Kaisipang Hudyo sa Ezekiel 48:16: The Third Beit HaMikdash

It is stated, “the city shall be in its midst,” i.e., in the center of this strip. “These are its measures: the northern side, 4500 [measuring rods], the southern side, 4500 [measuring rods], the eastern side, 4500 [measuring rods], and the western side, 4500 [measuring rods].”⁵Ibid. 48:16. “The perimeter [of the city] will be 18,000 measuring rods. And the name of the city from that day will be ‘God is there.’ ”⁶Ibid. 48:35.

Explanation is seemingly required regarding the following point: Scripture specifies the city’s dimensions on all four sides, and also mentions the sum of its perimeter. We do not find this type of redundancy for the other measurements mentioned in the narrative. Similarly, there is no such redundancy for the dimensions of the Great Terumah, nor for any of its sections, nor for the Temple Mount, nor for any other areas of the Beis HaMikdash. To offer a resolution: The text is informing the inhabitants of the exile that the city’s perimeter will be 18,000 measuring rods, which is equivalent to the number of worlds through which the Holy One, blessed be He, glides at night. As stated in Tractate Avodah Zarah:⁷Avodah Zarah 3b. “What does He do by night?... It may be said that He rides a light cherub, and glides in 18,000 worlds, as intimated by the verse,⁸Tehillim 68:18. ‘The chariot of God is twice (שִׁנְאָן) 10,000 times 2,000 angels.’ Do not read shin’an, ‘twice,’ [rather] read [it] she’einan, ‘that are not’ [i.e., twice 10,000 minus 2,000].” Thus, by mentioning the dimension 18,000, the verse is alluding to these worlds.