Ezekiel's Visionary Temple in Babylonian Context

 

Ezekiel's Visionary Temple in Babylonian Context

Tova Ganzel

De Gruyter, 2021

ISBN: 978-3-11-074067-7

(Amazon)

Read by the author in July 2024, borrowed from the editor

There have been a number of central shrines in Jewish history, described in ancient sources. Exodus describes the Tabernacle, Kings and Chronicles tell of the First Temple, and Josephus records his impressions of Herod's Temple. Mishnah Middot also describes Herod's Temple, though perhaps mixed with some vestiges of previous versions. Ezekiel, however, contains a vision of a Temple that was not built, presumably the Third Temple, and it has innovations not present in the others. 

The author of this book argues that many of these innovations are the result of Ezekiel's surrounding culture. She traces how many of the features reflect the practices of Babylonian temples. This includes a restructured hierarchical arrangement that distances even some kohanim, and certainly everyone else, from the heart of the Temple. Ganzel compares the gates and gate halls, corner areas set aside for food preparation, and décor with the Babylonian archaeological record, and in each case finds parallels. 

The argument here compares nicely with what we know about other versions of the Temple. Much as synagogue architecture often reflects the built culture of its time and place, it is not surprising to see the the architecture of our Temples do as well. Scholars have drawn parallels between Near Eastern temples and the First Temple, and it is hard not to see the influence of Classical architecture on Herod's Temple. Even the Tabernacle is said to reflect aspects of built culture in Egyptian nomadic architecture. Making the case the Ezekiel also was influenced by Babylonian temples completes this set nicely.