17 And it shall come to pass, that when they enter H935 in at the gates H8179 of the inner H6442 court, H2691 they shall be clothed H3847 with linen H6593 garments; H899 and no wool H6785 shall come H5927 upon them, whiles they minister H8334 in the gates H8179 of the inner H6442 court, H2691 and within. H1004
And G2532 to her G846 was granted G1325 that G2443 she should be arrayed G4016 in fine linen, G1039 clean G2513 and G2532 white: G2986 for G1063 the fine linen G1039 is G2076 the righteousness G1345 of saints. G40
And they shall be upon Aaron, H175 and upon his sons, H1121 when they come H935 in unto the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 or when they come near H5066 unto the altar H4196 to minister H8334 in the holy H6944 place; that they bear H5375 not iniquity, H5771 and die: H4191 it shall be a statute H2708 for ever H5769 unto him and his seed H2233 after H310 him.
And they made H6213 coats H3801 of fine linen H8336 of woven H707 work H4639 for Aaron, H175 and for his sons, H1121 And a mitre H4701 of fine linen, H8336 and goodly H6287 bonnets H4021 of fine linen, H8336 and linen H906 breeches H4370 of fine twined H7806 linen, H8336 And a girdle H73 of fine twined H7806 linen, H8336 and blue, H8504 and purple, H713 and scarlet, H8144 H8438 of needlework; H7551 H4639 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872
And thou shalt embroider H7660 the coat H3801 of fine linen, H8336 and thou shalt make H6213 the mitre H4701 of fine linen, H8336 and thou shalt make H6213 the girdle H73 of needlework. H7551 H4639 And for Aaron's H175 sons H1121 thou shalt make H6213 coats, H3801 and thou shalt make H6213 for them girdles, H73 and bonnets H4021 shalt thou make H6213 for them, for glory H3519 and for beauty. H8597
He shall put on H3847 the holy H6944 linen H906 coat, H3801 and he shall have the linen H906 breeches H4370 upon his flesh, H1320 and shall be girded H2296 with a linen H906 girdle, H73 and with the linen H906 mitre H4701 shall he be attired: H6801 these H1992 are holy H6944 garments; H899 therefore shall he wash H7364 his flesh H1320 in water, H4325 and so put them on. H3847
And G2532 round about G2943 the throne G2362 were four G5064 and G2532 twenty G1501 seats: G2362 and G2532 upon G1909 the seats G2362 I saw G1492 four G5064 and G2532 twenty G1501 elders G4245 sitting, G2521 clothed G4016 in G1722 white G3022 raiment; G2440 and G2532 they had G2192 on G1909 their G846 heads G2776 crowns G4735 of gold. G5552
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).