Ezekiel 40:49

The length of the porch was twenty cubits,.... From east to west; from the first gate of it to the last; which led directly into the house, or temple: and the breadth eleven cubits; which may be thus

And he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured each post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the gate was three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side.

Though learned men dispute the position of the length, whether from east to west, or from north to south, express word determines the dimensions of this length and breadth. The steps: eight, say some, others eleven, and some say ten, others say twelve; but most say eight. There were pillars: so soon as he was come into the porch, he saw two pillars, that stood off from the side walls, not joined to them, as the posts were, much like Jachin and Boaz in Solomon’ s temple.

Ezekiel 40:49 The length of the porch [was] twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits; and [he brought me] by the steps whereby they went up to it: and [there were] pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side.Ver. 49. The length of the porch was twenty cubits.] After the cubit of the sanctuary, the weights and measures whereof were twice as large as those of the commonwealth, to show that God expects much more of those that serve him there than he doth of others.

(44) Without the inner gate.—Without must here be understood in a different sense from the without of Eze 40:40, because this is expressly said to be “in the inner court;” it means, therefore, only outside the gateway.Chambers of the singers.—The description of the chambers in Ezekiel 40:44-46 is not very clear, and has caused very great difference of opinion, and even a disposition to modify the text. But the text as it stands is supported by the ancient versions, Greek, Chaldee, and Syriac, as well as by the Masoretic punctuation. There seem to have been three or more chambers altogether, two at least at the side of the north gate opening to the south, i.e., towards the altar, and one at the east gate opening toward the north. The purpose of the chamber at the east gate is perfectly clear; it was “for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar,” i.e., for those priests who were on duty at the time in connection with the sacrifices. It is not mentioned on which side of the gate it was placed, nor how large it was, but it is drawn on the plan on the north (Plan II., O). The chambers at the north gate (N), however, are called (Ezekiel 40:44) “chambers of the singers,” and yet in Ezekiel 40:45 one of them is said to be for the priests “in charge of the house.” The difficulty arises simply from the very common use of the plural in connection with only one of several persons or things, the other being separately specified. To make it entirely clear, we should say, “the chambers, one for the singers, and one for the priests.” The singers were particular families of the Levites (1 Chronicles 6:31-37; 1 Chronicles 9:33; 1 Chronicles 25; 2 Chronicles 5:12), and were not of the priestly order. The general arrangement appears to have been as follows: the offerer brings his victim into the outer court (C) near to the north gate leading into the inner court; there the Levites slay it (at x) and prepare it for the altar upon the tables provided, and then hang its flesh upon the hooks within the porch of the gate; the priests “in charge of the house” in the chamber near the inner end of the gate (N) now notify the singers in the other chamber and also the priests on duty at the altar in the chamber at the east gate (O), that both may enter upon their functions.

Verse 49. By the steps] This was a flight of steps that led to the temple; there were eight steps in each flight. See YY in the plan. See Clarke on Ezekiel 48:35.

49. Here “length” is the larger dimension N. to S. (1 Kings 6:3), Fig. 2, hh; and breadth the smaller E. to W.; Fig. 2, bc. breadth eleven cubits] twelve cubits, as LXX. The number eleven cannot be reconciled with the other measurements. The length of the house E. to W. was 100 cubits, i.e. 5 (wall, Ezekiel 40:48) + 12 (porch, here) + 6 (wall of holy place, Ezekiel 41:1) + 40 (holy place) + 2 (wall of holiest, Ezekiel 41:3) + 20 (holiest, Ezekiel 40:4) + 6 (wall, Ezekiel 40:5) + 4 (annexe, Ezekiel 40:5) + 5 (outer wall of annexe, Ezekiel 40:9) = 100. and … by the steps whereby] and by ten steps they went up to it; so LXX. Beside the posts stood two pillars, one on either side of the entrance. These would narrow in some measure the entrance of 14 cubits. These pillars correspond to the Jachin and Boaz of Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 7:21).

49. Eleven — LXX., twelve. The steps — LXX., ten steps. Pillars — These pillars correspond to Boaz and Jachin of Solomon’s temple. Compare 1 Kings 7:15-21; note illustration opposite, and frontispiece.