Chapter 40

1In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, the fourteenth year after the city had fallen, at the beginning of the year, the tenth day of the month—on that very day—the hand of Hashem came upon me, and He brought me there.

אבְּעֶשְׂרִים וְחָמֵשׁ שָׁנָה לְגָלוּתֵנוּ בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה בֶּעָשׂוֹר לַחֹדֶשׁ בְּאַרְבַּע עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה אַחַר אֲשֶׁר הֻכְּתָה הָעִיר בְּעֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה הָיְתָה עָלַי יַד־יְהֹוָה וַיָּבֵא אֹתִי שָׁמָּה׃

2He brought me, in visions of Hashem, to the Land of Yisrael, and He set me down on a very high mountain on which there seemed to be the outline of a city on the south.

b'-mar-OT e-lo-HEEM he-vee-A-nee el E-retz yis-ra-AYL vai-nee-KHAY-nee el HAR ga-VO-ha m'-OD v'-a-LAV k'-miv-nay EER mi-NE-gev

בבְּמַרְאוֹת אֱלֹהִים הֱבִיאַנִי אֶל־אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיְנִיחֵנִי אֶל־הַר גָּבֹהַּ מְאֹד וְעָלָיו כְּמִבְנֵה־עִיר מִנֶּגֶב׃

3He brought me over to it, and there, standing at the gate, was a man who shone like copper. In his hand were a cord of linen and a measuring rod.

גוַיָּבֵיא אוֹתִי שָׁמָּה וְהִנֵּה־אִישׁ מַרְאֵהוּ כְּמַרְאֵה נְחֹשֶׁת וּפְתִיל־פִּשְׁתִּים בְּיָדוֹ וּקְנֵה הַמִּדָּה וְהוּא עֹמֵד בַּשָּׁעַר׃

4The man spoke to me: “Mortal, look closely and listen attentively and note well everything I am going to show you—for you have been brought here in order to be shown—and report everything you see to the House of Yisrael.”

דוַיְדַבֵּר אֵלַי הָאִישׁ בֶּן־אָדָם רְאֵה בְעֵינֶיךָ וּבְאָזְנֶיךָ שְּׁמָע וְשִׂים לִבְּךָ לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִי מַרְאֶה אוֹתָךְ כִּי לְמַעַן הַרְאוֹתְכָה הֻבָאתָה הֵנָּה הַגֵּד אֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּה רֹאֶה לְבֵית יִשְׂרָאֵל׃

5Along the outside of the Temple [area] ran a wall on every side. The rod that the man held was six amot long, plus one tefach for each amah; and when he applied it to that structure, it measured one rod deep and one rod high.

הוְהִנֵּה חוֹמָה מִחוּץ לַבַּיִת סָבִיב סָבִיב וּבְיַד הָאִישׁ קְנֵה הַמִּדָּה שֵׁשׁ־אַמּוֹת בָּאַמָּה וָטֹפַח וַיָּמָד אֶת־רֹחַב הַבִּנְיָן קָנֶה אֶחָד וְקוֹמָה קָנֶה אֶחָד׃

6He went up to the gate that faced eastward and mounted its steps. He measured the threshold of the gate; it was one rod deep—the one threshold was one rod deep.

ווַיָּבוֹא אֶל־שַׁעַר אֲשֶׁר פָּנָיו דֶּרֶךְ הַקָּדִימָה וַיַּעַל במעלותו [בְּמַעֲלוֹתָיו] וַיָּמָד אֶת־סַף הַשַּׁעַר קָנֶה אֶחָד רֹחַב וְאֵת סַף אֶחָד קָנֶה אֶחָד רֹחַב׃

7Each recess was one rod wide and one rod deep, with [a partition of] 5 amot between recesses; and the threshold of the gate, at the inner vestibule of the gate, was one rod deep.

זוְהַתָּא קָנֶה אֶחָד אֹרֶךְ וְקָנֶה אֶחָד רֹחַב וּבֵין הַתָּאִים חָמֵשׁ אַמּוֹת וְסַף הַשַּׁעַר מֵאֵצֶל אוּלָם הַשַּׁעַר מֵהַבַּיִת קָנֶה אֶחָד׃

8For when he measured it at the inner vestibule of the gate, it was one rod [deep].

חוַיָּמָד אֶת־אֻלָם הַשַּׁעַר מֵהַבַּיִת קָנֶה אֶחָד׃

9Next he measured the vestibule of the gate, and it measured 8 amot and its supports 2 amot; the vestibule of the gate was at its inner end.

טוַיָּמָד אֶת־אֻלָם הַשַּׁעַר שְׁמֹנֶה אַמּוֹת ואילו [וְאֵילָיו] שְׁתַּיִם אַמּוֹת וְאֻלָם הַשַּׁעַר מֵהַבָּיִת׃

10On either side of this eastern gate there were three recesses, all three of the same size; of identical sizes were also the supports on either side.

יוְתָאֵי הַשַּׁעַר דֶּרֶךְ הַקָּדִים שְׁלֹשָׁה מִפֹּה וּשְׁלֹשָׁה מִפֹּה מִדָּה אַחַת לִשְׁלָשְׁתָּם וּמִדָּה אַחַת לָאֵילִם מִפֹּה וּמִפּוֹ׃

11He measured the opening of the gate and found it 10 amot wide, while the gate itself measured 13 amot across.

יאוַיָּמָד אֶת־רֹחַב פֶּתַח־הַשַּׁעַר עֶשֶׂר אַמּוֹת אֹרֶךְ הַשַּׁעַר שְׁלוֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה אַמּוֹת׃

12At the fronts of the recesses on either side were barriers of one amah; the recesses on either side were 6 amot [deep].

יבוּגְבוּל לִפְנֵי הַתָּאוֹת אַמָּה אֶחָת וְאַמָּה־אַחַת גְּבוּל מִפֹּה וְהַתָּא שֵׁשׁ־אַמּוֹת מִפּוֹ וְשֵׁשׁ אַמּוֹת מִפּוֹ׃

13Their openings faced each other directly across the gate passage, so that when he measured from rear of recess to rear of recess he obtained a width of 25 amot.

יגוַיָּמָד אֶת־הַשַּׁעַר מִגַּג הַתָּא לְגַגּוֹ רֹחַב עֶשְׂרִים וְחָמֵשׁ אַמּוֹת פֶּתַח נֶגֶד פָּתַח׃

14He made the vestibule—60 amot—and the gate next to the support on every side of the court.

ידוַיַּעַשׂ אֶת־אֵילִים שִׁשִּׁים אַמָּה וְאֶל־אֵיל הֶחָצֵר הַשַּׁעַר סָבִיב סָבִיב׃

15And [the distance] from the front of the outer gate to the front of the inner vestibule of the gate was 50 amot.

טווְעַל פְּנֵי הַשַּׁעַר היאתון [הָאִיתוֹן] עַל־לִפְנֵי אֻלָם הַשַּׁעַר הַפְּנִימִי חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה׃

16The recesses—and their supports—had windows with frames on the interior of the gate complex on both sides, and the interiors of the vestibules also had windows on both sides; and the supports were adorned with palms.

טזוְחַלֹּנוֹת אֲטֻמוֹת אֶל־הַתָּאִים וְאֶל אֵלֵיהֵמָה לִפְנִימָה לַשַּׁעַר סָבִיב סָבִיב וְכֵן לָאֵלַמּוֹת וְחַלּוֹנוֹת סָבִיב סָבִיב לִפְנִימָה וְאֶל־אַיִל תִּמֹרִים׃

17He took me into the outer court. There were chambers there, and there was a pavement laid out all around the court. There were 30 chambers on the pavement.

יזוַיְבִיאֵנִי אֶל־הֶחָצֵר הַחִיצוֹנָה וְהִנֵּה לְשָׁכוֹת וְרִצְפָה עָשׂוּי לֶחָצֵר סָבִיב סָבִיב שְׁלֹשִׁים לְשָׁכוֹת אֶל־הָרִצְפָה׃

18The pavements flanked the gates; the depth of the lower pavements paralleled that of the gates.

יחוְהָרִצְפָה אֶל־כֶּתֶף הַשְּׁעָרִים לְעֻמַּת אֹרֶךְ הַשְּׁעָרִים הָרִצְפָה הַתַּחְתּוֹנָה׃

19Then he measured the width of the lower court, from in front of the inner gate to in front of the outer gate—100 amot. After the east [gate], the north [gate].

יטוַיָּמָד רֹחַב מִלִּפְנֵי הַשַּׁעַר הַתַּחְתּוֹנָה לִפְנֵי הֶחָצֵר הַפְּנִימִי מִחוּץ מֵאָה אַמָּה הַקָּדִים וְהַצָּפוֹן׃

20Next he measured the gate of the outer court that faced north: its length and its width,

כוְהַשַּׁעַר אֲשֶׁר פָּנָיו דֶּרֶךְ הַצָּפוֹן לֶחָצֵר הַחִיצוֹנָה מָדַד אָרְכּוֹ וְרָחְבּוֹ׃

21its three recesses on either side and its supports, as also its vestibule. It measured, like the first gate, 50 amot in length and 25 amot in width.

כאותאו [וְתָאָיו] שְׁלוֹשָׁה מִפּוֹ וּשְׁלֹשָׁה מִפּוֹ ואילו [וְאֵילָיו] ואלמו [וְאֵלַמָּיו] הָיָה כְּמִדַּת הַשַּׁעַר הָרִאשׁוֹן חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה אָרְכּוֹ וְרֹחַב חָמֵשׁ וְעֶשְׂרִים בָּאַמָּה׃

22Its windows and [those of] its vestibule, as also its palm trees, corresponded to those of the gate that faced east. [From the outside] one had to climb 7 steps to reach it, and its vestibule was ahead of them.

כבוחלונו [וְחַלּוֹנָיו] ואלמו [וְאֵלַמָּיו] ותמרו [וְתִמֹרָיו] כְּמִדַּת הַשַּׁעַר אֲשֶׁר פָּנָיו דֶּרֶךְ הַקָּדִים וּבְמַעֲלוֹת שֶׁבַע יַעֲלוּ־בוֹ ואילמו [וְאֵילַמָּיו] לִפְנֵיהֶם׃

23Like the east gate, the north gate faced a gate leading into the inner forecourt; and when he measured the distance from gate to gate, it was 100 amot.

כגוְשַׁעַר לֶחָצֵר הַפְּנִימִי נֶגֶד הַשַּׁעַר לַצָּפוֹן וְלַקָּדִים וַיָּמָד מִשַּׁעַר אֶל־שַׁעַר מֵאָה אַמָּה׃

24Then he took me to the south side. There was also a gate on the south side, and he got the same measurements as before for its supports and its vestibule.

כדוַיּוֹלִכֵנִי דֶּרֶךְ הַדָּרוֹם וְהִנֵּה־שַׁעַר דֶּרֶךְ הַדָּרוֹם וּמָדַד אילו [אֵילָיו] ואילמו [וְאֵילַמָּיו] כַּמִּדּוֹת הָאֵלֶּה׃

25Both it and its vestibule had windows like the aforementioned ones. It was 50 amot long and 25 amot wide.

כהוְחַלּוֹנִים לוֹ ולאילמו [וּלְאֵילַמָּיו] סָבִיב סָבִיב כְּהַחֲלֹּנוֹת הָאֵלֶּה חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה אֹרֶךְ וְרֹחַב חָמֵשׁ וְעֶשְׂרִים אַמָּה׃

26Its staircase consisted of 7 steps; its vestibule was ahead of them, and its supports were decorated on both sides with palm trees.

כווּמַעֲלוֹת שִׁבְעָה עלותו [עֹלוֹתָיו] ואלמו [וְאֵלַמָּיו] לִפְנֵיהֶם וְתִמֹרִים לוֹ אֶחָד מִפּוֹ וְאֶחָד מִפּוֹ אֶל־אילו [אֵילָיו׃]

27The inner court likewise had a gate facing south; and on the south side, too, he measured a distance of 100 amot from the [outer] gate to the [inner] gate.

כזוְשַׁעַר לֶחָצֵר הַפְּנִימִי דֶּרֶךְ הַדָּרוֹם וַיָּמָד מִשַּׁעַר אֶל־הַשַּׁעַר דֶּרֶךְ הַדָּרוֹם מֵאָה אַמּוֹת׃

28He now took me into the inner forecourt through its south gate. When he measured this south gate, it had the same measurements as the foregoing.

כחוַיְבִיאֵנִי אֶל־חָצֵר הַפְּנִימִי בְּשַׁעַר הַדָּרוֹם וַיָּמָד אֶת־הַשַּׁעַר הַדָּרוֹם כַּמִּדּוֹת הָאֵלֶּה׃

29Its recesses, its supports, and its vestibule had the same measurements. Both it and its vestibule had windows on both sides; it was 50 amot long and 25 amot wide—

כטותאו [וְתָאָיו] ואילו [וְאֵילָיו] ואלמו [וְאֵלַמָּיו] כַּמִּדּוֹת הָאֵלֶּה וְחַלּוֹנוֹת לוֹ ולאלמו [וּלְאֵלַמָּיו] סָבִיב סָבִיב חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה אֹרֶךְ וְרֹחַב עֶשְׂרִים וְחָמֵשׁ אַמּוֹת׃

30vestibules on both sides, 25 amot long, 5 amot wide.

לוְאֵלַמּוֹת סָבִיב סָבִיב אֹרֶךְ חָמֵשׁ וְעֶשְׂרִים אַמָּה וְרֹחַב חָמֵשׁ אַמּוֹת׃

31Its vestibule, however, gave on the outer court. Its supports were adorned on either side with palms, and its staircase consisted of 8 steps.

לאוְאֵלַמָּו אֶל־חָצֵר הַחִצוֹנָה וְתִמֹרִים אֶל־אילו [אֵילָיו] וּמַעֲלוֹת שְׁמוֹנֶה מעלו [מַעֲלָיו׃]

32Then he took me to the eastern side of the inner forecourt; and when he measured the gate there, he got the same measurements:

לבוַיְבִיאֵנִי אֶל־הֶחָצֵר הַפְּנִימִי דֶּרֶךְ הַקָּדִים וַיָּמָד אֶת־הַשַּׁעַר כַּמִּדּוֹת הָאֵלֶּה׃

33its recesses, supports, and vestibule had the above measurements. Both it and its vestibule had windows on both sides; it was 50 amot long and 25 amot wide,

לגותאו [וְתָאָיו] ואלו [וְאֵלָיו] ואלמו [וְאֵלַמָּיו] כַּמִּדּוֹת הָאֵלֶּה וְחַלּוֹנוֹת לוֹ ולאלמו [וּלְאֵלַמָּיו] סָבִיב סָבִיב אֹרֶךְ חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה וְרֹחַב חָמֵשׁ וְעֶשְׂרִים אַמָּה׃

34and its vestibule gave on the outer court. Its supports were decorated on both sides with palm trees, and its staircase consisted of 8 steps.

לדואלמו [וְאֵלַמָּיו] לֶחָצֵר הַחִיצוֹנָה וְתִמֹרִים אֶל־אלו [אֵלָיו] מִפּוֹ וּמִפּוֹ וּשְׁמֹנֶה מַעֲלוֹת מעלו [מַעֲלָיו׃]

35Then he took me to the north gate, and found its measurements to be identical,

להוַיְבִיאֵנִי אֶל־שַׁעַר הַצָּפוֹן וּמָדַד כַּמִּדּוֹת הָאֵלֶּה׃

36with the same recesses, supports, vestibule, windows on both sides, and a length of 50 amot and a width of 25 amot.

לותאו [תָּאָיו] אלו [אֵלָיו] ואלמו [וְאֵלַמָּיו] וְחַלּוֹנוֹת לוֹ סָבִיב סָבִיב אֹרֶךְ חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה וְרֹחַב חָמֵשׁ וְעֶשְׂרִים אַמָּה׃

37Its supports gave on the outer court; its supports were decorated on both sides with palm trees; and its staircase consisted of eight steps.

לזואילו [וְאֵילָיו] לֶחָצֵר הַחִיצוֹנָה וְתִמֹרִים אֶל־אילו [אֵילָיו] מִפּוֹ וּמִפּוֹ וּשְׁמֹנֶה מַעֲלוֹת מעלו [מַעֲלָיו׃]

38A chamber opened into the gate; there the burnt offering would be washed.

לחוְלִשְׁכָּה וּפִתְחָהּ בְּאֵילִים הַשְּׁעָרִים שָׁם יָדִיחוּ אֶת־הָעֹלָה׃

39And inside the vestibule of the gate, there were two tables on each side, at which the burnt offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering were to be slaughtered;

לטוּבְאֻלָם הַשַּׁעַר שְׁנַיִם שֻׁלְחָנוֹת מִפּוֹ וּשְׁנַיִם שֻׁלְחָנוֹת מִפֹּה לִשְׁחוֹט אֲלֵיהֶם הָעוֹלָה וְהַחַטָּאת וְהָאָשָׁם׃

40while outside—as one goes up toward the opening of the north gate—there were two tables on one side, and there were two tables on the other side of the gate's vestibule.

מוְאֶל־הַכָּתֵף מִחוּצָה לָעוֹלֶה לְפֶתַח הַשַּׁעַר הַצָּפוֹנָה שְׁנַיִם שֻׁלְחָנוֹת וְאֶל־הַכָּתֵף הָאַחֶרֶת אֲשֶׁר לְאֻלָם הַשַּׁעַר שְׁנַיִם שֻׁלְחָנוֹת׃

41Thus there were four tables on either flank of the gate—eight tables in all—at which [the sacrifices] were to be slaughtered.

מאאַרְבָּעָה שֻׁלְחָנוֹת מִפֹּה וְאַרְבָּעָה שֻׁלְחָנוֹת מִפֹּה לְכֶתֶף הַשָּׁעַר שְׁמוֹנָה שֻׁלְחָנוֹת אֲלֵיהֶם יִשְׁחָטוּ׃

42As for the four tables for the burnt offering—they were of hewn stone, one and a half amot long, one and a half amot wide, and one amah high—on them were laid out the instruments with which burnt offerings and sacrifices were slaughtered.

מבוְאַרְבָּעָה שֻׁלְחָנוֹת לָעוֹלָה אַבְנֵי גָזִית אֹרֶךְ אַמָּה אַחַת וָחֵצִי וְרֹחַב אַמָּה אַחַת וָחֵצִי וְגֹבַהּ אַמָּה אֶחָת אֲלֵיהֶם וְיַנִּיחוּ אֶת־הַכֵּלִים אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁחֲטוּ אֶת־הָעוֹלָה בָּם וְהַזָּבַח׃

43Shelves, one tefach wide, were attached all around the inside; and the sacrificial flesh was [laid] on the tables.

מגוְהַשְׁפַתַּיִם טֹפַח אֶחָד מוּכָנִים בַּבַּיִת סָבִיב סָבִיב וְאֶל־הַשֻּׁלְחָנוֹת בְּשַׂר הַקָּרְבָן׃

44There were chambers for singers in the inner forecourt: [one] beside the north gate facing south, and one beside the east gate facing north.

מדוּמִחוּצָה לַשַּׁעַר הַפְּנִימִי לִשְׁכוֹת שָׁרִים בֶּחָצֵר הַפְּנִימִי אֲשֶׁר אֶל־כֶּתֶף שַׁעַר הַצָּפוֹן וּפְנֵיהֶם דֶּרֶךְ הַדָּרוֹם אֶחָד אֶל־כֶּתֶף שַׁעַר הַקָּדִים פְּנֵי דֶּרֶךְ הַצָּפֹן׃

45[The man] explained to me: “The chamber that faces south is for the Kohanim who perform the duties of the Temple;

מהוַיְדַבֵּר אֵלָי זֹה הַלִּשְׁכָּה אֲשֶׁר פָּנֶיהָ דֶּרֶךְ הַדָּרוֹם לַכֹּהֲנִים שֹׁמְרֵי מִשְׁמֶרֶת הַבָּיִת׃

46and the chamber that faces north is for the Kohanim who perform the duties of the mizbayach—they are the descendants of Tzadok, who alone of the descendants of Levi may approach Hashem to minister to Him.”

מווְהַלִּשְׁכָּה אֲשֶׁר פָּנֶיהָ דֶּרֶךְ הַצָּפוֹן לַכֹּהֲנִים שֹׁמְרֵי מִשְׁמֶרֶת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ הֵמָּה בְנֵי־צָדוֹק הַקְּרֵבִים מִבְּנֵי־לֵוִי אֶל־יְהֹוָה לְשָׁרְתוֹ׃

47He then measured the forecourt: 100 amot long and 100 amot broad—foursquare. In front of the Temple stood the mizbayach.

מזוַיָּמָד אֶת־הֶחָצֵר אֹרֶךְ מֵאָה אַמָּה וְרֹחַב מֵאָה אַמָּה מְרֻבָּעַת וְהַמִּזְבֵּחַ לִפְנֵי הַבָּיִת׃

48He took me into the portico of the Temple and measured it. The jambs of the portico were 5 amot deep on either side. The width of the gate-opening was [14 amot, and the flanking wall of the gate was] 3 amot on either side.

מחוַיְבִאֵנִי אֶל־אֻלָם הַבַּיִת וַיָּמָד אֵל אֻלָם חָמֵשׁ אַמּוֹת מִפֹּה וְחָמֵשׁ אַמּוֹת מִפֹּה וְרֹחַב הַשַּׁעַר שָׁלֹשׁ אַמּוֹת מִפּוֹ וְשָׁלֹשׁ אַמּוֹת מִפּוֹ׃

49The portico was 20 amot wide and 11 amot deep, and it was by steps that it was reached. There were columns by the jambs on either side.

מטאֹרֶךְ הָאֻלָם עֶשְׂרִים אַמָּה וְרֹחַב עַשְׁתֵּי עֶשְׂרֵה אַמָּה וּבַמַּעֲלוֹת אֲשֶׁר יַעֲלוּ אֵלָיו וְעַמֻּדִים אֶל־הָאֵילִים אֶחָד מִפֹּה וְאֶחָד מִפֹּה׃