19 After he brought H935 me through the entry, H3996 which was at the side H3802 of the gate, H8179 into the holy H6944 chambers H3957 of the priests, H3548 which looked H6437 toward the north: H6828 and, behold, there was a place H4725 on the two sides H3411 westward. H3220
And from under these chambers H3957 was the entry H3996 H935 on the east side, H6921 as one goeth H935 into them H2007 from the utter H2435 court. H2691
And without H2351 the inner H6442 gate H8179 were the chambers H3957 of the singers H7891 in the inner H6442 court, H2691 which was at the side H3802 of the north H6828 gate; H8179 and their prospect H6440 was toward H1870 the south: H1864 one H259 at the side H3802 of the east H6921 gate H8179 having the prospect H6440 toward H1870 the north. H6828 And he said H1696 unto me, This H2090 chamber, H3957 whose prospect H6440 is toward H1870 the south, H1864 is for the priests, H3548 the keepers H8104 of the charge H4931 of the house. H1004 And the chamber H3957 whose prospect H6440 is toward H1870 the north H6828 is for the priests, H3548 the keepers H8104 of the charge H4931 of the altar: H4196 these are the sons H1121 of Zadok H6659 among the sons H1121 of Levi, H3878 which come near H7131 to the LORD H3068 to minister H8334 unto him.
Then brought H935 he me the way H1870 of the north H6828 gate H8179 before H6440 the house: H1004 and I looked, H7200 and, behold, the glory H3519 of the LORD H3068 filled H4390 the house H1004 of the LORD: H3068 and I fell H5307 upon my face. H6440 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto me, Son H1121 of man, H120 mark H7760 well, H3820 and behold H7200 with thine eyes, H5869 and hear H8085 with thine ears H241 all that I say H1696 unto thee concerning all the ordinances H2708 of the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and all the laws H8451 thereof; and mark H7760 well H3820 the entering in H3996 of the house, H1004 with every going forth H4161 of the sanctuary. H4720
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ezekiel 46
Commentary on Ezekiel 46 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 46
Eze 46:1-24. Continuation of the Ordinances for the Prince and for the People in Their Worship.
2. The prince is to go through the east gate without (open on the Sabbath only, to mark its peculiar sanctity) to the entrance of the gate of the inner court; he is to go no further, but "stand by the post" (compare 1Ki 8:14, 22, Solomon standing before the altar of the Lord in the presence of the congregation; also 2Ki 11:14; 23:3, "by a pillar": the customary place), the court within belonging exclusively to the priests. There, as representative of the people, in a peculiarly near relation to God, he is to present his offerings to Jehovah, while at a greater distance, the people are to stand worshipping at the outer gate of the same entrance. The offerings on Sabbaths are larger than those of the Mosaic law, to imply that the worship of God is to be conducted by the prince and people in a more munificent spirit of self-sacrificing liberality than formerly.
9. The worshippers were on the great feasts to pass from one side to the other, through the temple courts, in order that, in such a throng as should attend the festivals, the ingress and egress should be the more unimpeded, those going out not being in the way of those coming in.
10. prince in the midst—not isolated as at other times, but joining the great throng of worshippers, at their head, after the example of David (Ps 42:4, "I had gone with the multitude … to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holy day"); the highest in rank animating the devotions of the rest by his presence and example.
12-15. Not only is he to perform official acts of worship on holy days and feasts, but in "voluntary" offerings daily he is to show his individual zeal, surpassing all his people in liberality, and so setting them a princely example.
16-18. The prince's possession is to be inalienable, and any portion given to a servant is to revert to his sons at the year of jubilee, that he may have no temptation to spoil his people of their inheritance, as formerly (compare Ahab and Naboth, 1Ki 21:1-29). The mention of the year of jubilee implies that there is something literal meant, besides the spiritual sense. The jubilee year was restored after the captivity [Josephus, Antiquities, 14.10,6; 1 Maccabees 6:49]. Perhaps it will be restored under Messiah's coming reign. Compare Isa 61:2, 3, where "the acceptable year of the Lord" is closely connected with the comforting of the mourners in Zion, and "the day of vengeance" on Zion's foes. The mention of the prince's sons is another argument against Messiah being meant by "the prince."
19-24. Due regard is to be had for the sanctity of the officiating priests' food, by cooking courts being provided close to their chambers. One set of apartments for cooking was to be at the corners of the inner court, reserved for the flesh of the sin offerings, to be eaten only by the priests whose perquisite it was (Le 6:25; 7:7), before coming forth to mingle again with the people; another set at the corners of the outer court, for cooking the flesh of the peace offerings, of which the people partook along with the priests. All this implies that no longer are the common and unclean to be confounded with the sacred and divine, but that in even the least things, as eating and drinking, the glory of God is to be the aim (1Co 10:31).
22. courts joined—Fairbairn translates, "roofed" or "vaulted." But these cooking apartments seem to have been uncovered, to let the smoke and smell of the meat the more easily pass away. They were "joined" or "attached" to the walls of the courts at the corners of the latter [Menochius].
23. boiling places—boilers.
under the rows—At the foot of the rows, that is, in the lowest part of the walls, were the places for boiling made.