11qt-temple-scrolldead-sea-scrolls
Temple Scroll 1
Jehovah opens the Temple Scroll with a covenant declaration — He will do marvels no nation has witnessed, drive out the inhabitants of the land, and demand complete separation from their idols and covenants. He then commands the construction of a foursquare sanctuary of precise measure, hallowed by His own glory, as a provisional dwelling until the day He creates His eternal sanctuary — anchoring that future temple in the covenant made with Jacob at Bethel. The twelve gates of the outer court bear the names of the twelve tribes, with the gate of Joseph positioned at the north corner, the birthright tribe taking its place in the pattern of the gathered house of Israel.
1
Behold, I make a covenant. I shall do marvels before all thy people, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation. All the people in whose midst thou art shall behold the work of the Lord — for terrible is that which I shall do in thy midst.
2
Take heed unto thyself of all that I command thee this day. Behold, I shall drive out before thee the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. Take heed unto thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitant of the land into which thou comest, lest he be a snare in thy midst.
3
Thou shalt break down their altars; thou shalt burn their idols with fire. Thou shalt not bring an abomination into thy house, lest thou become accursed. Thou shalt utterly detest it, and utterly abhor it; for it is a thing accursed.
4
Thou shalt build for Me a sanctuary; thou shalt set it apart unto Me; thou shalt dwell with Me there for ever. I shall hallow My sanctuary with My glory; for I shall cause My glory to dwell upon it, until the day of creation, when I Myself shall create My sanctuary, that I may establish it for Myself for all the days, even according unto the covenant which I made with Jacob at Bethel.
5
And the house which thou shalt build shall be in length seven hundred cubits, and in breadth seven hundred cubits, foursquare unto the four sides thereof. The breadth of the wall thereof shall be seven cubits round about. The height of the wall thereof shall be such that it riseth up perfectly. There shall be three gates in each of the four walls thereof — one toward the east, and one toward the south, and one toward the west, and one toward the north.
6
And the houses round about the gates shall be set apart unto the priests, the sons of Levi, and unto the heads of the tribes — that they may dwell there in the season of their service. The names of the gates shall be after the names of the twelve tribes of Israel: the gate of Levi shall be in the east; the gate of Judah, with the gate of Levi, in the east, on the right hand; and the gate of Reuben, between the gate of Judah and the corner. From the south corner the gate of Simeon, and after it the gate of Issachar, and the gate of Zebulun.
7
On the western side the gate of Gad, and after it the gate of Asher, and the gate of Naphtali, in the western corner. From the corner of the north, the gate of Joseph, and after it the gate of Benjamin, and after it the gate of Dan.
