Ezekiel 43

Ezekiel 43:1

THe gae] namely, the chiefe gate, which by a direct line looked towards the Temple and sanctuary. See Ezekiel 44:2-3.

Ezekiel 43:3

When I came] namely, in a vision, Ezekiel 8:3. To destroy] when I assisted in spirit to the destruction of it, and for to denounce it, and give notice of it to the people, Ezekiel 9:10.

Ezekiel 43:6

The man] as soone as ever I had heard the voice, presently the man which did utter it, appeared close by me, which was the Sonne of God, as it plainly appeareth by the words following.

Ezekiel 43:7

The place] this is the figure of the spirituall Temple of my Church, with which I will remaine perpetually, being served by her in spirit and truth Whoredome] their idolatry The carkasses] Idols are so called by way of detestation, Leviticus 26:30. Jeremiah 16:18 Of their Kings] for the publicke idolatry was established, and authorised by their Kings. See 1 King. 12. 28. 2 King. 16. 10. and 21. 4.

Ezekiel 43:8

Their threshold] that is to say, they set their idols, and performe their service in my Temple, in places and Chappels neare to the places which are consecrated to my service. See 2 King. 16. 14. and 21. 7. Jer. 11 15. Ezek. 8. 3. and 23. 39. and 44. 7.

Ezekiel 43:9

Now let them] namely, all the true elect, and especially the Jewes, which shall be converted under the Gospell, shall serve God in all purity.

Ezekiel 43:10

That they may be] That they may be truly converted to be my spirituall Temple.

Ezekiel 43:12

Most holy] Dedicated in a most especiall manner, to God and to his service, to make it different from those places which were employed to mens uses, for otherwise this place had also its distinction between the sacred and prophane place, Ezekiel 42:20.

Ezekiel 43:13

Of the Altar] Of burnt offerings, which was in the Priests court, of which the Prophet in vision did see the forme and dimensions The bottome] by this word is meant a little channell halfe round, which encompassed the foot of the Altar round every where, and into that they spilt the blood of the sacrifices, which was carried away and cleansed by certaine pipes under ground, by which, water did runne out into the said channell by certaine spouts A cubite] In height The border] It was a kind of little border, made about the said channell A spanne] In height, according to others in breadth, or both This shall be] namely, This space, which is encompassed with this chanell.

Ezekiel 43:14

The lower settle] It was a cornice or hemme, which jetted out beyond the body of the Altar, like a basis about it Two] namely, in height One cubit] Outward From the lesser] Not for the breadth of the jetting out of the settles, which shall be the same in both, namely, of a cubit; but for the height, the lowermost settle being but two cubits high, and the uppermost settle foure.

Ezekiel 43:15

The Altar] the Italian, The Harel] This word signifieth the Will of God, and by it is meant the upper part of the Altar, after the second out-jetting settle. The cause of this name is dubious, peradventure, it was to shew, that was the onely place for sacrifices to be lawfully offered in, and not upon hills, and other places of Idolatrie Foure] namely, in height From the Altar] the Italian, From the Ariel] it seemes to be the same as Hareel before. See concerning this name upon, Isa. 29 1 Hornes] See upon, Exodus 27:2.

Ezekiel 43:17

The settle] the Italian, The outjetting] namely, the body of the Altar, with its uppermost out-jetting of a cubit round about, v. 15. Now you must suppose, that from the first lower out-jetting, the body of the Altar, lessened by a cubit on every side; so that if in the second out-jetting it was foureteen cubits, in the first it was sixteen; and so with the body of the Altar, the border, and a little addition at the foot of it, are found the twenty cubits of length and breadth, 2 Chronicles 4:1 The border] Or crowne or cornice, which encompassed the upper part of the Altar, meant by that name of second settle, or out-jetting Halfe a] In breadth, The bottome] see v 13 His staires] See upon Exodus 20:26 Towards the East] To the end, that the Priest which did the service, might have his face turned towards the West, where the Sanctuarie was, see the contrary done by Idolaters, Ezekiel 8:16.

Ezekiel 43:18

The ordinances] namely, The modell, with all its measures and figures.

Ezekiel 43:19

Thou shalt give] As representing, in the restauration of Gods service, the person of Moses, who was the institutor of it; as Lev. 8. 13. 14. Now all this ought to be understood spiritually; being figuratively spoken That he of] See 1 King. 2. 35. Ezekiel 44:15.

Ezekiel 43:20

Purge it] See Exodus 29:36. Lev. 8. 14. 15.

Ezekiel 43:21

In the apponted] During the voyage in the wildernesse, the carkasses of these sacrifices, after the blood o them was spilt, and the fat offered, were burnt without the camp, Exodus 29:14. Leviticus 4:12. After the Temple was built, it seemes, that is was done in some place within the great inclosure of it: which place, notwithstanding is not specified any where Without the] namely, in some corner of the Gentiles court. See Ezekiel 42:20.