Kliefoth, Keil, and Schroder (Lange) maintain that the sacri- fices were washed — the last process they were put through before they were laid upon the altar — at each of the 3 itmer gates. Indeed Kliefoth goes so far as to say that there were two washing cells attached to each porch of the inner gates, one on each side. But the slaughtering took place at one gate only.y and it is practically certain that the washing did too. ' Gates ' in v.K* should be read ' gate ' with the LXX and most authorities.
Another debated and debateable question is — Which gate U meant at which this washing cell was situated? Ew., Hitz., Smend, Corn., and Berth, hold that it is the eastern, their principal grounds being, that (1) the eastern gate was the most sacred, that (2) the stream that supplied water for washing the sacrifices passed by the east end of the temple, 5 and that (3) at the N. and S. gates there were other buildings t (Fig. 5, P P'). On the other hand, Bottcher,^ Havernick, and Davidson hold that the northern gate is meant,*? and for reasons which, to the present writer, appear conclusive. Here are some of them : — (1) The prophet is already at the N. gate. Cornill gets rid of this difficulty by his usual and often successful way of emend- ing the text. In the beginning of v.ss he introduces a clause answering to the beginning of v.35 ' And he brought me to the door of the porch of the eastern gate.' But he has absolutely no external support for the change thus made. (2) According to the rf'gulations in Leviticus,^ the slaughtering of animals for sacrifice was to take place at the N. side of the altar in the case of burnt-, sin-, and trespass-offerings. No directions are given as to peace -offerings.! It is to be expected be- forehand that Ezekiel's legislation and that of the Priestly Code would tally. (3) The N. gate is called in 8^ the 'gate of the altar.' Since it was to this gate that the people brought their offerings, it was the most frequented- The two E. gates were kept shut except on Sabbaths and new moons,x or on other special occasions when the prince desired to present freewill-offerings.x The western gate was closed by buildings connected with the temple. In the pre-exilic temple the S. gate was joined to the palace court, which is partly true of the eastern gate as well.
Passing into the inner N. gate, on both sides of the porch — which is first reached — we see 4 tables, 2 on each side (T'), on which the burnt-, sin-, and trespass-offerings were slain ; ix or at least they were used in connexion iirith the slaying of these sacrifices, as Keil and Davidson understand the words. The actual slaughtering took place prob- ably on 4 tables outside, the 4 inside tables being used in that case for preparing the sacrifices for the altar. According to Lv I^ 6-^ 7" the above- named sacrifices had to be killed on the N. side of the altar.)/ If these tables were placed near the N. gate, this requirement of P would be met.
Tliere were without the porch two tables on each side — 4 in all (T) ; on these, as stated above, the actual slaughtering took place.f In addition to the 8 tables noticed above there were 4 of hewn stone, each with a length and breadth of one cubit and a half, having a height of one cubit. They had ledges running round the 4 top edges a hand-
<t Com. p. 330. fi Ezk 4038. y toaa,
i Ezk 47" . 1 41H4. C Probm.
,41135-37. (Ill 4M. S9. IS6M7S14U.
, 3i 8. IS. , 461ir.. X ««U.
^ 4039. » See above.
i 4i|M. Bdttcher contends that these tables stood In the outer court, two at each of the angles formed by the steps and the gate front. His reasoning turns chiefly 00 the meaning of inr, rendered 'side.' See Proben, etc p. 830 f. But we haT« certainly to seek some spot in the InDer court in which tba angel and prophet now are.
TOIPLK
TEMPLE
707
breadth in ^ridth : those turned inwards. The instruments made use of in the burnt-offerings were kept on these stone tables. a
Priests' cells ^ (P P').— Close to the N. and S. innei gates there were 2 cells for the otticiating
inner gates there was a square, having 100 cubits to the side (a b c d). The altar (A) was probably in the centre, and therefore equally visible from all the inner gates, a Tlie space between the altu and the house was deemed specially sacred.^
u
no. 7. 5r=ltep« before the porch. /"sporrh. U = htkaL D = dmr. BB' = H and S. cntmncM to
chnmliera. .S' .S=hi.-iirs com linit the Blorejs. B^iloat ^ = Jachin. J/ = the munndh.
T=lhe altar-Bhaped table uf shewbrcad.
priests. The N. cell (P) was for the priests who | 2. TllE HOUSE AND ITS MEASUHEMENTS.-y— The >aw to the liouse.y its pates, saeriliees, etc. The house and its appurtenances formed a squaro of other (P') was for the Zadokite priests who had 100 cubits oaili way. The manner in which this [»