Then they built the inner yard. They built walls around this yard. Each wall was made from three rows of cut stones and one row of cedar timbers.
2 Kings 21:5 - Easy To Read Version Manasseh built altars for the stars of heaven in the two courtyards of the Lord’s temple. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition And he [good Hezekiah's son] built altars for all the hosts of the heavens in the two courts of the house of the Lord! American Standard Version (1901) And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of Jehovah. Common English Bible Manasseh built altars for all the stars in the sky in both courtyards of the LORD’s temple. Catholic Public Domain Version And he constructed altars, for the entire army of heaven, within the two courts of the temple of the Lord. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the temple of the Lord. |
Then they built the inner yard. They built walls around this yard. Each wall was made from three rows of cut stones and one row of cedar timbers.
There were walls around the palace yard, the temple yard, and the porch of the temple. Those walls were built with three rows of stone and one row of cedar timbers.
In the past, the kings of Judah had built altars on the roof of Ahab’s building. King Manasseh had also built altars in the two courtyards of the Lord’s temple. Josiah destroyed all those altars and threw the broken pieces into Kidron Valley.
Then the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the other priests, and the gatekeepers, to bring out of the Lord’s temple [277] all the dishes and things that were made to honor Baal, [278] Asherah, [279] and the stars of heaven. Then Josiah burned those things outside Jerusalem in the fields in Kidron Valley. Then they carried the ashes to Bethel.
The kings of Judah had chosen some ordinary men to serve as priests. {These men were not from the family of Aaron!} Those false priests were burning incense [280] at the high places [281] in every city of Judah and all the towns around Jerusalem. They burned incense to honor Baal, [282] the sun, the moon, the constellations (groups of stars), and all the stars in the sky. But Josiah stopped those false priests.
Josiah removed the Asherah Pole [283] from the Lord’s temple. [284] He took the Asherah pole outside the city to the Kidron Valley and burned it there. Then he beat the burnt pieces into dust and scattered the dust over the graves of the common people. [285]
Manasseh took away the strange idol gods. He took the idol out from the Lord’s temple. He took away all the altars he had built on the temple hill, and in Jerusalem. Manasseh threw all those altars out of the city of Jerusalem.
Manasseh built altars for all the groups of stars in the two yards of the Lord’s temple.
Solomon also made the Priests’ yard, {\cf2\super [64]} the Great yard, and the doors for the yards. He used bronze to cover the doors that opened to the yard.
Then the man led me through the south gate into the inner courtyard. He measured this gate. This gateway measured the same as the other gates to the inner courtyard.
Then the man led me into the inner courtyard on the east side. He measured the gate. It measured the same as the other gates.
And its porch {\cf2\super [342]} was at the end of the gateway next to the outer courtyard. Carvings of palm trees were on the walls on either side of the gateway. There were eight steps leading up to the gate.
The man measured the \{inner\} courtyard. The courtyard was a perfect square. It was 100 cubits {\cf2\super [351]} long and 100 cubits {\cf2\super [352]} wide. The altar {\cf2\super [353]} was in front of the temple.
The building was three stories tall and had balconies. The 20-cubit {\cf2\super [388]} inner courtyard was between the building and the Temple. On the other side, the rooms faced the pavement of the outer courtyard.
Then the Spirit {\cf2\super [397]} picked me up and brought me into the inner courtyard. The Glory of the Lord filled the temple.
Before they go out into the outer courtyard to the people, they will take off the clothes they wear while serving me. They will put these clothes away in the holy rooms. Then they will put on other clothes. In this way, they will not let people touch those holy clothes.
Then he led me to the inner courtyard of the Lord’s temple. At that place, I saw 25 men bowing down and worshiping. They were between the porch and the altar—but they were facing the wrong way! Their backs were to the Holy Place. They were bowing down to worship the sun!