What role does the chamber in Ezekiel 40:38 play in temple rituals? Setting the Scene Ezekiel 40:38: “There was a chamber with its doorway by the gateposts at the gateway; there they rinse the burnt offering.” Where the Chamber Sits • Located just inside the north inner-court gate (40:35-37). • Shares space with the slaughter tables described in 40:39-43. • Positioned for quick movement from gate → chamber → altar. What Happens Inside • Priests bring the freshly slain animal parts into the room. • Water is used to wash off blood, dirt, and dung (cf. Leviticus 1:9, 13; Exodus 29:17). • The cleansed pieces are then set back on the tables and carried to the altar of burnt offering (Ezekiel 43:13-17). Why the Washing Matters • Ritual purity—only an unblemished, clean offering may be placed on the altar (Leviticus 22:3). • Symbolic purification—external washing pictures the internal cleansing God requires (Psalm 51:2; Hebrews 10:22). • Continuity with Solomon’s temple—ten bronze lavers served the same task (2 Chronicles 4:6). Step-by-Step Flow of the Burnt Offering 1. Animal enters through the north gate. 2. Slaughtered on the stone tables (40:39-41). 3. Blood applied to altar (Leviticus 1:5). 4. Parts carried into the chamber for washing (40:38). 5. Clean pieces returned to tables (40:42-43). 6. Priests ascend the inner court to place them on the altar fire (43:18-27). Theological Echoes • God’s holiness demands preparation; the chamber embodies that demand (Isaiah 6:3-7). • Points forward to Christ, whose once-for-all sacrifice fulfills the cleansing these washings foreshadow (Ephesians 5:26; Titus 3:5). • Anticipates the ordered, literal worship of the future temple where sacrifices will memorialize His completed work (Zechariah 14:20-21). Practical Takeaways • Worship is not casual; God prescribes both heart and procedure. • External acts should mirror internal purity—“clean hands and a pure heart” (Psalm 24:3-4). • Daily confession keeps believers spiritually “washed,” ready to serve (1 John 1:9). |
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