Ezekiel 45

long.] These measurements contained an area of about seventeen miles in circuit, which was more than four times the circuit of Jerusalem, according to the account of Josephus. But it was intended for the whole house of Israel; that is, all the tribes upon solemn festivals, and was to have twelve gates according to the number of the tribes of Israel, chap. xlviii. 31. Abp. Newcome, W. Lowth. — over against] Or by the side of; see chap. xlviii. 15. It was to run parallel in length with the holy portion, though but half its breadth: by which means these three portions made an exact square; see chap. xlviii. 20, and the following draught: W. Lowth.

— over against] Answerable to; see chap. xl. 18; it shall be parallel with them both on the east and west side. W. Lowth. And the length of it shall be over against each of these portions from the west borders of it to the east. Bp. Holl.

Ezekiel 45:4

4. — a place for their houses.] The houses were for the priests of the four and twenty courses, who were not in their course of waiting. W. Lowth. — for the sanctuary.] See chap. xlviii. 10.

Ezekiel 45:5

5. And the five and twenty thousand of length, &c.] This was another allotment; and some translations render the sense plainer thus; “there shall be other five and twenty thousand,” &c. The Levites were very numerous; in the time of David they were reckoned thirty-eight thousand, and therefore as large a piece of ground is allotted to them, as belonged to the temple and the whole priestly order. W. Lowth. — for twenty chambers.] According to most commentators, rows of chambers, or ranges of building. The Septuagint reads “cities to inhabit.” Such cities as were allotted to them by Moses, Numb. xxxv. 2. W. Lowth. thousand: and in it shall be the sanctuary and the most holy place. Before CHRIST 574.

Ezekiel 45:7

7. And a portion shall be for the prince &c.] See the plan; it lay parallel to the other three portions from north to south, and on each side. W. Lowth. Ordinances for the prince. Before CHRIST 574.

city, before the oblation of the holy portion, and before the possession of the city, from the west side westward, and from the east side eastward: and the length shall be over against one of the portions, from the west border unto the east border.

Ezekiel 45:8

8. In the land shall be his possession, &c.] That my princes may not be put for want of a due and settled provision to raise means to themselves by the oppression of my people. Bp. Holl.

9. — just balances, Lev. xix. 36; Deut. xxv. 15.

10. — of that gate.] Of the eastern gate. To enter by this gate was the privilege of the prince and priests only; see ver. 2. W. Lowth.

Ezekiel 45:10

10. And the prince in the midst &c.] The prince shall observe the same times of my service with my people, both for his coming in and for his going forth. Bp. Hall.

Ezekiel 45:11

11. — of one measure.] The bath for things liquid; the ephah for things dry; the bath containing about seven gallons and a half. Bp. Cumberland.

— of an homer.] The word “homer” here used, is to be distinguished from the “omer,” Exod. xvi. 36; which is but the tenth part of an ephah. W. Lowth.

Ezekiel 45:12

12. And the shekel shall be &c.] See the note at Exod. xxx. 13; where the same number is made the standard of the shekel.

— twenty shekels, five and twenty shekels, fifteen shekels, shall be your manch.] The amount of the three is sixty shekels, which made a manch or mina, about thirty ounces of silver. We may well suppose that three of the usual current coins among the Jews answered to the three numbers of shekels here mentioned. Abp. Newcome, W. Lowth. But we learn from Sir John Chardin, that it is still the custom of the East, in reckoning a sum of money, to specify the different parts of which it is composed. Harmer.

12. — a voluntary burnt offering] See Lev. xxii. 18. 21. The gate which was shut the whole week shall be open to the prince when he makes a voluntary offering. Calmt.

Ezekiel 45:13

13. This is the oblation &c.] The portion belonging

to the Levites out of the fruits of the earth, when they were gathered in; see chap. xliv. 30. W. Lowth.

— the sixth part of an ephah of an homer] The six-tieth part of the whole. Abp. Newcome.

Ezekiel 45:14

14. — out of the cor.] Which is equal to the homer, as is here expressed.

15. — the sixth part of an ephah, and the third part of an hin of oil.] In Numb. xxviii. 5. the proportion required is the tenth part of an ephah of flour, and the fourth part of an hin of oil. W. Lowth. On account of this difference, this offering should be understood of the prince. Abp. Newcome.

Ezekiel 45:15

15. And one lamb out of the flock, &c.] This offering is besides the firstborn set apart for the use of the priests and Levites, Numb. xviii. 15. It is for the daily burnt offering, Numb. xxviii. 3; or for burnt offerings and peace offerings, or sacrifices of thanksgivings that were to be made upon proper occasions, chap. xliii. 27. W. Lowth.

— for a meat offering.] See ver. 13, 14. The meat offering, or more properly the bread offering, was made of fine flour mangled with oil, Lev. ii. 5, 6. W. Lowth.

— to make reconciliation] This effect is attributed to burnt offerings, as well as to those which are properly sacrifices for sin, Lev. i. 4. W. Lowth.

Ezekiel 45:16

16. — for the prince] The marginal reading is “with the prince,” which agrees better with the sense. The prince shall join with the people in making the oblations already mentioned; but those in the next verse are to be at the exclusive charge of the prince. W. Lowth.

Ezekiel 45:17

17. — he shall prepare] That is, provide.

18. — it shall be his to the year of liberty;] The

year of jubilee; see note at Lev. xxv. 10. The power given to the prince in the former verse of alienating to his sons is entirely new. Calmt.

— shall be his sons’ for them.] It shall be theirs, so as not to be alienated. W. Lowth.

Ezekiel 45:18

18. — In the first month.] Nisan; about the tenth of March. This was an offering enjoined to cleanse the temple from defilement, previous to the celebration of the passover, which took place a few days after; see

Ordinances for the people. An order for the prince’s inheritance. Before CHRIST 574. blemish, and six lambs, and a ram: they shall be without blemish.

18. — the prince shall not take &c.] 1 Kings xxi. 16; compare chap. xlv. 8. W. Lowth.

Ezekiel 45:19

19. — behold, there was a place on the two sides westward.] Or, on their sides westward; that is, there was an inclosure on the west sides of these chambers. W. Lowth.

Ezekiel 45:20

20. — bake the meat offering;] Levit. ii. 4, 5. 7. W. Lowth.

— that they bear them not out] That they bear them not into the outer court, where the people are allowed to assemble, since this privilege of these holy services rests in their own persons. Bp. Hall. See chap. xlv. 19, and Lev. vi. 26.

Before CHRIST 574. of his year. morning by morning.

Ezekiel 45:31

31. — dead of itself.] A command given to all the Jews, Exod. xxii. 31; and more particularly to the priests, Lev. xxii. 8. W. Lowth. Chap. XLV. ver. 1. — by lot] The land was so divided by Joshua in the first partition. W. Lowth. — an oblation unto the Lord.] The portion of the Lord is here called an oblation, because it was a sort of first-fruits of the land or soil itself. W. Lowth, Abp. Newcome. — five and twenty thousand reeds.] The Hebrew doth not express either reeds or cubits: but many interpreters expound the place of cubits, considering this to be the more probable measure, and concluding cubits to be here meant from the circumstance of their being used in the measurement of the temple in the next verse. Bp. Lowth, Calmet, Michaelis.