Ezekiel 43

The glory of the Lord cometh from the east into this new temple and filleth it verse 1.2 c. the lord speaketh unto the prophet and promiseth that he will dwell there for ever among his people, and cleanse them from sin, which had caused him to remove out of the old temple 7. He commandeth the prophet to represent exactly this whole building unto the people to the end, that they may repent and be made partakers of this whole work of God’s grace 10. A general law concerning the holiness of this whole place, 12. The measure, dedication and use of the Alter for burnt-offering, 13.

1. Then he led me to the gate, the gate that looked the way towards the east.

2. And behold the glory of the God of Israel [Which was before removed from the Temple. See above chapter 1.28 and 10.4,18,19. With the Annotat. And compare Malachi 3:1] came from the way toward the east: and his voice [or found, noise] was like the noise of many waters, [or great waters, compare above chapter 1.24. where the majesty of God appeared like the majesty of a judge: as here on the contrary was a token of grace and mercy, when the glory of God returned to dwell in his own, and to restore it fully and perfectly, and to bless it. See the sequel] and the earth was enlightened [Hebrews gave light, or (hind] with his glory. [Compare Revelation 18:1 and 21, 23 and see Isaiah 60:19,20 c. Matthew 4:16. Acts 13:47. 2 Corinthians 3:18. and 4.6 c. Some conceive that light is here opposed to the cloud of the Old Testament. See 1 kings 8.10, 11, 12.]

3. And so was the appearance of the vision [Or it was as the appearance of the vision] that I saw, as the vision that I had seen, when I came to destroy the city; [that is, when God sent me to declare in his name the destruction of Jerusalem, whereupon the destruction would certainly follow. See above chapter 9.10 & compare Jeremiah 1 on verse 10. The prophet doth intimate, that the same God did here manifest himself in grace and favor, which had there showed himself in great wrath & indignation] and there were uniforms like the uniform that I had seen by the river ch bar: and I fell upon my face. [See above chapter 1 on verse 28. so blow chapter 44.4.]

4. And the glory of the LORD came into the house: [That is, the Temple] (by) the way of the gate, that looked the way towards the east. [Hebrews whole face was the way, c. as it was departed through the east-gate out of the former old Temple, (see above chapter 10.19.) to go afterwards and dwell in the new. See 2 Corinthians 5:17. Revelations 21.5. Also, Haggai 2:7, 8, 9. The Christian reader may also compare Luke1.78, 79.]

5. And the spirit took me up [see chapter 2.22. and 3.12 and 8.3. with the Annotat.] and brought me into the innermost court: and behold, the glory of the Lord had filled the house. [Compare below chapter 44.4. and Exodus40.34,35.1. 1 Kings8.10.11. Jeremiah6.1 and 24.23 and 35.2 and 16.1,2. and 66.18,19. Hbak.2.14. Haggai2.7, 9. Zacchariah2.5. Matthew17.5. Job1.14 and 6.12,13. 1 Corinthians16.28.2. 2 Thessalonians1.10. 2 Peter 1:16,17,18. Revelation15.8. and 21.23. and 22.5.]

6. And I heard one that spoke with me out of the house: [namely, the Lord, whose glory filled the temple, in the former verse: and who speaketh unto the prophet in the next verse. Compare above chapter 1.28 and 2.1] and the man [Others, a man. See above chapter 40 on verse 3.] Was standing by me?

7. And he [The Lord that talked with me out of the house, as is said in the former verse] said unto me; child of man (this) this is the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, were I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel, [Compare Leviticus26.11,12. Isaiah 60:13 and see Job 14.23. 1 Corinthians3.16, 17 and 6.19. Revelations 21.3 and 22.3, c.] forever. [see Jeremiah 31:32,33,36 and 32.40 and 33.20,21,25,26, c.] And those of the house of Israel shall defile no more [Hebrews the house of Israel shall defile no more [Hebrews the house of Israel defile, c. the verb in the plural number] my holy name [Hebrews the name of holiness: so in the sequel] they, no Kings by their wheredome, [that is, idolatry, all kind of superstitions, wil-worship, humane inventions, and traditions in the service of God. See Leviticus17. On verse 7 and 20 on verse 5.] And by the dead bodies of their kings, [that is (as some conceive) by the bodies of some deceased kings that were buried about the temple. Others understand hereby the bodies of those men whom they had slain and sacrificed by the honor of their idols, which idols they in a hethenish way were wont to call their kings, especially that same Molec, or Milcom, or Malcam, or Melech, c. that had the name thence. For Melech signifieth King. See Leviticus 18:21. Jeremiah48.7. and 1.15 and 5.26. with the Annotat.. Some understand it of the idols themselves, which are justly called dead bodies, because they are without life, and like a filthy rotten carcafe stink before God. See Leviticus 26:30 and Jeremiah16.18. With the Annotat.] (On) their high places: [or, (and) their high places; so that the high places (as often) are taken for a special kind of idolatry. The sum of all in brief is, by the gracious inhibition of my spirit, I will cause that my spiritual Israel (that is, my church) shall serve me holily, and be estranged from all that is repugnant thereunto, especially from all idolatry, whereof some kinds are related in the sequel of the abominations which the people of God had committed in Canaan. This may in a manner be applied (according to some) to the time of Ezra and Nehemia after the deliverance of the Jews out of Babel, although those men of God were sain continually to encounter with many gross abuses of the people, and the Jews afterward from time to time grew still worse and worse, (as appeared about the time of Christ’s coming) but all this looketh principally to the time of the Messiah, and sending forth of his spirit, and shall fully accomplished in the life to come in the heavenly Canaan, Revelation 21,27 and 22.3, c.]

8. When they did set their threshold by my threshold, and their post next to my post, [That is, impudently brought into and committed in mine house all manner of idolatry, superstition and traditions of men, intending thus to serve me and the Devil together to build Temple by or in Temple, as it were in spite of me. Compare herewith above chapter 8 and especially verse 7, 8, 9, 10, c. and further 2 Kings16.14 and 21.7 and above chapter 23.39] (so) that there was (but) a wall between me and between them: [see above chapter 8.8,9. Others, and (made) a wall between me and between them; that is separated themselves from me by their abomination. See Isaiah 59:2.] And defiled my holy name by their abominations which they committed; wherefore I have confirmed them in my anger.

9. Now [In the time of this new temple, when is shall bestow upon my people the aforesaid grace by the Messiah. And they shall put away their whoredom and the dead bodies of their Kings [as above verse 7.] far from me: and I will dwell in the midst of them for ever.

10. Thou child of man, show this house to the house of Israel, [that is, give them a fight of the fashion of this house, and show them the scope and meaning thereof. See above chapter 40.4.] that they may blush because of their iniquities: [by consideration of their own unworthiness, (as followeth) and this my underserved incomprehensible mercy which I promise unto my people, and will surely perform thereafter, as I have showed thee this new building; and they shall by the receive the pattern thereof, as followeth, and be able clearly to perceive by all that it is no devise or invention of thine, but my work] and let them measure the pattern. [Or the shape, having its due proportion, fashion, or form measure, c. (Compare 2 Chronicles 24. on verse 13.) so as thou at present hast seen it]

11. And if they do blush because of all that they have done, then show them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, yea all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: [The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, to make it known unto him. Psalms 25:14. but not for dogs and swine, Matthew7.6.] And write it before their eyes, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them. [That is, picture it out or portray it unto them, and describe it unto them, that by true repentance they may seek to be living stones of this building, and likewise my spiritual house, &c. see 1 Peter 2:4, 5. and Ephesians 2:20, 21, 22.]

12. This is the law of the house; upon the top [Hebrews head] of the mountain [some conceive, that God thus secretly pointeeth at the Jerusalem which is above, Galatian4.26. Compare Psalms15.1. Matthew 5:14. Hebrew 12.22.] the whole limit thereof round about shall be an holiness of holiness, [that is, most holy, a most holy place: because the Lord had now hallowed all things, and the father and the son by the Holy Ghost had taken up their had taken up their habitation there, sanctifying all the elect; howbeit the church militant initially and in part, by degrees and measure, but the triumphant perfectly and completely.]

13. And these are the measures of the Altar [Meaning the altar of burnt-offering, typifying the Lord Jesus Christ with his onely propitiatory sacrifice, with whom all the faithful in the four corners of the world have fellowship, likewise in and upon whom they offer up unto God their spiritual sacrifices. See Hebrew13.10. And 1 Peter2.5.] After the ells, the ell being an elle and a hand breadth: [see above chapter 40.5.] the bosom [or lap. That is, the foot or bottom, which beneath compassed about and received (as it were) into its bosome all tat rested upon it, and fasted, and upheld the same. See the next verse. And verse 17.] Then one ell, [meaning in height] and one ell the breadth, [that is, thickness] and end thereof [Hebrews about a span: and this is the back [that is, the lowermost part, the stay of all the rest, as when one lieth upon his back] of the Altar.

14. Now from the bottom (upon) the ground, unto the lowermost draught, [that is, lat sticking out, compassing about and as it were butting forth. Hebrews help] two ells, and the breadth one ell; and from the least settle to the greatest settle source ells, and the breadth one ell.

15. And the barel, [That is, the hearth, gridiron, or place above upon the altar, where the wood and the sacrifices were laid and burnt, called barel, that is, the mountain of God, by reason of its height, (as some conceive) because they went up to it by steps, below verse 17. and Ariel, that is, the lion of God, because it consumed the offerings as a strong lion that devoureth all that before him. See Isaiah 29. on verse 1 and compare Exodus 27:4 with the Annotat. So is our altar (the Lord Jesus Christ) indeed and in truth as a mountain of God, whither all believes, both Jews and Gentiles, from all corners of the world go for refuge and ascend; and the lion of God, the lion of the tribe of Juda, that consumeth and devoureth all the sets it self against us. See Isaiah2.2, 3 and 60.7. And 63.1,&c. Revelation5.5.] Four ells: and from the Ariel and so upward, the four horns. [Compare Exodus27.2. with the Annotat.]

16. Now the Ariel, twelve (ells) the length, with twenty (ells) the breadth; four squares in the four sides thereof [Hebrews four quadrangles or four square nesses: as above chapter 1.8. see there. So in the next verse]

17. And the settle [or (every (settle) fourteen (ells) the length, with twelve (ells the) breadth in the four sides thereof: and the edge about it half an ell, and the bosome thereon, [as above verse 13.] an ell about; and his steps looking towards the east.

18. And he said unto me, child of man, thus faith the Lord LORD; these are the ordinances of the Altar, [that concern the altar, that were to be observed both in the making of it, and ministering at it] In the day when they shall make it: to offer burnt-offering thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon.

19. And thou shalt give to the Levitical Priests that are of the seed of Zadok, [see above chapter 40.46. and below chapter 44.15.&c.] which approach unto me (faith the Lord) to minister unto me, an heifer, a young bullock [Hebrews a son of bullock: and so in the sequel] for a sin offering.

20. And thou shalt take the blood thereof, and put it on the four horns of it, and on the four corners of the settle, and upon the edge round about: thus shalt thou cleanse and purge it. [Forasmuch as neither altar nor sacrifice had of themselves any ceremonial cleanness or holiness, neither would bring any to the person that was unclean, therefore all things were first to be purged and consecrated by blood, typifying the spiritual purging of our consciences, services, and heavenly things by the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ; for application or imputation whereof the ministers of Christ as his instruments are serviceable unto us by the sincere preaching of the Gospel concerning Christ crucified, and the administration of the holy sacraments, prayers, &c. as the Levitical priests did in the time of the ceremonial law. See Hebrews 9. From verse 9 to 24. And 2 Corinthians 3:6. And 4.5,7. Galatians 3:1, &c. Compare above chapter 40 on verse 39.]

21. After that thou shalt take the bullock of the sin-offering, and he shall burn it in an appointed [Or, commanded] place of the house without the sanctuary. [Compare Hebrews 13:11, 12]

22. And on the second day thou shalt offer a perfect he-goat for a sin-offering: and they shall cleanse the Altar, like as they cleanse (it) with the bullock.

23. When thou shalt have made an end of cleansing it (then) shalt thou offer an heifer, a perfect young bullock, and a perfect ram of the flock.

24. And thou shalt offer them before the face of the Lord: And the priests shall cast salt upon them. [Compare Leviticus 2 on verse 13. Numbers 18. On verse 19. 2 Corinthians13 on verse 5. also Matthew 5:13. Mark9.49, 50. Colossians 4:6] and shall offer them (for) a burnt-offering unto the LORD.

25. Seven days shalt thou prepare every day an begoat for a sin-offering: they shall also prepare [Others, as they, c. shall have prepared] a heifer, a young bullock, and a ram of the flock 9both) perfect.

26. Seven days shall they purge the Altar and cleanse it, and fill the hands thereof. [That is, dedicate and consecrated it to a holy use. Compare Leviticus 7. On verse 37. And 8.33, c. Others, they shall (every one) fill his hands; that is, hallow and consecrate themselves for the offering up of sacrifice upon the altar.]

27. Now when they shall have ended these days, then it shall come to pass on the eighth day, and so forward, that the priests shall prepare your burnt-offerings and thanksgiving upon the altar; [see above chapter 40 on verse 39. and here above on verse 20.] and I will take pleasure in you, saith the Lord LORD.