The Location of Ezekiel's Visionary Temple – How to Avoid WWIII
I am currently editing Jacob Milgrom's commentary on Ezekiel 38–48 (to be entitled Ezekiel's Hope). It is, as one would expect from such a great scholar, superb.
Anyway, what had never dawned on me (among other things) was the location of Jerusalem in the visionary temple sequence (40–48). Ezekiel avoids speaking directly of "Jerusalem" in the vision but it is most likely that "the city" that he refers to is Jerusalem. But, if that is right, then Ezekiel's temple is not situated on the site of the earlier temple but about 17,500 cubits away — outside Jerusalem. (I have forgotten how far that would be in modern measurements but it's far enough).
It dawned on me that, if this is right, all those people who ponder about Ezekiel's temple being rebuilt on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem are looking in the wrong place.
There is a plus-point to this: Any actual attempt to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem would be a sure move towards violence on a global scale. But some — a few Jewish people and a lot of (dispensationalist) Christian people — are keen for it to go ahead.
So here's my plan: we mass-market Milgrom's commentary to these people and persuade them that they should make plans to see the new temple away from the Temple Mount. That way, if they ever do go ahead, we won't have World War III on our hands.
Anyway, what had never dawned on me (among other things) was the location of Jerusalem in the visionary temple sequence (40–48). Ezekiel avoids speaking directly of "Jerusalem" in the vision but it is most likely that "the city" that he refers to is Jerusalem. But, if that is right, then Ezekiel's temple is not situated on the site of the earlier temple but about 17,500 cubits away — outside Jerusalem. (I have forgotten how far that would be in modern measurements but it's far enough).
It dawned on me that, if this is right, all those people who ponder about Ezekiel's temple being rebuilt on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem are looking in the wrong place.
There is a plus-point to this: Any actual attempt to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem would be a sure move towards violence on a global scale. But some — a few Jewish people and a lot of (dispensationalist) Christian people — are keen for it to go ahead.
So here's my plan: we mass-market Milgrom's commentary to these people and persuade them that they should make plans to see the new temple away from the Temple Mount. That way, if they ever do go ahead, we won't have World War III on our hands.
Comments
Not a perfect solution at all. I was being slightly tongue-in-cheek.
But it'd be better than the Temple Mount.
Robin
Maybe the contents are under an embargo until publication, but are you able to spill the beans on this author's take on Ezek 47 verses 1 - 12 ??????
This passage has the river of life and the healing trees of life flowing all the way from the City eastwards to the Dead Sea. And Revelation ch 21 - 22 uses this for its "healing of the nations" -- the nations formerly the enemies of Christ.
Just wondering if this author confirms my own bias about this !
you are right but Milgrom was a Jewish scholar of the Hebrew Bible (sadly, he died not long back) so he's not really interested in later uses of the biblical texts in question. His concern is to get his head around what Ezekiel was talking about. So Rev does not come into it.
Robin
it was worth a try!
Also, sounds like it's worth reading Milgrom on Ez. 47:1 -12 anyway. I'll look out for it.
Tom.