Analysis of Ezekiel Chapter 43
Ezekiel chapter 43 is a pivotal section within the Book of Ezekiel, presenting Ezekiel’s vision of the return of the glory of the Lord to the Temple. This chapter offers profound insights into the nature of God’s holiness, the significance of the Temple, and the re-establishment of a proper relationship between God and His people. Below, we will explore the chapter verse by verse, elucidating its themes and messages.
Verses 1-5: The Return of God’s Glory
1 Then he brought me to the gate, the gate facing east. 2 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory. 3 And the vision I saw was just like the vision that I had seen when he came to destroy the city, and just like the vision that I had seen by the Chebar canal. And I fell on my face. 4 As the glory of the Lord entered the temple by the gate facing east, 5 the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
In these verses, Ezekiel is brought to the east gate where he witnesses the return of God’s glory, a scene reminiscent of the earlier visions by the Chebar canal (Ezekiel 1:4-28; 10:18-22). The return of divine glory signifies the restoration of God’s presence among His people. The descriptive imagery — the sound like many waters and the earth shining with His glory — emphasizes the overwhelming and majestic nature of God’s presence. Ezekiel’s response, falling on his face, symbolizes awe and reverence towards the divine majesty.
From a theological perspective, the return of God’s glory heralds a renewal of the covenant relationship between God and Israel. This vision contrasts with the departure of God’s presence in earlier chapters (specifically, Ezekiel 10), symbolizing a hopeful turning point for the exiled community.
Verses 6-9: God’s Holiness and Prohibitions Against Defilement
6 While the man was standing beside me, I heard one speaking to me out of the temple, 7 and he said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever. And the house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name, neither they nor their kings, by their whoring and by the dead bodies of their kings at their high places, 8 by setting their threshold by my threshold and their doorposts beside my doorposts, with only a wall between me and them. They have defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed, so I have consumed them in my anger. 9 Now let them put away their whoring and the dead bodies of their kings far from me, and I will dwell in their midst forever.”
These verses underscore the themes of holiness and separation. God’s declaration of the Temple as the place of His throne and soles of His feet reinforces its sacredness. The imagery of God’s throne and His feet emphasizes both His sovereignty and His intimate presence with Israel.
The admonition against defiling God’s holy name by whoring (idolatry) and improper burial practices serves as a stark reminder of Israel’s past sins. The juxtaposition of God’s threshold with profane practices symbolizes a grievous pollution of sacred space, likely referring to syncretistic worship and improper royal interments near the Temple area. The call for Israel to abandon such abominations represents a call to purity and a return to covenantal faithfulness.
Verses 10-12: The Law and the Temple’s Design
10 As for you, son of man, describe to the house of Israel the temple, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities. And let them measure the plan, 11 and if they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the temple, its arrangement, its exits and its entrances, that is, its whole design; and make known to them as well all its statutes and its whole design and all its laws, and write it down in their sight, so that they may observe all its laws and all its statutes and carry them out. 12 This is the law of the temple: the whole territory on the top of the mountain all around shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the temple.
Ezekiel is instructed to describe the Temple’s design in detail. The intention is not merely architectural but deeply symbolic, aiming to instill a sense of shame and repentance among the people for their past sins. Measuring the Temple becomes an act of reflection and acknowledgment of their spiritual transgressions. The design also serves as a blueprint for a renewed and purified form of worship, signifying the reordering of Israel’s religious life in alignment with divine will.
The passage underscores the Law of the Temple, emphasizing the notion of holiness that extends to the entire territory on the mountain. This concept of hallowed ground signifies the centrality of holiness in Israel’s covenant relationship with God, establishing a physical and moral boundary that separates the sacred from the profane.
Verses 13-17: The Altar’s Measurements
13 “These are the measurements of the altar by cubits (the cubit being a cubit and a handbreadth): its base shall be one cubit high and one cubit broad, with a rim of one span around its edge. And this shall be the height of the altar: 14 from the base on the ground to the lower ledge, two cubits, with a breadth of one cubit; and from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge, four cubits, with a breadth of one cubit; 15 and the altar hearth, four cubits; and from the altar hearth projecting upwards, four horns. 16 The altar hearth shall be square, twelve cubits long by twelve broad. 17 The ledge also shall be square, fourteen cubits long by fourteen broad, with a rim around it half a cubit broad, and its base one cubit all around. The steps of the altar shall face east.”
The detailed measurements of the altar emphasize the precision and order required in sacred objects. The focus on specific dimensions may also reflect the significance of orderliness in divine worship, implying that worshiping God requires meticulous care and adherence to His specifications. The description of the altar, with its square dimensions and horns, invokes the traditional architectural features of ancient Israelite altars, symbolizing continuity with past worship practices yet within a renewed covenantal context.
The orientation of the altar’s steps facing east aligns with the return of God’s glory from the east, creating a harmonious and symbolic relationship between divine presence and the acts of worship performed on the altar.
Verses 18-27: The Consecration of the Altar
18 And he said to me, “Son of man, thus says the Lord God: These are the ordinances for the altar: On the day when it is erected for offering burnt offerings upon it and for throwing blood against it, 19 you shall give to the Levitical priests of the family of Zadok, who draw near to me to minister to me, declares the Lord God, a bull from the herd for a sin offering. 20 And you shall take some of its blood and put it on the four horns of the altar and on the four corners of the ledge and upon the rim all around. Thus you shall purify the altar and make atonement for it. 21 You shall also take the bull of the sin offering, and it shall be burned in the appointed place belonging to the temple, outside the sacred area. 22 And on the second day you shall offer a male goat without blemish for a sin offering, and the altar shall be purified, as it was purified with the bull. 23 When you have finished purifying it, you shall offer a bull from the herd without blemish and a ram from the flock without blemish. 24 You shall present them before the Lord, and the priests shall sprinkle salt on them and offer them up as a burnt offering to the Lord. 25 For seven days you shall provide daily a male goat for a sin offering; also, a bull from the herd and a ram from the flock, without blemish, shall be provided. 26 Seven days shall they make atonement for the altar and cleanse it, and so consecrate it. 27 And when they have completed these days, then from the eighth day onward, the priests shall offer on the altar your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, and I will accept you, declares the Lord God.”
These verses elaborate on the rituals for consecrating the altar, reinforcing the central theme of holiness. The involvement of the Levitical priests from the family of Zadok highlights the continuity of priestly traditions and the importance of priestly mediation in the sacrificial system. The rituals of sin offerings, sprinkling of blood, and the sequence of animal sacrifices signify the process of purification and atonement, marking the altar as a sanctified object suitable for divine worship.
The emphasis on “without blemish” for sacrificial animals reflects the concept of offering the best to God, symbolizing purity and devotion. The use of salt in the offerings connotes preservation and covenant, echoing the “salt of the covenant” mentioned in other biblical texts (e.g., Leviticus 2:13; Numbers 18:19).
The seven-day period of atonement and cleansing is reminiscent of the creation week and the ordination of Aaron and his sons in Leviticus 8, suggesting a new beginning and a re-establishment of divine order. The culminating promise—”I will accept you”—cements the assurance of restored relationship and acceptance by God, reinforcing His covenant faithfulness and mercy.
Conclusion
Ezekiel chapter 43 is rich with theological and symbolic significance, offering a vision of hope and restoration for Israel. The return of God’s glory, the detailed prescriptions for the Temple and altar, and the emphasis on holiness and purity form a cohesive message calling Israel to renewed faithfulness and worship. The chapter underscores the transformative power of God’s presence and the importance of aligning human actions with divine holiness.
Thus, Ezekiel 43 serves as a profound reminder of the depths of God’s grace and the possibility of redemption and renewal through adherence to His divine will. It beckons believers to reflect on their worship practices, the sanctity of sacred spaces, and the significance of God’s enduring presence among His people.
