Description
10-Design of the Holy Kitchens and Corner Courts
We believe that Ezekiel 46:19-20 provides us with the necessary information by which we can deduce the layouts of these kitchens as outlined below. We also believe that their layouts are identical so that we will only discuss the design of the southern kitchen. For a discussion of why we refer to them as “Holy Kitchens” please take the teaching “Medical Explanations for Millennial Bodies” and “Holy Kitchens” in the Millennial Temple Expedition.
For the remainder of our discussion please refer as needed to the first 3 pictures in this section of our Schematics and pictures 14 and 52 in our 3-D Gallery. We based the design and dimensions of the kitchen on the maximum reasonable size (L x W) of an individual boiling place, which from now on we will refer to as a vat. The vats are described in Ezekiel 46:23-24. From the first picture it can be seen that each vat has the dimensions of 2 x 2 cubits (L x W). We believe that the ideal depth is 2-cubits or 42 inches, but this is not relevant to our discussion.
Suppose that we begin with a square of dimension 15 cubits (L x W). Notice that each of its sides is worth 5 vats. Theoretically, the number of vats present in the closed square of such a kitchen that is devoid of an entrance is 16. So, we have a total of 16 “vats” from which to design our kitchen. Now look at the entrance to the kitchen. It’s worth 2 vats. So, in order to enter our kitchen from the corridor we must subtract 2 vats leaving a total of 14 remaining to complete our design.
Ezekiel 46:20 tells us that bread will be baked so there must be ovens and a sink of equal capacity to the production of bread and the amount of meat boiled or cooked in the vats. Now notice that the ovens and sink are worth 3 vats and that the remaining corners that are devoid of vats are also worth 3 vats. This leaves a total of 8 vats that can be used for boiling or cooking the holy guilt and sin offerings of 46:20. You will also notice in the kitchen an additional “vat” in the form of a baking table of 3 x 3 cubits (5.25-cubits, L x W) strategically located near the ovens.
The size of the kitchen and its location relative to the overall House can be appreciated by observing the tiny red square in the Logo at the bottom left of the first 3 pictures. The size of an individual vat of 2 x 2 cubits (3.5-feet, L x W) requires a surrounding square of countertop of 3 x 3 cubits or 5.25 x 5.25 feet (L x W) as shown in the proof. This determines the size of the kitchen to be a square of 15 cubits. This dimension is worth the width of 3 bedrooms E/W and one-and-a-half inner walkways S/N, both of which are 15 cubits as shown in the proof. 15 cubits (a square of this dimension) is the only dimension that can satisfy the specifications and language of Ezekiel 42:1-2, 4, 7, 8, 46:19-20, 23, maintain the geometry and design of the tan chambers, and maintain the geometry and design of the kitchens. There is no possibility of the kitchen being another size or shape. The visual layout of the vats, ovens, and sink are provided in the first 3 pictures of this section of our Schematics.
Now look at the second picture which is a proof similar in concept to the proof of the first floor of the Inner Temple. It is titled “The Holy Southern Kitchen (Proof).” Each square is .5-cubit. The proof was necessary because of the structures that abut against the southern and eastern walls of the kitchen. In order to get the dimensions of these structures to line up with the dimensions of the structures inside the kitchen, the artist had to do this proof. We were unable to get the dimensions of the bedrooms (orange chambers), their walkway (pale blue), the corridor or walkway (pale blue), and the kitchen entrance (green) to agree precisely with the dimensions of the gray countertops containing the ovens, vats, and sink inside the kitchen.
We spent 3-4 hours of precious time before we abandoned the “trial and error” method of adjustment and went to the proof method which takes more time (expense) and effort. But look at the result! Pictures 1 and 3 of this section are based on the proof which has the needed resolution of whole squares equal to .5-cubit (10.5 inches). As we have mentioned before, every structure and space inside the House can, if needed, be resolved in this manner to zero error/uncertainty by means of a steady progression of smaller and smaller whole squares until there is complete resolution.
Examination of the first picture and then comparing it to the proof demonstrates this amazing property. For example, look at the 1 x 1 cubit (21 x 21 inches) sink. In order to completely resolve its size and location in terms of whole squares, the squares of the proof would need to be .25-cubit or half the size of the squares we used. We did not do this because it was not necessary to accomplish our goal; however, it could theoretically have been done. We believe this geometric property makes the House ideal for realization by a powerful virtual reality computer program like Maya.
Pictures 13, 14, and 52 best show the Holy Kitchens in our 3-D Gallery. In picture 52 the artist who transferred the Temple from Blender to Maya chose 3 ovens rather than the 4 shown in the pictures of this section of our Schematics, but the minor alteration is inconsequential to the design of the kitchens.
Now we must move on to the design of the Corner Courts. Before discussing the interiors of the corner courts, all of which are identical, we must first deduce their locations and orientations. In so doing we must first deduce the location of the 30 chambers of Ezekiel 40:17. Please consider 40:17 and 46:21-22 below:
40:17: Then he brought me into the outer court, and behold, there were chambers and a pavement made for the court all around; thirty chambers faced the pavement.
46:21-22 Then he brought me out into the outer court and led me across to the four corners of the court; and behold, in every corner of the court there was a small court. 22 In the four corners of the court there were enclosed courts, forty cubits long and thirty wide; these four in the corners were the same size. 1995 NASB
40:17 specifies the number of outer court chambers to be 30. They are best seen using magnification in pictures 7 and 8 in 04-Temple Principles and Layout of the Temple in our Schematics and pictures 13, 14, 17, and 48 in our 3-D Gallery. They are labeled W in the seventh and eighth pictures of 04. The verse specifies their orientation as facing the outer court pavement. It also partially specifies their location to be along an outer wall of the House but does not specify which of the walls. It does not provide their dimensions. Ezekiel 46:22 provides the location and dimensions of the corner courts. They are located in the 4 corners of the outer court next to the outer wall of the House. Their dimensions are given as 40 x 30 cubits (L x W, 70 x 52.5 feet) but v.22 does not provide their orientation.
Therefore, since these 30 chambers and 4 courts are located along the outer House wall, there must exist a geometric relationship between them that will best satisfy the language and specifications of these verses. Note that in accordance with the seventh picture of 04 which shows the layout of the ground floor of the House, if the lengths of the corner courts are oriented S/N, then 30 chambers, each with the dimensions of 20 cubits (35 feet) E/W x 14 cubits (24.5 feet) S/N x 5-cubits (8.75-feet) height, located along the western outer wall of the House, will fit between the southwest and northwest corner courts. We believe that this is the best and only geometric relationship which satisfies the language and specifications of 40:17 and 46:22.
Also note that for the 30 chambers to exist in this geometric relationship between the courts, the necessity for the dimensions of the House to be 500 x 500 cubits (875 x 875 feet, L x W) inside wall to inside wall. Thus, the outside measurement of the wall of 40:5 must be 512 x 512 cubits (896 x 896 feet, L x W). This precludes any possibility of the wall of 40:5 being the wall of 42:15-20.
Let’s examine the last 2 pictures of this section of our Schematics which are titled Northwest Corner Court and Northwest Corner Court (Proof) respectively. Please refer to the proof as needed to verify the accuracy of the dimensions given below. The Logo at the bottom left of each picture shows the location, size relative to the overall House, and orientation of these courts.
In this discussion we will from now on refer to these courts as kitchens because food is cooked in them and there are tables for eating. You will notice that the design features of the northwest Corner Kitchen are similar to the northern Holy Kitchen. Since each of the corners on the north side of the Corner Kitchen is worth a square that encloses one vat and since there are 11 “vats” of length 3-cubits (5.25-feet) along the east wall, the width of the east wall entrance must be 4-cubits (7-feet). Because 12 x 3 = 36 cubits (63 feet) and 40 cubits (70 feet), which is the length of the east wall, minus 36 cubits, leaves 4-cubits or 7-feet for the entrance.
The south wall, which is the wall where the ovens are located, also has an entrance. Since the length of the south wall is given as 30 cubits (52.5 feet), this gives a south entrance of 4-cubits (7-feet) if the remainder of the south wall is 5 x 5 cubits (8.75-feet, L x H). This short wall divides the 2 entrances as shown in the pictures. Note that the length of the wall on which the ovens are located is worth 7 “vats” or 21 cubits (36.75 feet) as seen in our design. This length resolves the E/W dimension of each of the 30 chambers to be 20 cubits (35 feet).
The first picture titled Blowup of the Temple North West to South West in 05-Close Ups With Scriptural References shows this relationship. Other than size the main difference between a Corner Kitchen and a Holy Kitchen is the presence of seating. Each Corner Kitchen holds seating for a maximum of 64 priests. All the interior structures are laid out precisely according to the final 2 pictures, one of which is a proof. If a measurement is desired please refer to these pictures and we believe you will find it there.
Pictures 13, 14, and 62 are the best pictures of the Corner Kitchens in our 3-D Gallery.