15 But the priests H3548 the Levites, H3881 the sons H1121 of Zadok, H6659 that kept H8104 the charge H4931 of my sanctuary H4720 when the children H1121 of Israel H3478 went astray H8582 from me, they shall come near H7126 to me to minister H8334 unto me, and they shall stand H5975 before H6440 me to offer H7126 unto me the fat H2459 and the blood, H1818 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD: H3069
And he shewed H7200 me Joshua H3091 the high H1419 priest H3548 standing H5975 before H6440 the angel H4397 of the LORD, H3068 and Satan H7854 standing H5975 at his right hand H3225 to resist H7853 him. And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Satan, H7854 The LORD H3068 rebuke H1605 thee, O Satan; H7854 even the LORD H3068 that hath chosen H977 Jerusalem H3389 rebuke H1605 thee: is not this a brand H181 plucked H5337 out of the fire? H784 Now Joshua H3091 was clothed H3847 with filthy H6674 garments, H899 and stood H5975 before H6440 the angel. H4397 And he answered H6030 and spake H559 unto those that stood H5975 before H6440 him, saying, H559 Take away H5493 the filthy H6674 garments H899 from him. And unto him he said, H559 Behold, H7200 I have caused thine iniquity H5771 to pass H5674 from thee, and I will clothe H3847 thee with change of raiment. H4254 And I said, H559 Let them set H7760 a fair H2889 mitre H6797 upon his head. H7218 So they set H7760 a fair H2889 mitre H6797 upon his head, H7218 and clothed H3847 him with garments. H899 And the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 stood by. H5975 And the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 protested H5749 unto Joshua, H3091 saying, H559 Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts; H6635 If thou wilt walk H3212 in my ways, H1870 and if thou wilt keep H8104 my charge, H4931 then thou shalt also judge H1777 my house, H1004 and shalt also keep H8104 my courts, H2691 and I will give H5414 thee places to walk H4108 among these that stand by. H5975
To the end that the children H1121 of Israel H3478 may bring H935 their sacrifices, H2077 which they offer H2076 in the open H6440 field, H7704 even that they may bring H935 them unto the LORD, H3068 unto the door H6607 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 unto the priest, H3548 and offer H2076 them for peace H8002 offerings H2077 unto the LORD. H3068 And the priest H3548 shall sprinkle H2236 the blood H1818 upon the altar H4196 of the LORD H3068 at the door H6607 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 and burn H6999 the fat H2459 for a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD. H3068
And the priest H3548 shall burn H6999 them upon the altar: H4196 it is the food H3899 of the offering made by fire H801 for a sweet H5207 savour: H7381 all the fat H2459 is the LORD'S. H3068 It shall be a perpetual H5769 statute H2708 for your generations H1755 throughout all your dwellings, H4186 that ye eat H398 neither fat H2459 nor blood. H1818
Not G3361 given to wine, G3943 no G3361 striker, G4131 not G3361 greedy of filthy lucre; G146 but G235 patient, G1933 not a brawler, G269 not covetous; G866 One that ruleth G4291 well G2573 his own G2398 house, G3624 having G2192 his children G5043 in G1722 subjection G5292 with G3326 all G3956 gravity; G4587 (For G1161 if a man G1536 know G1492 not G3756 how G1492 to rule G4291 his own G2398 house, G3624 how G4459 shall he take care of G1959 the church G1577 of God?) G2316 Not G3361 a novice, G3504 lest G3363 being lifted up with pride G5187 he fall G1706 into G1519 the condemnation G2917 of the devil. G1228 Moreover G1161 G2532 he G846 must G1163 have G2192 a good G2570 report G3141 of G575 them which are without; G1855 lest G3363 he fall G1706 into G1519 reproach G3680 and G2532 the snare G3803 of the devil. G1228 Likewise G5615 must the deacons G1249 be grave, G4586 not G3361 doubletongued, G1351 not G3361 given G4337 to much G4183 wine, G3631 not G3361 greedy of filthy lucre; G146 Holding G2192 the mystery G3466 of the faith G4102 in G1722 a pure G2513 conscience. G4893 And G1161 let G1381 these G3778 also G2532 first G4412 be proved; G1381 then G1534 let them use the office of a deacon, G1247 being G5607 found blameless. G410
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ezekiel 44
Commentary on Ezekiel 44 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 44
Eze 44:1-31. Ordinances for the Prince and the Priests.
2. shut … not be opened—(Job 12:14; Isa 22:22; Re 3:7). "Shut" to the people (Ex 19:21, 22), but open to "the prince" (Eze 44:3), he holding the place of God in political concerns, as the priests do in spiritual. As a mark of respect to an Eastern monarch, the gate by which he enters is thenceforth shut to all other persons (compare Ex 19:24).
3. the prince—not King Messiah, as He never would offer a burnt offering for Himself, as the prince is to do (Eze 46:4). The prince must mean the civil ruler under Messiah. His connection with the east gate (by which the Lord had returned to His temple) implies, that, as ruling under God, he is to stand in a place of peculiar nearness to God. He represents Messiah, who entered heaven, the true sanctuary, by a way that none other could, namely, by His own holiness; all others must enter as sinners by faith in His blood, through grace.
eat bread before the Lord—a custom connected with sacrifices (Ge 31:54; Ex 18:12; 24:11; 1Co 10:18).
4-6. Directions as to the priests. Their acts of desecration are attributed to "the house of Israel" (Eze 44:6, 7), as the sins of the priesthood and of the people acted and reacted on one another; "like people, like priest" (Jer 5:31; Ho 4:9).
7. uncircumcised in heart—Israelites circumcised outwardly, but wanting the true circumcision of the heart (De 10:16; Ac 7:51).
uncircumcised in flesh—not having even the outward badge of the covenant-people.
8. keepers … for yourselves—such as you yourselves thought fit, not such as I approve of. Or else, "Ye have not yourselves kept the charge of My holy things, but have set others as keepers of My charge in My sanctuary for yourselves" [Maurer].
10, 11. Levites … shall … bear—namely, the punishment of
their iniquity … Yet they shall be ministers—So Mark, a Levite, nephew of Barnabas (Ac 4:36), was punished by Paul for losing an opportunity of bearing the cross of Christ, and yet was afterwards admitted into his friendship again, and showed his zeal (Ac 13:13; 15:37; Col 4:10; 2Ti 4:11). One may be a believer, and that too in a distinguished place, and yet lose some special honor—be acknowledged as pious, yet be excluded from some dignity [Bengel].
charge at the gates—Better to be "a doorkeeper in the house of God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness" (Ps 84:10). Though standing as a mere doorkeeper, it is in the house of God, which hath foundations: whereas he who dwells with the wicked, dwells in but shifting tents.
15. Zadok—The priests of the line of Ithamar were to be discharged from ministrations in the temple, because of their corruptions, following in the steps of Eli's sons, against whom the same denunciation was uttered (1Sa 2:32, 35). Zadok, according to his name (which means "righteous") and his line, were to succeed (1Ki 2:35; 1Ch 24:3), as they did not take part in the general apostasy to the same degree, and perhaps [Fairbairn] the prophet, referring to their original state, speaks of them as they appeared when first chosen to the office.
17. linen—symbolical of purity. Wool soon induces perspiration in the sultry East and so becomes uncleanly.
18. bonnets—turbans.
19. not sanctify the people with their garments—namely, those peculiarly priestly vestments in which they ministered in the sanctuary.
20. Neither … shave … heads—as mourners do (Le 21:1-5). The worshippers of the Egyptian idols Serapis and Isis shaved their heads; another reason why Jehovah's priests are not to do so.
nor suffer … locks to grow long—as the luxurious, barbarians, and soldiers in warfare did [Jerome].
21. Neither … wine—lest the holy enthusiasm of their devotion should be mistaken for inebriation, as in Peter's case (Ac 2:13, 15, 18).
28. I am their inheritance—(Nu 18:20; De 10:9; 18:1; Jos 13:14, 32).
30. give … priest the first … that he may cause the blessing to rest—(Pr 3:9, 10; Mal 3:10).