Yahweh’s Glory Returns to the Temple

1Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing toward the east; 2and 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. 3And it was like the appearance of the vision which I saw, like the vision which I saw when [†]He came to bring the city to ruin. And the visions were like the vision which I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell on my face. 4And the glory of Yahweh came into the house by the way of the gate facing toward the east. 5And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of Yahweh filled the house.

6Then I heard one speaking to me from the house, while a man was standing beside me. 7He 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 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 [†]corpses of their kings [†]when they die, 8by putting their threshold by My threshold and their door post beside My door post, with only the 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. 9Now let them put away their harlotry and the [†]corpses of their kings far from Me; and I will dwell among them forever.

10“As for you, son of man, [†]describe the house of Yahweh to the house of Israel, that they may feel dishonor for their iniquities; and let them measure the [†]plan. 11If they feel dishonor for all that they have done, make known to them the [†]design of the house, its structure, its exits, its entrances, all its designs, all its statutes[†], and all its laws. And write it in their sight so that they may keep its whole [†]design and all its statutes and do them. 12This is the [†]law of the house: within its entire boundary, on the top of the mountain all around, shall be most holy. Behold, this is the [†]law of the house.

The Altar and Offerings

13“And these are the measurements of the altar by cubits (the cubit being a [†]cubit and a [†]handbreadth): the [†]base shall be a cubit and the width a cubit, and its border on its edge round about one [†]span; and this shall be the height of the [†]base of the altar. 14And from the base on the ground to the lower ledge shall be two [†]cubits and the width one cubit; and from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge shall be four cubits and the width [†]one cubit. 15And the [†]altar hearth shall be four cubits; and from the [†]altar hearth shall extend upwards four horns. 16Now the [†]altar hearth shall be [†]twelve cubits long by twelve wide, square in its four sides. 17The ledge shall be [†]fourteen cubits long by fourteen wide in its four sides; the border around it shall be half a cubit, and its base shall be a cubit round about; and its steps shall [†]face the east.”

18And 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. 19And 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. 20You 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. 21And 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 purified it with the bull. 23When you have finished purifying it, you shall present a bull from the herd without blemish and a ram without blemish from the flock. 24And 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. 25For 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. 26For seven days they shall make atonement for the altar and purify it; so shall they [†]ordain it. 27So they will complete the days. And it shall be that on the eighth day and onward, the priests shall [†]offer on the altar your burnt offerings and your peace offerings; and I will accept you,’ declares Lord Yahweh.”