Ezekiel 40

Chap. XL. Ver. 1—49. The vision of a new Temple on a grand scale.—There is no doubt that this whole scene was visionary. There neither then was, nor had been, any temple in existence, which could fully answer to the description. Ezekiel represents himself as stationed upon a high mountain, on the south of which he saw “the frame (or building) of a city” —probably, the buildings in their unfinished state. Here appeared to as a celestial agent in the character of a surveyor, with a measuring rod in his hand; and as he measured, he gave the dimensions to the Prophet, that he might report them dimensions. Villalpandus and Vitringa, both deeply versed in such studies, contend that the ground plan of the temple here laid down did not exceed that of Solomon, and therefore might well be proposed as a pattern of the new temple to be erected on their return from the captivity, and which might [have] been equally anxious to return.

(See note on ver. 2.) Abp. Secker (who has written a dissertation on this vision) thinks the whole should be literally understood, except only the vision of waters, &c. in chapter xlvii., which will be there consi-~

Notes on the verses

Chap. XL. Ver. 1. In the five, &c.— The 11th year of Zedekiah, when Jerusalem was taken, was also the 11th year of Jehoiachin’s captivity, from which the prophet dates; and therefore the 25th year of Jehoiachin’s captivity was the 1st year after the taking of Jerusalem.” Newcome.—(On ‘Tuesday, April 20.]—Bagster, Ver. 2. In the visions of God.—(There can be little doubt, that the grand outlines of the description of the temple, in the following extraordinary vision, were taken from that of Solomon’s, with all the additions made to it in after ages; and we may suppose that Zerubbabel, and the other Jews, had respect to it, as far as circumstances would permit, in rebuilding the temple after the captivity.

There are, however, many circumstances which conclusively show, that something infinitely superior to either the first or second temple was intended; and that the external description must be considered as a figure and emblem of spiritual blessings. Probably the more immediate accomplishment of the prophecy will be subsequent to the conversion and restoration of the Jews, the destruction of Gog and Magog, and the pouring out of the Spirit, [passage illegible] of [the] last chapter; but whether there will be any ex- [event] analogous to these 2 steps, [might be] determined, though in some respects Ver. 3. Brass.—That is, bright and sparkling. See (Revelation 1:15).—A reed.— Viz. of six cubits, (ver.

5.) which, according to the tables affixed to the Old Testament by our translators, were somewhat more than 11 feet, but, according to Michaelis, nine feet only. So Newcome. To compare the size of this Temple with Solomon’s, see exposition of 1 Kings, chaps. vi. vii. and notes. Ver. 10. The three were of one measure.—The entrance into the outer court seems to have been through a porch with doors at both ends; and on each side of this porch were three small chambers, or rooms, for the use of the porters, a reed square in size, with a passage of five cubits between them. The common cubit, termed the “cubit of a man,” ((Deuteronomy 3:11).) was about 18 inches: but the cubit used [by the] angel was, as we learn from (Ezekiel 43:13), “a cubit and a hand breadth,” or about three inches more than the common cubit, that is, 21 inches. Hence the measuring reed, which was “six cubits long, by the cubit and the hand breadth,” (ver. 5.) must have been about 10 1-2 feet. —B. Ver. 12. Space.—Heb. “Limit,” bound, or boundary. Some understand this of a projecting rail, or balustrade.— Newcome. Ver. 13. Gate from the roof.—The whole arch of the east gate, measured from the southern extremity of one room to the northern extremity of the opposite room, was 25 cubits; including the dimensions of the two rooms, or 12 cubits, (ver. 7.) the spaces before the rooms, or 2 cubits, (ver. 12.) and the breadth of the entrance, 10 cubits, (ver.

11.) making in all 24 cubits, leaving one cubit for the thickness of the walls. —Bagster. Ver. 15. Face of the gate, &c.—(This was the whole length of the porch, from the outward front, ((Ezekiel 41:21, 25).) to the inner side which looks into the first court, (ver. 17.) including the thickness of the walls, (ver. 6.) chambers, (ver. 7.) and spaces between them.) —Bagster. Ver. 22. Before them.—“Or, ‘suitable to them,’ that is, to the arches of the east gate. The north gate into the outward court, and every thing belonging to it, were exactly the same as the east gate.” —Bagster. Ver. 23. Gate of the inner court—That is, the gate of the inner court was opposite, and exactly answered to the gate of the outward court, both on the north and east side; and between the gates of the outward and inner court was a space of a hundred cubits.

—Bagster. Ver. 24. These measures.—That is, according to the measures of the eastern and northern gates. There does not appear to have been any [gate] on the west though the courts seem to have extended to the western wall. —B.