I was listening to someone who was speaking about developing a deeper relationship with Abba today. I really listened intently because we all need a closer walk with Him–even when we have already walked a mile; we need to walk two…She is one of those who believe that there is a Court in Heaven that we require Yahweh to respond to our appeals in a judicial manner. I really hate this teaching, it is so not correct. How can we tell the Father anything about justice and righteousness? He is the inventor of it! What I can’t stand is that this teaching elevates man to the pont of someone how being face to face with Yah in practical defiance. I remember when I used to do this as a kid and it didn’t get me very far! It’s is akin to be stubborn and rebellious in my view. She quoted Psalm 100 that says: Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise be thankful to Hi and bless His name! Ok–the court here does not refer to a court of law. According to the Hebrew translation it is the word chatser #2691 which simply means an outer enclosure. That has nothing to do with a court of law! Why do people read the bible in English but go no further to the Hebrew meaning? This word speaks of a physical territory. There were courts at the Temple for different purposes. Here is some info about the courts”
The innermost Court of the Holy Temple was the area that included the Heichal (Sanctuary) and the Mizbeach (Stone Altar).This area was also called “The Camp of the Divine Presence.” The Court was divided into three section: The Court of Israel, the Court of the Priests, and the Area between the Hall and the Mizbeach. The Women’s Court was situated to the east of the Court. This was a more recent addition.
All the courts were surrounded by a wall and were raised above the level of the Temple Mount by twelve stairs – each stair the height of half a cubit. The width of the courts was one hundred and thirty five cubits. The length of all the courts was three hundred and twenty two cubits, of which one hundred and eighty seven cubits was the length of the “Camp of the Divine Presence”, and one hundred and thirty five cubits, the length of the Women’s Court. Within the “Camp of the Divine Presence” were the following divisions: The Court of Israel – eleven cubits by one hundred and thirty five cubits; the Court of the Kohanim (Priests) – eleven by one hundred and thirty five cubits and the Area “between the Ulam (entry hall of the Sanctuary) and the Mizbeach” – twenty two cubits. (Source: Midot 2: 5-7).
Only Jews who were pure (free from impurity through contact with a corpse) were permitted entry into the courts. Rabbinical decree forbade all others from entering into the Cheil (the area surrounding the courts). From the Women’s Court and within, entry was also forbidden by Rabbinical decree to people who changed their status to purity on that day. The Court of Israel was of a higher level of sanctity than the Women’s Court. Those who needed to bring an offering to complete the process of their purification, but had not yet done so were forbidden entry. Its level of sanctity was determined by Torah.
Regarding entry for the impure, the Court of the Kohanim had the same level of sanctity as the Court of Israel. Entry was permitted to pure kohanim. Israelites could also enter the Court of the Kohanim Court for the purpose of slaughtering their offering, etc. (Source: Kelim: 1:8).
The Women’s Court generally served the women who came to pray and bring their offerings. On occasion men also gathered there – such as during the Simchat Beit HaShoeva celebrations and the reading of the Torah on Yom Kippur. There was a platform between the Court of Israel and the Court of the Kohanim. Levites stood on this platform to sing the “Song of the Day.” Representatives of the tribes of Israel would stand in the Court of Israel to be present during the Tamid (daily) Service on behalf of the entire nation. Israelites were also permitted to enter this court for prayer and prostration. Most of the services of the Mikdash were performed in the Court of the Kohanim. The Court encompassed the area of the Mizbeach and the Heichal.
