1. The man took me back to the outer courtyard, near the east gate of the temple area. I saw that the doors to this gate were closed.
2. The Lord said:I, the Lord God of Israel, came through this gate, so it must remain closed for ever! No one must ever use it.
3. The ruler of Israel may come here to eat a sacrificial meal that has been offered to me, but he must use only the entrance room of this gate.
4. Then the man took me through the north gate to the front of the temple. I saw that the brightness of the Lord's glory had filled the temple, and I immediately bowed with my face to the ground.
5. The Lord said:Ezekiel, son of man, I am going to give you the laws for my temple. So pay attention and listen carefully to what kind of people are allowed to come in the temple, and what kind are not.