The former prophets are the same as the so-called Christian Old Testament historical works. These works tell us of the establishment of the Israelites and the troubles that they faced. However, they introduced a number of prophets that received oracles from God, including Elias, Elijah, Samuel, and Nathan. The former prophets include the works of Joshua, from the 8th-7th century BCE and Judges, from the 7th-6th century BCE. They also include the works of Samuel or 1 Samuel and. 2 Samuel, as well as Kings, or 1 Kings and 2 Kings. all coming from the 7th-6th century BCE. These writings indicate what happened to the Israelites as they struggled in the new promised land. They gradually went from a few judges to a full-blown kingdom, with many prophets with their divine oracles along the way.
faced
The flowing water (Ezek 47:1-47:2)
“Then he brought me back
To the entrance
Of the temple.
There,
Water was flowing
From below the threshold
Of the temple
Toward the east.
The temple faced east.
The water was flowing down
From below
The south end
Of the threshold
Of the temple,
South of the altar.
Then he brought me out
By way of the north gate.
He led me around
On the outside
To the outer gate
That faces toward the east.
The water was coming out
On the south side.”
The bronze man brought Ezekiel to the entrance of the Temple. This time, there was water flowing from below the threshold of the Temple toward the east, since the Temple faced east. This mysterious water movement was coming from the south end, south of the altar. Then the bronze man brought Ezekiel out the north gate and around to the east outer gate. There the mysterious water was coming out once again from the south side of the Temple.
The dimensions of the inner court on the north side (Ezek 40:36-40:37)
“Its recesses,
Its pilasters,
Its vestibule
Were of the same dimensions
As the others.
There were windows
All around.
Its depth was
Fifty cubits.
Its width was
Twenty-five cubits.
Its vestibule
Faced the outer court.
Palm trees were
On its pilasters
On either side.
Its stairway
Had eight steps.”
This description of the northern inner court is an absolute word for word depiction of the south and eastern inner court. The only exception to the eastern account was the dropping of the vestibule mention of windows and adding that the palm trees were on either side. This vestibule, like the others, was 50 cubits or 80 feet long and 25 cubits wide or 40 feet wide that faced the outer court, with palm trees on its pilasters. This stairway had 8 steps also.
The dimensions of eastern inner court (Ezek 40:33-40:34)
“Its recesses,
Its pilasters,
Its vestibule
Were of the same dimensions
As the others.
There were windows
All around within it,
As well as in its vestibule.
Its depth was
Fifty cubits.
Its width was
Twenty-five cubits.
Its vestibule
Faced the outer court.
Palm trees were
On its pilasters.
Its stairway
Had eight steps.”
This description of the eastern inner court is an absolute word for word description of the south inner court. The only exception was the mention of other 25 cubits by 5 cubits vestibules in the eastern inner court description. There was no mention of them here. This vestibule was 50 cubits or 80 feet long and 25 cubits wide or 40 feet wide that faced the outer court, with palm trees on its pilasters. This stairway had 8 steps also.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 