40. There were also two tables on each side of the door on the outside wall of this porch.
41. So there were four tables on the inside wall and four tables on the outside wall—eight tables that the priests used when they killed the animals for sacrifices.
42. There were also four tables made from cut stone for the burnt offerings. These tables were 1 1/2 cubits long, 1 1/2 cubits wide, and 1 cubit high. On these tables, the priests put their tools that they used to kill the animals for the burnt offerings and other sacrifices.
43. There were meat hooks three inches long on all the walls in this area. The meat of the offerings was put on the tables.
44. There were two rooms in the inner courtyard. One was by the north gate facing south. The other room was by the south gate facing north.
45. The man said to me, “The room that looks to the south is for the priests who are on duty and serving in the Temple area.
46. But the room that looks to the north is for the priests who are on duty and serving at the altar. The priests are from the tribe of Levi. But the priests in this second group are the descendants of Zadok. They are the only people who can carry the sacrifices to the altar to serve the Lord.”
47. The man measured the inner courtyard. The courtyard was a perfect square. It was 100 cubits long and 100 cubits wide. The altar was in front of the Temple.
48. Then the man led me to the porch of the Temple and measured the walls on either side of the porch. Each side wall was 5 cubits thick and 3 cubits wide. The opening between them was 14 cubits.
49. The porch was 20 cubits wide and 12 cubits long. Ten steps went up to the porch. There were two columns for the walls on either side of the porch—one at each wall.