” (i.e., 6.825 meters).
[40:12] 104 tn Heb “one cubit” (i.e., 52.5 cm).
[40:12] 105 tn Heb “six cubits” (i.e., 3.15 meters).
[40:13] 106 tn Heb “twenty-five cubits” (i.e., 13.125 meters).
[40:14] 108 tc The MT reads “jambs” which does not make sense in context. Supposing a confusion of yod for vav, the text may be emended to read “porch.” See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:518.
[40:14] 109 tn Heb “sixty cubits” (i.e., 31.5 meters).
[40:14] 110 tn The word “high” is not in the Hebrew text but is supplied for sense.
[40:15] 111 tn Heb “fifty cubits” (i.e., 26.25 meters).
[40:16] 112 sn Decorative palm trees were also a part of Solomon’s temple (1 Kgs 6:29, 32, 35).
[40:17] 113 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.
[40:19] 114 tn Heb “one hundred cubits” (i.e., 52.5 meters).
[40:21] 115 tn Heb “fifty cubits” (i.e., 26.25 meters).
[40:21] 116 tn Heb “twenty-five cubits” (i.e., 13.125 meters).
[40:23] 117 tn Heb “one hundred cubits” (i.e., 52.5 meters).
[40:24] 118 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.
[40:25] 119 tn Heb “as these windows.”
[40:25] 120 tn Heb “fifty cubits” (i.e., 26.25 meters).
[40:25] 121 tn Heb “twenty-five cubits” (i.e., 13.125 meters).
[40:27] 122 tn Heb “one hundred cubits” (i.e., 52.5 meters).
[40:29] 123 tn Heb “fifty cubits” (i.e., 26.25 meters).
[40:29] 124 tn Heb “twenty-five cubits” (i.e., 13.125 meters).
[40:30] 125 tn Heb “twenty-five cubits” (i.e., 13.125 meters).
[40:30] 126 tn Heb “five cubits” (i.e., 2.625 meters).
[40:33] 127 tn Heb “fifty cubits” (i.e., 26.25 meters).
[40:33] 128 tn Heb “twenty-five cubits” (i.e., 13.125 meters).
[40:36] 129 tn Heb “fifty cubits” (i.e., 26.25 meters).
[40:36] 130 tn Heb “twenty-five cubits” (i.e., 13.125 meters).
[40:37] 131 tc The LXX reads “porches.”
[40:38] 132 tc The MT reads “jambs of the gates” which does not make sense in a context discussing one chamber. The emendation to “porch” is similar to v. 14. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:530.
[40:42] 133 tn Heb “one and a half cubits” (i.e., 78.75 cm).
[40:42] 134 tn Heb “one and a half cubits” (i.e., 78.75 cm).
[40:42] 135 tn Heb “one cubit” (i.e., 52.5 cm).
[40:43] 136 tc This reading is supported by the Aramaic Targum. The LXX, Vulgate, and Syriac read “shelves” or some type of projection.
[40:43] 137 tn Heb “one handbreadth” (7.5 cm).
[40:44] 138 tn “One” is not in the Hebrew text but is supplied for clarity in the translation.
[40:44] 139 tc This reading is supported by the LXX; the MT reads “east.”
[40:45] 140 tn Heb “the house.”
[40:47] 141 tn Heb “one hundred cubits long and one hundred cubits wide, a square” (i.e., 52.5 meters by 52.5 meters).
[40:48] 142 tn Heb “five cubits” (i.e., 2.625 meters).
[40:48] 143 tn The LXX reads “fourteen cubits” (i.e., 7.35 meters). See following note.
[40:48] 144 tc The translation follows the LXX. The MT reads “the width of the gate was three cubits,” the omission due to haplography.
[40:48] tn Or “sidewalls.”
[40:48] 145 tn Heb “three cubits” (i.e., 1.575 meters).
[40:49] 146 tn Heb “twenty cubits” (i.e., 10.5 meters).
[40:49] 147 tn Heb “eleven cubits” (i.e., 5.775 meters).
[40:49] 148 tc The LXX reads “ten steps.”
[41:1] 149 tn Heb “six cubits” (i.e., 3.15 meters).
[41:2] 150 tn Heb “ten cubits” (i.e., 5.25 meters).
[41:2] 151 tc The translation follows the LXX. The MT reads “the width of the gate was three cubits,” the omission due to haplography.
[41:2] tn Or “sidewalls.”
[41:2] 152 tn Heb “five cubits” (i.e., 2.625 meters).
[41:2] 153 tn Heb “forty cubits” (i.e., 21 meters).
[41:2] 154 tn Heb “twenty cubits” (i.e., 10.5 meters).
[41:3] 155 tn Heb “two cubits” (i.e., 1.05 meters).
[41:3] 156 tn Heb “six cubits” (i.e., 3.15 meters).
[41:3] 157 tn Heb “seven cubits” (i.e., 3.675 meters).
[41:4] 158 tn Heb “twenty cubits” (i.e., 10.5 meters).
[41:4] 159 tn Heb “twenty cubits” (i.e., 10.5 meters).
[41:5] 160 tn Heb “house” throughout Ezek 41.
[41:5] 161 tn Heb “six cubits” (i.e., 3.15 meters).
[41:5] 162 tn Heb “four cubits” (2.1 meters).
[41:7] 163 tc The Hebrew is difficult here. The Targum envisions a winding ramp or set of stairs, which entails reading the first word as a noun rather than a verb and reading the second word also not as a verb, supposing that an initial mem has been read as vav and nun. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:549.
[41:7] 164 tn The Hebrew term occurs only here in the OT.
[41:8] 166 tn Heb “six cubits” (i.e., 3.15 meters).
[41:9] 167 tn Heb “five cubits” (i.e., 2.625 meters).
[41:10] 168 tn Heb “twenty cubits” (i.e., 10.5 meters).
[41:11] 169 tn Heb “five cubits” (i.e., 2.625 meters).
[41:12] 170 tn Heb “seventy cubits” (36.75 meters).
[41:12] 171 tn Heb “five cubits” (i.e., 2.625 meters).
[41:12] 172 tn Heb “ninety cubits” (i.e., 47.25 meters).
[41:13] 173 tn Heb “one hundred cubits” (i.e., 52.5 meters).
[41:13] 174 tn Heb “one hundred cubits” (i.e., 52.5 meters).
[41:14] 175 tn Heb “one hundred cubits” (i.e., 52.5 meters).
[41:15] 176 tn Heb “one hundred cubits” (i.e., 52.5 meters).
[41:15] 177 tc Some Hebrew
[41:17] 178 tc The LXX does not have the word “by measurements.” The word may be a technical term referring to carpentry technique, the exact meaning of which is unclear.
[41:22] 179 tn Heb “three cubits” (i.e., 1.575 meters).
[41:22] 180 tn Heb “two cubits” (i.e., 1.05 meters).
[41:22] 181 tc So the Masoretic text. The LXX reads “base.”
[41:24] 182 tn Heb “turning” leaves.
[41:25] 183 tn Or “railings.” See L. C. Allen, Ezekiel (WBC), 2:218.
[42:2] 184 tn Heb “one hundred cubits” (i.e., 52.5 meters).
[42:2] 185 tn Heb “the door of the north.”
[42:2] 186 tn Heb “fifty cubits” (i.e., 26.25 meters).
[42:3] 187 tn Heb “twenty cubits” (i.e., 10.5 meters).
[42:4] 188 tn Heb “ten cubits” (i.e., 5.25 meters).
[42:4] 189 tc Heb “one cubit” (i.e., 52.5 cm). The LXX and the Syriac read “one hundred cubits” (= 175 feet).
[42:6] 190 tn The phrase “upper chambers” is not in the Hebrew text but is supplied from the context.
[42:7] 191 tn Heb “fifty cubits” (i.e., 26.25 meters).
[42:8] 192 tn Heb “fifty cubits” (i.e., 26.25 meters).
[42:8] 193 tn Heb “one hundred cubits” (i.e., 52.5 meters).
[42:10] 194 tc The reading is supported by the LXX.
[42:10] 195 tc This reading is supported by the LXX; the MT reads “east.”
[42:12] 196 tc The MT apparently evidences dittography, repeating most of the last word of the previous verse: “and like the openings of.”
[42:13] 197 sn The priests are from the Zadokite family (Ezek 40:6; 44:15).
[42:16] 198 tn Heb “reed” (also in the following verses).
[42:16] 199 tn Heb “five hundred cubits” (i.e., 262.5 meters).
