“When they are ashamed
Of all that they had done,
Make known to them
The plan of the temple.
Let them know
Its arrangement,
Its exits,
Its entrances,
Its whole form!
Make known
To them
All its ordinances,
Its entire plan,
All its laws!
Write it down
In their sight!
Thus,
They may observe,
They may follow,
The entire plan
With all its ordinances.
This is the law
Of the temple.
The whole territory
On the top
Of the mountain,
All around,
Shall be most holy!
This is the law
Of the temple.”
Yahweh was very explicit to Ezekiel. He was to lay down the basics for the new Temple, just like Moses with his Mosaic laws. This was to be the law of the new Temple for the post-exilic Israelites. Once the Israelites had accepted their shame for all that they had done, Ezekiel was to let them know about this divine plan for the new temple. He was to tell them about its arrangements, exits, entrances, with its whole form. They were to know its ordinances, as well as the entire plan, including its laws. Ezekiel was to write it down in the sight of these Israelites, since there should not be any ambiguity. They were to observe and follow the entire plan with all its ordinances. This was to be the law for the new Temple. The whole territory on the top of the mountain with the territory all around it would be most holy. They were not to forget that this was the law of the temple.