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.

Comments

Ken Smith said…
If it's a long cubit (21"), that would be about 5.8 miles, certainly outside the old city, but quite plausibly still within the boundaries of the modern city. I haven't studied this section of Ezekiel in depth, so I'm not sure where this location 17,500 feet from the city is supposed to be located, but if it's to the east, it would probably still be within territory claimed by the Palestinians. Not necessarily a perfect solution, in other words, but still an interesting idea.
Robin Parry said…
Ken

Not a perfect solution at all. I was being slightly tongue-in-cheek.

But it'd be better than the Temple Mount.

Robin
Jon Hughes said…
Great post, Robin. As well as dishing out copies of the commentary to well-meaning dispensationalists, perhaps we could also recommend that they also read the letter to the Hebrews carefully - and realise that we don't need sin offerings and animal sacrifices in a re-built temple *after* Christ's 'once for all' sacrifice on the cross.
Tom Nicholson said…
Hi 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 !
Robin Parry said…
Tom

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
Tom Nicholson said…
Thanks 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.
Alashire said…
Sorry folks but it is down nearer to tamar than jerusalem.. and no one cabuild it Until Jesus son and Ezekiel and zerubabbel help him do in the new place / even a whole new mountain will be brought to the right place... no more filthy soil, I suspect even new soil.... yes the 3 temple in Solomons form which was cursed will be built in jerusalem and why the curse in Ezekiel 43( I think The lord God talks the such an abomination putting his threshold with their kings graves and foriegn idols threshold by his..yes that 3 temple will be an abomination for many reasons. THE 4TH TEMPLE IS Jesus/ the other prince of king David not cursed.( the son who died for israel twice ) once as an infant and once in the Fathers own image.. it is his temple and not in the form of the cursed 1-3 temple form.. it is different and Jesus seed is not a cursed lineage AND NOT A CURSED KINGSHIP. ISA 53.... JESUS SEED IS BLESSED BY THE FATHER .

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