1 Afterward he brought H935 me to the temple, H1964 and measured H4058 the posts, H352 six H8337 cubits H520 broad H7341 on the one side, H6311 and six H8337 cubits H520 broad H7341 on the other side, H6311 which was the breadth H7341 of the tabernacle. H168
2 And the breadth H7341 of the door H6607 was ten H6235 cubits; H520 and the sides H3802 of the door H6607 were five H2568 cubits H520 on the one side, and five H2568 cubits H520 on the other side: and he measured H4058 the length H753 thereof, forty H705 cubits: H520 and the breadth, H7341 twenty H6242 cubits. H520
3 Then went H935 he inward, H6441 and measured H4058 the post H352 of the door, H6607 two H8147 cubits; H520 and the door, H6607 six H8337 cubits; H520 and the breadth H7341 of the door, H6607 seven H7651 cubits. H520
4 So he measured H4058 the length H753 thereof, twenty H6242 cubits; H520 and the breadth, H7341 twenty H6242 cubits, H520 before H6440 the temple: H1964 and he said H559 unto me, This is the most H6944 holy H6944 place.
5 After he measured H4058 the wall H7023 of the house, H1004 six H8337 cubits; H520 and the breadth H7341 of every side chamber, H6763 four H702 cubits, H520 round about H5439 the house H1004 on every side. H5439
6 And the side H6763 chambers H6763 were three, H7969 one over another, H6763 and thirty H7970 in order; H6471 and they entered H935 into the wall H7023 which was of the house H1004 for the side chambers H6763 round about, H5439 that they might have hold, H270 but they had not hold H270 in the wall H7023 of the house. H1004
7 And there was an enlarging, H7337 and a winding about H5437 still upward H4605 to the side chambers: H6763 for the winding about H4141 of the house H1004 went still upward H4605 round about H5439 the house: H1004 therefore the breadth H7341 of the house H1004 was still upward, H4605 and so increased H5927 from the lowest H8481 chamber to the highest H5945 by the midst. H8484
8 I saw H7200 also the height H1363 of the house H1004 round about: H5439 the foundations H4328 of the side chambers H6763 were a full H4393 reed H7070 of six H8337 great H679 cubits. H520
9 The thickness H7341 of the wall, H7023 which was for the side chamber H6763 without, H2351 was five H2568 cubits: H520 and that which was left H3240 was the place H1004 of the side chambers H6763 that were within. H1004
10 And between the chambers H3957 was the wideness H7341 of twenty H6242 cubits H520 round about H5439 the house H1004 on every side. H5439
11 And the doors H6607 of the side chambers H6763 were toward the place that was left, H3240 one H259 door H6607 toward H1870 the north, H6828 and another H259 door H6607 toward the south: H1864 and the breadth H7341 of the place H4725 that was left H3240 was five H2568 cubits H520 round about. H5439
12 Now the building H1146 that was before H6440 the separate place H1508 at the end H6285 toward H1870 the west H3220 was seventy H7657 cubits H520 broad; H7341 and the wall H7023 of the building H1146 was five H2568 cubits H520 thick H7341 round about, H5439 and the length H753 thereof ninety H8673 cubits. H520
13 So he measured H4058 the house, H1004 an hundred H3967 cubits H520 long; H753 and the separate place, H1508 and the building, H1140 with the walls H7023 thereof, an hundred H3967 cubits H520 long; H753
14 Also the breadth H7341 of the face H6440 of the house, H1004 and of the separate place H1508 toward the east, H6921 an hundred H3967 cubits. H520
15 And he measured H4058 the length H753 of the building H1146 over against H6440 the separate place H1508 which was behind H310 it, and the galleries H862 thereof on the one side and on the other side, an hundred H3967 cubits, H520 with the inner H6442 temple, H1964 and the porches H197 of the court; H2691
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ezekiel 41
Commentary on Ezekiel 41 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 41
Eze 41:1-26. The Chambers and Ornaments of the Temple.
1. tabernacle—As in the measurement of the outer porch he had pointed to Solomon's temple, so here in the edifice itself, he points to the old tabernacle, which being eight boards in breadth (each one and a half cubits broad) would make in all twelve cubits, as here. On the interior it was only ten cubits.
2. length thereof—namely, of the holy place [Fairbairn].
3. inward—towards the most holy place.
4. thereof—of the holy of holies.
before the temple—that is, before, or in front of the most holy place (so "temple" is used in 1Ki 6:3). The angel went in and measured it, while Ezekiel stood in front, in the only part of the temple accessible to him. The dimensions of the two apartments are the same as in Solomon's temple, since being fixed originally by God, they are regarded as finally determined.
5. side chamber—the singular used collectively for the plural. These chambers were appendages attached to the outside of the temple, on the west, north, and south; for on the east side, the principal entrance, there were no chambers. The narrowness of the chambers was in order that the beams could be supported without needing pillars. The plan is similar to that of the hall at Koyunjik, a large central hall, called the oracle, with smaller rooms built round it.
6. might … hold, but … not hold in … wall of the house—1Ki 6:6 tells us there were rests made in the walls of the temple for supports to the side chambers; but the temple walls did not thereby become part of this side building; they stood separate from it. "They entered," namely, the beams of the chambers, which were three-storied and thirty in consecutive order, entered into the wall, that is, were made to lean on rests projecting from the wall.
7. the breadth … so increased from the lowest … to the highest—that is, the breadth of the interior space above was greater than that below.
8. foundations … six … cubits—the substructure, on which the foundations rested, was a full reed of six cubits.
great—literally, "to the extremity" or root, namely, of the hand [Henderson]. "To the joining," or point, where the foundation of one chamber ceased and another began [Fairbairn].
9. that which was left—There was an unoccupied place within chambers that belonged to the house. The buildings in this unoccupied place, west of the temple, and so much resembling it in size, imply that no place was to be left which was to be held, as of old, not sacred. Manasseh (2Ki 23:11) had abused these "suburbs of the temple" to keeping horses sacred to the sun. All excuse for such abominations was henceforth to be taken away, the Lord claiming every space, and filling up this also with sacred erections [Fairbairn].
10. the chambers—that is, of the priests in the court: between these and the side chambers was the wideness, &c. While long details are given as to the chambers, &c., no mention is made of the ark of the covenant. Fairbairn thus interprets this: In future there was to be a perfect conformity to the divine idea, such as there had not been before. The dwellings of His people should all become true sanctuaries of piety. Jehovah Himself, in the full display of the divine Shekinah, shall come in the room of the ark of the covenant (Jer 3:16, 17). The interior of the temple stands empty, waiting for His entrance to fill it with His glory (Eze 43:1-12). It is the same temple, but the courts of it have become different to accommodate a more numerous people. The entire compass of the temple mount has become a holy of holies (Eze 43:12).
12-15. Sum of the measures of the temple, and of the buildings behind and on the side of it.
15. galleries—terrace buildings. On the west or back of the temple, there was a separate place occupied by buildings of the same external dimensions as the temple, that is, one hundred cubits square in the entire compass [Fairbairn].
16. covered—being the highest windows they were "covered" from the view below. Or else "covered with lattice-work."
17. by measure—Measurements were taken [Fairbairn].
21. appearance of the one as the appearance of the other—The appearance of the sanctuary or holy of holies was similar to that of the temple. They differed only in magnitude.
22. table … before the Lord—the altar of incense (Eze 44:16). At it, not at the table of showbread, the priests daily ministered. It stood in front of the veil, and is therefore said to be "before the Lord." It is called a table, as being that at which the Lord will take delight in His people, as at a feast. Hence its dimensions are larger than that of old—three cubits high, two broad, instead of two and one.
25. thick planks—a thick-plank work at the threshold.