In Visualizing the Vision, the author presents a detailed analysis of Ezekielâs temple vision from an architectural, linguistic, and historical approach. The study demonstrates that the vision was not meant as a building instruction, but as a sign of hope for the exiles in Babylon, showing the temple as it will be built in a distant future, when it will never again be defiled and the Glory of the Lord will return to His house forever. The author takes the reader on a fascinating journey through the description of the visionâs temple and provides architectural drawings of its possible construction, situating these within the larger framework of Ancient Near Eastern building styles.
Konstantin Stijkel, Ph.D. (2021), Protestant Theological University, is a retired town planner and nowadays a researcher of Old Testament. He has published two articles on Ezekiel in Dutch magazines (ACEBT cahier 26; Schrift 286).
Preface List of Figures, Table, and Maps Abbreviations
1 Introduction
â1âScope of the Study
â2âState of the Art
â3âThesis and Research Questions
â4âOutline of the Study
â5âOn Method
â6âStructure of the Book of Ezekiel
â7âStructure of Ezekiel 40â48
â8âConclusions
2 The Vision Report A Text Critical and Philological Exploration
â1âThe Character of the Final Vision
â2âThe Text of the Vision Report
â3âStudying the Text of the Vision Report
â4âA Text Critical and Philological Exploration
â5âConclusions
3 On Imagination
â1âThe Character of Biblical Visions
â2âConcepts of Imagination in Western History
â3âImagination
â4âSymbolism and Concepts of Sacred Space in the Ancient Near East and Israel
â5âImitating and Depicting Biblical Examples of Sacred Space
â6âImitating and Depicting the New Jerusalem
â7âConclusions
4 Temple Building in the Ancient Near East: A Historical and Architectural Overview
â1âIntroduction
â2âTemple Ideology
â3âDescription of Ancient Near Eastern Temples
â4âEgyptian Temples
â5âMesopotamian Temples
â6âCanaanite Temples
â7âConclusions
5 Israelite Sanctuaries Plan and Arrangement of Israelite Sanctuaries from the Tabernacle to Herodâs Temple
â1âIntroduction
â2âTabernacle
â3âIsraelite Precursors of the Temple in Jerusalem
â4âSolomonâs Temple
â5âThe Elephantine Temple
â6âZerubbabelâs Temple
â7âPost-exilic Building Activities on the Temple Mount
â8âHerodâs Temple Complex
â9âThe Temple in the Dead Sea Scrolls
â10âDescription of the New Jerusalem
â11âConclusions
6 Ezekielâs Visionary Temple Its Plan and Arrangement
â1âIntroduction
â2ââI Will Put My Sanctuary among Them for Everâ (Ezek 37:26b)
â3âThe Design and Architecture of the Temple Compound with Its Structures
â4âThe Design and Architecture of the Temple Platform with Its Structures
â5âThe Design and Architecture of the Temple Proper
â6âEzekielâs Temple Compared to Its Predecessors
â7âConclusions
7 Ezekielâs Temple as the Ultimate Imagination
â1âEzekielâs Temple Vision Account a Rhetorical Masterpiece
â2âTemple Ideology and Conceptualisation
â3âA New Image Paradigm
â4âSome Iconic Concepts from the Field of Spatial Design
â5âThe Formation of a Spatial Plan
â6âThe Future Temple
â7âSome Theological Considerations on the Shape of Ezekielâs Temple
â8âReflections on the Nature of Ezekielâs Temple
â9âConclusions
Architectural and Technical Terms Bibliography Index of Biblical References Index of Ancient Sources Index of Names and Subjects
Ezekielâs temple vision challenges to build a bridge between theology and architecture. Architecture is helpful to understand complicated Hebrew technical terms and to interpret the vision as a spatial concept.