Ezekiel 42:10-12 - Exposition

A similar suite of chambers, corresponding in every detail, is depicted as having stood upon the south side of the temple and in front of the gizrah. The only question among interpreters is whether Ezekiel 42:10 relates to the north or south suite, or to an east suite. Schroder and Currey see in Ezekiel 42:10 a repetition, from another point of view, of what has already been stated about the north chambers, viz. that, viewed from the outer court, they appeared in the thickness or breadth of the wall ( Ezekiel 42:7 ) and (lengthwise) over against the separate place and the buildings, i.e. the gizrah and the temple. Ewald, Smend, and Keil decide that Ezekiel 42:10 forms part of the description of a south set of chambers only; but in order to make this good they alter the text by substituting הַדָּרוֹם , "the south," for הַקָּדִים , "the east." Plumptre agrees with Kliefoth and Hengstenberg in holding that two similar sets of chambers are described, one on the east side and one on the south side of the inner court wall. The principal objection to this is the fact that only two suites, the north and the south, are referred to by the guide in Ezekiel 42:13 and Ezekiel 42:14 .