Ezekiel 40
DOYLY— and upon each post were palm trees.] Probably pilasters representing palm trees; the trunks forming the shafts, and the branches the capitals. Calmet.
Chap. XLI. ver. 1.— which was the breadth of the tabernacle.] See Exod. xxvi. 16. 22, 23.
Ezekiel 40:2
2.—and set me upon a very high mountain.] The expression points out mount Moriah, upon which the temple was built. W. Lowth, Calmet. This mountain was not however very high; and Michaelis remarks, that the expression probably signifies nothing more than that Jerusalem, and the true worship of God, should be very much exalted, and made known to all the world. Abp. Newcome. In this respect the expression represents the Christian Church; see Isa. ii. 1, 2. W. Lowth.
—by which was as the frame of a city on the south.] Upon which; see the margin. If we suppose the Prophet brought by the Spirit from Chaldea into the land of Israel, both the temple and the city would be to the south. It appears from chap. xlviii. 15, &c. that he had a view of the holy city which was to be restored as well as of the temple. W. Lowth, Calmet.
Ezekiel 40:3
3.—of brass.] Bright and sparkling. Abp. Newcome. See Dan. x. 6.
—with a line of flax—and a measuring reed.] The former was to measure the outward and more spacious courts, and the latter to take the dimensions of the walls and buildings. Bp. Hall.
Ezekiel 40:4
- behold with thine eyes—declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.] Compare chap. xliii. 10; xlix. 5. The temple now represented was designed, partly to assure the people, that their temple should be restored, and partly to serve them as a model by which they should rebuild it at their return from captivity. The Jewish writers confirm this opinion when they tell us, “that the children of the captivity, when they returned from Babylon, followed the platform of that temple which Ezekiel described, as far as their circumstances would allow.” Dr. Lightfoot, W. Lowth.
Ezekiel 40:5
- And behold a wall on the outside of the house round about.] A wall went round the whole plain surface of the holy mountain like a parapet. Calmet.
—by the cubit and an hand breadth.] Each cubit containing a cubit and a hand breadth, called the “great cubit,” chap. xli. 8; and supposed equal to half a yard. The cubit used in Chaldea, where the Prophet lived, was five hand breadths. Bp. Cumberland.
—of the building.] Of the outer wall; it was three yards high and three yards broad. This wall served as a security against the precipices of the mount on which the temple stood. Abp. Newcome. And it separated
The description of the gates. Before CHRIST 574. face was the way toward the east.
Ezekiel 40:6
- Then came he &c.] After having passed the court of the Gentiles, he came to the eastern gate of the court of Israel. Abp. Newcome.
Ezekiel 40:11
- — and the length of the gate.] By this some understand the height of the gate. Houbigant renders it, “and the length of the entry of the gate.” W. Lowth. Abp. Newcome.
Ezekiel 40:14
- He made also posts of threescore cubits.] The angel described the height of the columns or pillars which were to support the rooms or stories over the arch of the gate, and these were in height sixty cubits; the whole building being divided into three stories like those described, chap. xlii. 6. Calmet.
Ezekiel 40:16
- And there were narrow windows] These windows were narrow without, but broad within to disperse the light. The margin of our Bibles thus explains it, and refers to † Kings vi. 4. W. Lowth, Abp. Newcome. — and likewise to the arches.] The word here
Ezekiel 40:17
- Then brought he me into the outward court.] The court of Israel or of the people; the outer of the two courts, mentioned 2 Kings xxi. 5. Herod added a third, called “the court of the Gentiles.” Abp. Newcome, W. Lowth.
Ezekiel 40:18
- — the lower pavement.] This was called the lower pavement, with respect to the several ascents which were still to go up the nearer you came to the temple. Dr. Lightfoot.
Ezekiel 40:19
- — the lower gate] The western gate of the porch or entry. W. Lowth.
Ezekiel 40:22
- — and the arches thereof were before them.] Or at the entrance of them. W. Lowth. 23. And the gate of the inner court was over against the gate toward the north, and toward the east;] The Before CHRIST 574. Or, galleries, or, porches. Or, within. without. whose face was. galleries, or, porches. The description of the gates. Before CHRIST 574.
was over against the gate toward the north, and toward the east; and he measured from gate to gate an hundred cubits.
Ezekiel 40:30
- — five and twenty cubits long, and five cubits broad.] Length seems here to be taken for height, as before, ver. 11. W. Lowth.
Ezekiel 40:43
- — within were hooks.] Hooks for hanging up the beasts slain for sacrifice, in order to the flaying of them;
Before CHRIST 574. The measures, parts, chambers of the temple. Before CHRIST 574. [ Or, ward, or, ordinance: and so ver. 46.
Ezekiel 40:45
- — This chamber,— is for the priests.] The word “chamber” is put here for a suite of chambers. The wing or row of buildings on the north side of the inner court was destined for the use of the priests, who were in constant attendance according to their courses upon the service of the temple; see Numb. xviii. 5; 1 Chron. vi. 49; 2 Chron. xiii. 11. Calmet, W. Lowth.
— of the charge of the house.] They had the charge of the sacred vessels, of the precious vails, of the perfumes, &c. Calmet. The word “priests” may here include Levites under it. W. Lowth.
Ezekiel 40:46
- And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north] Another wing or row of chambers on the south side of the inner court is for the descendants of the family of Aaron, whose office it is to attend upon the service of the altar, and keep the fire burning thereon perpetually, Lev. vi. 12, 13. W. Lowth.
Ezekiel 40:47
- — and the altar that was before the house.] The altar stood in the inner court, just before the porch that entered into the temple. W. Lowth.