The Chambers

1Then he brought me out into the outer court, the way toward the north; and he brought me to the chamber which was opposite the separate area and opposite the building toward the north. 2Along the length, which was [†]one hundred cubits, was the north door; the width was fifty cubits. 3Opposite the [†]twenty cubits which belonged to the inner court, and opposite the pavement which belonged to the outer court, was [†]gallery corresponding to [†]gallery in three stories. 4Before the chambers was an inner walk ten cubits wide, a way of [†]one hundred cubits; and their openings were on the north. 5Now the upper chambers were [†]smaller because the [†]galleries took more space away from them than from the lower and middle ones in the building. 6For they were in three stories and had no pillars like the pillars of the courts; therefore the upper chambers were [†]set back from the ground upward, more than the lower and middle ones. 7As for the outer wall by the side of the chambers, toward the outer court facing the chambers, its length was fifty cubits. 8For the length of the chambers which were in the outer court was fifty cubits; and behold, the length of those facing the temple was one hundred cubits. 9Below these chambers was the entrance on the east side, as one enters them from the outer court.

10In the [†]thickness of the wall of the court toward the east, facing the separate area and facing the building, there were chambers. 11The way in front of them was like the appearance of the chambers which were on the north, according to their length so was their width, and all their exits were both according to their [†]arrangements and openings. 12Corresponding to the openings of the chambers which were toward the south was an opening at the head of the way, the way in front of the wall toward the east, as one enters them.

13Then he said to me, “The north chambers and the south chambers, which are opposite the separate area, they are the holy chambers where the priests who are near to Yahweh shall eat the most holy things. There they shall lay the most holy things, the grain offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering; for the place is holy. 14When the priests enter, then they shall not go out into the outer court from the sanctuary [†]without laying there their garments in which they minister, for they are holy. They shall put on other garments; then they shall come near to that which is for the people.”

15Then he had finished measuring the inner house; he brought me out by the way of the gate which faced toward the east and measured it all around. 16He measured on the east [†]side with the measuring reed 500 reeds by the measuring reed. 17He measured on the north side 500 reeds by the measuring reed. 18On the south side he measured 500 reeds with the measuring reed. 19He turned to the west side and measured 500 reeds with the measuring reed. 20He measured it [†]on the four sides; it had a wall all around, the length 500 and the width 500, to divide between the holy and the profane.