Ezekiel 40:28-47

28Then the man brought me to the inner courtyard through the south gateway. He measured the south gateway. It was the same size as the others.

29Its guardrooms, recessed walls, and entrance hall were the same size as the other gateways. The guardrooms and the entrance hall had windows all around. The gateway was 87½ feet long and 44 feet wide.

30There were entrance halls all around the inner courtyard. They were all 44 feet long and 9 feet wide.

31The entrance halls faced the outer courtyard. Pictures of palm trees were carved on the recessed walls, and eight steps led up to each gateway.

32Then the man brought me to the east side of the inner courtyard. He measured the gateway. It was the same size as the others.

33Its guardrooms, recessed walls, and entrance halls were the same size as those of the other gateways. Its guardrooms and entrance hall had windows all around. The gateway was 87½ feet long and 44 feet wide.

34Its entrance hall faced the outer courtyard. Pictures of palm trees were carved on the recessed walls, and eight steps led up to the gateway.

35Then the man brought me to the north gateway. He measured it. It was the same size as the others.

36Its guardrooms, recessed walls, and entrance hall had windows all around. The gateway was 87½ feet long and 44 feet wide.

37Its recessed walls faced the outer courtyard. Pictures of palm trees were carved on the recessed walls, and eight steps led up to the gateway.

38There was a room with a door that opened toward the entrance hall of the gateway. This is the room where the priests washed the animals for the burnt offerings.

39In the entrance hall of the gateway there were two tables on each side of the room. On these tables the animals were slaughtered for burnt offerings, offerings for sin, and guilt offerings.

40On each side of the entrance to the north gateway there were two tables, and on the other side of the entrance hall of the gateway there were two tables.

41So there were four tables on each side of the gateway, eight tables in all, on which they slaughtered animals.

42There were four tables made of cut stone for burnt offerings. They were 3 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 21 inches high. On these tables the priests laid the utensils that were used to slaughter animals for burnt offerings and sacrifices.

43Double-pronged hooks, three inches long, were attached to the wall all around the room, and the tables were for the meat of the animals.

44Outside the gateways to the inner courtyard were the rooms for the singers in the inner courtyards. One room was at the side of the north gateway. It faced south. The other room was at the side of the south gateway. It faced north.

45The man said to me, “This room that faces south is for the priests who serve in the temple.

46The room that faces north is for the priests who serve at the altar. These priests are Zadok’s descendants. They are the only Levites who are able to come near the Lord and serve him.”

47The man measured the courtyard. It was a perfect square—175 feet long and 175 feet wide. And the altar was in front of the temple.