38. At that gate, there was a room with an entrance in the arches for washing the entirely burned offering,
39. and inside the porch on each side of the gate were two tables where the entirely burned offerings, the purification offerings, and the compensation offerings were slaughtered.
40. Outside, two pairs of tables flanked the entrance of the north gate at both ends, at the steps on one end and the porch on the other.
41. There were four tables on each side of the gate, eight tables in all, for preparing the animal offerings.
42. The four tables that were used for the entirely burned offering as well as for the communal sacrifices were made of hewn stone. Each was twenty-seven inches square and eighteen inches high. Equipment used in the ritual slaughter was set on them.
43. Hooks, three inches wide, were securely fixed all the way around. The tables were for the flesh of the offerings.
44. Outside the inner gate there were two chambers in the inner courtyard. The one beside the north gate faced south, and the one beside the east gate faced north.
45. He spoke to me: "The chamber facing south is for the priests who keep watch over the temple,
46. and the chamber facing north is for the priests who keep watch over the altar. Of all the Levites, only the Zadokites may draw near to serve the Lord."
47. Then he measured the courtyard. It was square, one hundred fifty feet long and one hundred fifty feet wide. The altar was in front of the temple.