Kaisipang Hudyo sa Ezekiel 44:2: Guide for the Perplexed & The Third Beit HaMikdash

IN Hebrew, the verb bo signifies “to come” as applied to a living being, i.e., its arrival at a certain place, or approach to a certain person, as “Thy brother came (ba) with subtilty” (Gen. 27:35). It next denotes (with regard to a living being) “to enter” a certain place, e.g., “And when Joseph came (va-yabo) into the house” (Gen. 43:26); “When ye come (ta-boü) into the land” (Exod. 12:25). The term was also employed metaphorically in the sense of “to come” applied to a certain event, that is, to something incorporeal, as “When thy sayings come to pass (yabo)” (Judg. 13:17); “Of that which will come (yaboü) over thee” (Isa. 47:13). Nay, it is even applied to privatives, e.g., “Yet evil came (va-yabo)” (Job 3:26); “And darkness came (va-yabo)” Now, since the word has been applied to incorporeal things, it has also been used in reference to God-to the fulfilment of His word, or to the manifestation of His Presence (the Shechinah). In this figurative sense it is said, “Lo, I come (ba) unto thee in a thick cloud” (Exod. 19:9); “For the Lord the God of Israel cometh (ba) through it” (Ezek. 44:2). In these and all similar passages, the coming of the Shechinah is meant, but the words, “And the Lord my God shall come (u-ba)” (Zech. 14:5) are identical with “His word will come,” that is to say, the promises which He made through the Prophets will be fulfilled; therefore Scripture adds “all the holy ones that are with thee,” that is to say, “The word of the Lord my God will be performed, which has been spoken by all the holy ones who are with thee, who address the Israelites.”

Nevertheless, it appears to me that the mishnah should be interpreted differently. The mishnah is referring to the lowest level of cells and the cell referred to as “the cell.” The cell referred to as “the cell” had five openings. The mishnah mentions the northeast corner, i.e., in contrast to the southeast corner, for regarding the wicket on the southeast, it is written:⁵⁵Yechezkel 44:2. “This gate shall be closed. It will not be opened.” Hence, it is not appropriate to mention the opening to the wicket and the opening to the Sanctuary from that side. This interpretation also fits according to Rambam. The statement in the mishnah can thus be interpreted: “one to the cell on the right,” i.e., to the cell in the wall of this cell, “one to the cell above it, one to the winding stairwell,” i.e., via its wall, “one to the cell that has the wicket,” i.e., to the cell in the wall of the Sanctuary, “and one to the Sanctuary,” i.e., via this wicket.