12. At the base of the chambers on the south side there was an entry at the end of a walkway in front of the protective wall by which one could enter from the east.
13. He said to me, “The north and south chambers facing the restricted area are the chambers of the holy place where the priests who approach the Lord shall eat the most holy meals. Here they shall place the most holy offerings: the grain offerings, the purification offerings, and the reparation offerings; for the place is holy.
14. When the priests have entered, they must not go out again from the holy place into the outer court without leaving the garments in which they ministered because they are holy. They shall put on other garments before approaching the area for the people.”
15. When he finished measuring the interior of the temple area, he brought me out by way of the gate facing east and measured all around it.
16. He measured the east side, five hundred cubits by his measuring rod. Then he turned
17. and measured the north side: five hundred cubits by his measuring rod. He turned
18. and measured the south side, five hundred cubits by his measuring rod.
19. He turned and measured the west side, also five hundred cubits by his measuring rod.
20. Thus he measured it on the four sides. It was surrounded by a wall five hundred cubits long and five hundred cubits wide, to separate the sacred from the profane.