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Ezekiel

Ezekiel 
Day 
Day 465

"These are the kitchens"

Text: Ezekiel 46:24

A GLIMPSE OF THE TEMPLE KITCHEN

Ezekiel was given a rare glimpse of the kitchen within the Temple precincts. The kitchen’s role is associated with the Temple worship system.

“Now he brought me through the entrance, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers of the priests which face toward the north; and there a place was situated at their extreme western end. And he said to me, ‘This is the
place where the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin offering, and where they shall bake the grain offering, so that they do not bring them out into the outer court to sanctify the people.’ Then he brought me out into the outer court and
caused me to pass by the four corners of the court; and in fact, in every corner of the court there was another court. In the four corners of the court were enclosed courts, forty cubits long and thirty wide; all four corners were the same size. There
was a row of building stones all around in them, all around the four of them; and cooking hearths were made under the rows of stones all around. And he said to me, ‘These are the kitchens where the ministers of the temple shall boil the
sacrifices of the people.'”
Ezekiel 46:19-24

1. The holy chambers of the priests.

a) The priests were given quarters called “holy chambers”.

b) At the west end of the chambers were the kitchen used by the priests.

2. The Temple Kitchen in the North.

a) They would boil the trespass and sin offering.

b) They will bake the grain offering in the Temple kitchen too.

c) This ministry of cooking and baking were distinguished from meeting with the people.

3. There were four Temple kitchens.

a) The Northern one was described.

b) Kitchen hearths were found in the South, East and West quarters.

4. Why were there Kitchens in the Temple?

a) The priests cooked for the worshippers.

b) The offerings were offered to the Lord.

c) Worshippers stayed behind to have fellowship meals together.

d) Fellowship Meals were seen as part and parcel of Temple worship and community life.