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Herod's Temple - Sanctuary Chambers

Bible overview
A guided tour of the Temple storerooms.
Contributed by Bible Scenes
Story also available on our translated website: German
1
On the south side of the Inner Court of the Sanctuary were four gates and two chambers. – Slide 1
2
On the south-west corner was the Kindling Gate. Through this gate, wood was brought in for the Altar (mizbeach) wood piles (Midot 1:3). <br/>All the gates of the Temple were 20 cubits (10.6m, 34ft 9 inches) in height and 10 cubits (5.3m, 17ft 4 inches) in width and they had doors that were overlaid in gold. – Slide 2
3
This is what the Kindling Gate looked like when open with a covered passageway to the rear gate and doorways left and right into storage rooms. – Slide 3
4
To the right of the Kindling Gate was the Wood Chamber so named as it had a door of wood. Originally it was called the ‘Chamber of the Ministers or Chamber of the Parhedrin (Officials)’. – Slide 4
5
In this chamber a mezuzah was fixed, (small folded or rolled parchment inscribed by a qualified calligraphist with scriptural verses (Deuteronomy 6:4–9, 11:13–21) to remind Jews of their obligations toward God. This was because the High Priest would live in this chamber for 7 days prior to Yom Kippur. The part of the chamber in which the High Priest slept had the level of sanctity of the Temple Mount and not that of the Inner Court, because no-one could sit down in the Inner Court. – Slide 5
6
To the right of the Wood Chamber was the Gate of the Firstlings (or Firstborn). Through this gate, the firstborn offerings were brought in to the Inner Court. – Slide 6
7
To the right of the Gate of the Firstlings was the Golah Chamber (or Chamber of the well). From this chamber, water was supplied for use in the Inner Court. – Slide 7
8
This chamber was called Gola (diaspora) because it was built by people who returned from exile in Babylon. Alternatively, some say it was named after the wheel (galgal) located within the chamber, that was used to draw the water from a pit in the ground. – Slide 8
9
To the right of the Gola Chamber was the Water Gate. Through this gate a flask of water from the Gihon Spring was brought up to the Temple, to be used for the water libation which took place on the Altar during the Feast of Sukkot holiday. – Slide 9
10
To the right of the Water Gate was the ‘Chamber of Hewn Stone’. Here were the priests' quarters, where those on duty slept before beginning their service early the following morning. The elder priests slept on stone slabs designed for this purpose and younger priests slept on the floor. – Slide 10
11
This chamber sometimes served as a meeting place or council-chamber of the Sanhedrin. It is also thought the Sanhedrin met at the eastern end of the Royal Stoa. – Slide 11
12
On the north-east corner of the inner Court was the Gate of Song). <br/>The Levites would enter the Azara (inner courtyard) through the Gate of Song, pick up their instruments at the underground Chamber of Musical Instruments and then take their positions on the Duchan (raised platform) in the Azara, where they would perform the ‘Daily Song’ during the bringing of the offerings. – Slide 12
13
To the right of the Gate of Song was the Salt Chamber. This chamber was used to store and prepare the salt necessary for the sacrifices. It was necessary to sprinkle salt on all the sacrifices offered on the Altar. They would also sprinkle the Ramp to the Altar with salt to prevent slipperiness on rainy days. <br/>Above this gate was a ritual bath in which the High Priest would immerse himself for the first of his five immersions on Yom Kippur. – Slide 13
14
To the right of the Salt Chamber was the Gate of Women. Through this gate the women entered to offer their sacrifices and to lay their hands upon the offering. The women could watch as the priests brought their offerings to the altar. The women would accompany their offerings with prayer, confession, repentance, prostration and thanking to God for His kindnesses. – Slide 14
15
To the right of the Gate of Women was the Rinsing Chamber. Here they would rinse and clean the internal organs of the sacrifices. Although these animals were offered on the Altar - and not meant for human consumption, they were nevertheless rinsed and cleaned as a gesture of respect and reverence to God. – Slide 15
16
To the right of the Rinsing Chamber was the Gate of Jeconiah. King Jeconiah exited through this gate, en-route to the Babylonian exile at the end of the First Temple period. This gate was also called the ‘Gate of the Spark’. Some say that the origin of this name is because above this gate, there was a loft where a small fire was kept burning, from which the Altar woodpile could be lit, in case its fire had been extinguished. – Slide 16
17
On the north-west corner of the Inner Temple Court stood the Chamber of the Heath. On the corners of this chamber there were four smaller chambers. – Slide 17
18
In the north-west corner was a spiral staircase that led to the Immersion Chamber. In the Immersion Chamber the priests would immerse themselves in a ritual bath before performing their duties in the Temple. – Slide 18
19
In the north-east corner was the Chamber of the Seals where those who came to the Sanctuary to bring an offering would purchase a seal showing the amount of fine flour and wine they would need to bring along with their offering. – Slide 19
20
In the south-east corner was the Chamber of the Shewbread where the Shewbread loaves were prepared. – Slide 20
21
In the south-west corner was the Chamber of the Lamb Offerings or the Chamber of the Offerings. In this chamber, a minimum of six lambs, inspected and found to be free of blemishes, were kept for the daily morning and evening burnt offerings. – Slide 21
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Slide 22