i Emendation yields “parapet.”
j Comprising the 5 cubits of 40.48, the 12 of 40.49 (see note there), the 6 of 41.1, the 40 of 41.2, the 2 of 41.3, the 20 of 41.4, the 6 of 41.5a, the 4 of 41.5b, and the 5 of 41.9.
k The structure was 70 cubits deep and its front and rear walls each 5 cubits thick (v. 12). The remaining 20 cubits are accounted for by the vacant space; cf. 42.1-2.
l To the inside width of 20 cubits (40.49; 41.2–4) must be added on each side: one Temple wall of 6 cubits equals 12; one side-chamber wall of 5 cubits equals 10; one side chamber’s inner depth of 4 cubits equals 8; a walk’s width of 20 cubits (40.9–10) equals 40; and a parapet’s thickness of 5 cubits (v. 11) equals 10; totaling 100 cubits.
m Emendation yields “walls”; cf. v. 12.
n-n Septuagint reads “were paneled.”
o-o Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
p Here perhaps designating the door frames, since it is these that (as required by the continuation of the verse) are situated at the threshold and consist of three parts (a lintel and two doorposts).
q-q Meaning perhaps the great hall and the vestibule; cf. v. 5.
r Heb. “and.”
s Apparently meaning that it had a rim around the top, like the table of Exod. 25.25; see the final note on the present verse.
t Septuagint reads “base.”
u Serving to hold the bread of display; cf. Exod. 25.30; 40.22–23; 1 Kings 7.48.
a-a Heb. simply “chambers,” and so elsewhere.
b See note d at 40.6.
c-c Lit. “the north entrance”; but cf. v. 4.
d I.e., the vacant space; cf. 41.13 with note k.
e Cf. 40.17.
f Because this part of the inner court was considerably higher than the outer; 40.28–31 and 41.8, 9b–10.
g-g Septuagint and Syriac read “and 100 cubits long”; cf. vv. 2–3.
h See vv. 8–9 referring to chambers along the west wall.
i Apparently meaning the chamber complex of v. 1.
j So kethib; qere “thing giving access.”
k-k Brought up from v. 10 for clarity.
l Septuagint reads “south”; cf. v. 13.
m-m Exact meaning of Heb. uncertain; the phrase apparently refers to vv. 7–8.
n Cf. 44.19 and note d.
o-o Lit. “and 500 wide.”
a Six mss. and two ancient versions read “He.”
b I.e., the guide of 40.3 ff.
c-c So with a number of Heb. mss. The usual vocalization yields “their shrines.”
d The south wall of the First Temple enclosure was also the north wall of the royal enclosure; the two communicated by the Gate of the Guard (2 Kings 11.19). Thus Temple and palace could be regarded as a single dwelling (“tent”) in the sense of Num. 19.14, and the death of a king in the palace would defile the Temple. Hence the zoning provisions of 45.2 ff.
e In accordance with the three preceding chapters; cf. 40.4.
f Some of the terms and details in vv. 13–17 are obscure.
g Lit. “bosom.”
h Lit. “bulge.”
i-i Lit. “lesser ledge to the greater.”
j Heb. ‘azarah, which in v. 14 means “ledge.” The altar consists of 3 blocks, each smaller than the one below it.
k Half a cubit is identical with the one span of v. 13.
l Leading up to the altar; cf. Exod. 20.23.
m-m Heb. “its four horns.”
n-n Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields “burning place”; cf. Lev. 6.2; Isa. 33.14; Ps. 102.4 (for the word), and Lev. 4.12; 6.4 (for the place).
o Heb. “they.”
p-p Lit. “they shall fill its hands”; cf. note at Exod. 28.41.
a-a This does not contradict v. 2 because the vestibule is at the inner end of the gate; cf. 40.9.
b Heb. “They.”
c-c By contrast with the Levite-priests whose demotion has just been announced.
d Cf. 42.13–14.
e Thereby rendering the people unfit for ordinary activity.
f I.e., of laymen.
g See Lev. 27.28.
h See Num. 15.20–21.
a Lit. “length.”
b Septuagint reads 20,000; cf. vv. 3–5.
c Cf. 42.15 ff.
d-d Septuagint reads “for towns to dwell in.”
e Cf. for all the foregoing 48.1 ff.
f The ephah is used for dry measure and the bath for liquid measure.
g-g The Mesopotamian mina of 60 shekels; but meaning of Heb. uncertain.
h-h Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
i The Vulgate reads “kor”; homer and kor are synonyms.
j-j Septuagint reads “in the seventh month.”
k Of choice flour.
a I.e., those other than the priests, the Levites, and the prince; lit. “the people of the land.”
b-b Lit. “straight before him.”
c Cf. Lev. 25.10.
d-d See note e at 44.19.
e So Mishnah Middoth 2.5; emendation yields “small.”
a See note at 9.3.
b-b Connection unclear. Emendation yields “southeast.”
c The end of the verse explains why he could not have made the detour by way of the south gate. For the reasons why he could not have proceeded to his present position directly by way of the east gate, see 43.1–2; 44.1–2.
d-d I.e., the Dead Sea.
e-e Brought up from v. 16 for clarity.
f-f Apparently identical with Hazer-hatticon in v. 16.
a Emendation yields “25,000”; cf. 45.3–6.
b-b Lit. “10,000 in breadth on the west; 10,000 in breadth on the east; and 25,000 in length on the south.”
c Septuagint reads “20,000”; cf. note a.
d I.e., the south side.
e-e Emendation yields “on the east.”
f The tribes not provided for in vv. 1–7, and lying south of the sacred gift.
The Twelve Minor Prophets
Hosea
1 The word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri, in the reigns of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah, and in the reign of King Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel.
2When the LORD first spoke to Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, “Go, get yourselfa-a wife of whoredom and children of whoredom; for the land will strayb from following the LORD.”-a 3So he went and married Gomer daughter of Diblaim. She conceived and bore him a son, 4and the LORD instructed him, “Name him Jezreel; for, I will soon punish the House of Jehuc for the d-bloody deeds at Jezreel-d and put an end to the monarchy of the House of Israel. 5In that day, I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.”
6She conceived again and bore a daughter; and He said to him, “Name her Lo-ruhamah;e for I will no longer accept the House of Israel f-or pardon them.-f (7But I will accept the House of Judah. And I will give them victory through the LORD their God; I will not give them victory with bow and sword and battle, by horses and riders.)”
8After weaning Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and bore a son. 9Then He said, “Name him Lo-ammi;g for youh are not My people, and i-I will not be your [God].”-i
2 aThe number of the people of Israel shall be like that of the sands of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted; and instead of being told, “You are Not-My-People,”b they shall be called Children-of-the-Living-God. 2The people of Judah and the people of Israel shall assemble together and appoint one head over them; and they shall rise from the groundc— for marvelous shall be d-the day of Jezreel!-d
3Oh, calle your brothers “My People,”
And your sisters “Lovingly Accepted!”
4Rebukee your mother, rebuke her—
For she is not My wife
And I am not her husband—
And let her put away her harlotry from her face
And her adultery from between her breasts.
5Else will I strip her naked
And leave her as on the day she was born:
And I will make her like a wilderness,
Render her like desert land,
And let her die of thirst.
6I will also disown her children;
For they are now a harlot’s brood,
7In that their mother has played the harlot,
She that conceived them has acted shamelessly—
Because she thought,
“I will go after my lovers,
Who supply my bread and my water,
My wool and my linen,
My oil and my drink.”
8Assuredly,
I will hedge up herf roads with thorns
And raise walls against her,
And she shall not find her paths.
9Pursue her lovers as she will,
She shall not overtake them;
And seek them as she may,
She shall never find them.
Then she will say,
“I will go and return
To my first husband,
For then I fared better than now.”
10And she did not consider this:
It was I who bestowed on her
The new grain and wine and oil;
I who lavished silver on her
And gold—which they used for Baal.
11Assuredly,
I will take back My new grain in its time
And My new wine in its season,
And I will snatch away My wool and My linen
That serve to cover her nakedness.
12Now will I uncover her shame
In the very sight of her lovers,
And none shall save her from Me.
13And I will end all her rejoicing:
Her festivals, new moons, and sabbaths—
All her festive seasons.
14I will lay waste her vines and her fig trees,
Which she thinks are a fee
She received from her lovers;
I will turn them into brushwood,
And beasts of the field shall devour them.
15Thus will I punish her
For the days of the Baalim,
On which she brought them offerings;
When, decked with earrings and jewels,
She would go after her lovers,
Forgetting Me
—declares the LORD.
16Assuredly,
I will speak coaxingly to her
And lead her through the wildernessg
And speak to her tenderly.
17I will give her her vineyards from there,
And the Valley of Achorh as a i-plowland of hope.-i
There she shall respond as in the days of her youth,
When she came up from the land of Egypt.
18And in that day
—declares the LORD—
You will call [Me] Ishi,j
And no more will you call Me Baali.j
19For I will remove the names of the Baalim from her mouth,
And they shall nevermore be mentioned by name.
20In that day, I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the creeping things of the ground; I will also banishk bow, sword, and war from the land. Thus I will let them lie down in safety.
21And I will espouse you forever:
I will espouse youl- with righteousness and justice,
And with goodness and mercy,
22And I will espouse you
