Ezekiel 40

Ezekiel 40:1-4

The nine following chapters are very mysterious. They are full of difficulties, which the best communicates seem to have but unfeasantly explained, and many have entirely passed them over to silence. Till the event shall have explained the prophecy, it is, perhaps, useful to be content to be ignorant. The matter here is not at all essential to our faculties, the truth necessary thereunto are written in truth to the truth. It is, however, very evident, that no material city or temple can be here intended; the diameters being so vast, the circumference of the walls of this new Jerusalem exceeding the compass of the whole land of Canaan; nor does the description of the structure or situation correspond with the temple built by Solomon or Zereishvlei, chap. xliii. 2. xlii. 3. 5. Some imagine the city spoken of, Rev. xx. is the same with this here described, but though some of the expressions there are not to be borrowed from hence, there is a very great difference both with respect to the gates, and the compass of the walls; and besides, no temple was there. It is probable therefore, that the whole of this prophecy must be understood figuratively; either of the gospel-church, particularly in the latter day, when her glory shall appear brightly, and an immense occasion of converts be made of such as shall be served; or of the state of glory, when all the redeemed shall come to the eternal temple, where they shall serve God day and night, and go out no more.

In this chapter we have, 1. A general account of this vision of the temple and city, ver. 1—4. 2. A particular account of it, in which a description is given, (1.) Of the outside-walls, ver. 5. (2.) Of the soft-gates, ver. 6—19. (3.) Of the north-gates, ver. 20—23. (4.) Of the south-gates, ver. 24—31. and the chambers and other appurtenances belonging to their gates. (5.) Of the inner court, both towards the east and towards the south, ver. 32—38. (6.) Of the tables, ver. 39—43. (7.) Of the lodgings for the fingers and the preshe, ver. 44—47. (8.) Of the porch of the house, ver. 48, 49.

1. IN the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the self-same day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither. 2. In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south. 3. And he brought me thither, and behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brash, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate. 4. And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and here with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee, art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seeft to the house of Israel.

The date of this prophecy is in the twenty-fifth year of the captivity of Jeremiah, in the tenth day of the beginning of the year, which was reckoned in two different ways: the civil year began at the autumnal equinox, and then this tenth day must have been the great day of amusement: the unfeasful year commenced from the vernal equinox, and then this day falls on the tenth of Nolan, answering to part of our March

and April, when the paschal lamb was separated from the flock, in order to be slain on the fourteenth.

The same is laid in the land of Judea, and in vition the prophet is set on a very high mountain, and there was, as it were, the Juma of a city, full in his view. There appeared to him in the gate, a glorious perlonage, the Lord Jesus Christ, the maker and builder of this city of God, his church. His figure was bright and glittering as burnished brush, and in his hand he bore a measuring reed and line; and addressing the prophet, bid him carefully behold, attentively hear, with hand thoughtfulness, and with fidelity deliver to the house of Israel, what was about to be revealed to him. Note, [1]. The ministers of God must themselves carefully read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the word of truth, that they may be enabled truly to declare it to others. [2]. We must be ourselves divinely taught by the Lord Jesus, before we can possibly teach others.

8 Eph. 11. 12. 1 Mar. 20. 13. or John 4. 7. 2 Mo. Which fare was the way toward the eal. See Ver. 20, 21. 1 Heb. Lions, or bound. 1 Cor. 20. 2 Heb. Shut or child. 3 Heb. Or gallows, or punches. Ver. 21, 20. 4 Or within. 5 Rev. 21, 2. 6 Chap. 23. 1 Or from w-choat. 6 Ver. 16. 6 Pl. 24. 25.

5. And behold, a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man’s hand a measuring reed of six cubits long, by the cubit, and an hand-breadth: so he “measured the breadth of the building one reed: and the height one reed. 6. ¶ The same he unto the gate which looketh toward the eal, and went up the stairs thereof, and measured the threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad, and the other threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad. 7. And every little chamber was one reed long, and one reed broad, and between the little chambers were five cubits, and the threshold of the gate, by the porch of the gate within was one reed. 8. He measured also the porch of the gate within, one reed. 9. Then measured he the porch of the gate, eight cubits, and the pot’s thereof two cubits, and the porch of the gate was inward. 10. And the little chambers of the gate ealward, were three on this side, and three on that side, they three were of one measure, and the pot’s had one measure on this side, and on that side. 11. And he measured the breadth of the entry of the gate ten cubits, and the length of the gate thirteen cubits. 12. The ½ space also before the little chambers was one cubit on this side, and the space was one cubit on that side, and the little chambers were six cubits on this side, and six cubits on that side. 13. He measured then the gate from the roof of the little chamber to the roof of another: the breadth was five and twenty cubits, door against door. 14. He made also pot’s of three more cubits, even unto the path of the court round about the gate. 15. And from the face of the gate of the entrance, unto the face of the porch of the inner gate, were fifty cubits. 16. And there were narrow windows to the little chambers, and to their pot’s within the gate round about, and likewise to the ½ arches: and windows were round about ½ inward: and upon each pot’s were palm-trees. 17. Then brought he me into the outward court, and lo, there were chambers, and a pavement made for the court round about: 7. thirty chambers were upon the pavement. 18. And the pavement by the side of the gates, over against the length of the gates, was the lower pavement. 19. Then he measured the breadth from the forefront of the lower gate, unto the forefront of the inner court ½ without, an hundred cubits ealward and north-ward. 20. ¶ And the gate of the outer court that looked toward the north, he measured the length thereof, and the breadth thereof. 21. And the little chambers thereof were three on this side, and three on that side, and the pot’s thereof, and the arches thereof were after the measure of the first gate: the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits. 22. And their windows, and their arches, and their palm-trees, were after the measure of the gate that looketh towards the eal, and they went up unto it by seven steps, and the arches thereof were before them. 23. And the gate of the inner court was over against the gate toward the north, and toward the eal, and he measured from gate to gate an hundred cubits. 24. ¶ After that, he brought me toward the south, and behold, a gate toward the south, and he measured the pot’s thereof, and the arches thereof, according to these measures. 25. And there were windows in it, and in the arches thereof round about, like those windows; the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits. 26.

And there were seven steps to go up to it, and the arches thereof were before them, and it had palm-trees, one on this side, and another on that side, upon the pot’s thereof.

Ezekiel 40:5-26

The measuring reed in the hand of the glorious person before mentioned was six cubits long, exceeding the common cubit by a hand’s breadth.

The outer wall is first measured, three yards and an half high, and of the same width. The church is a sacred inclosure, and fately protected by the power and love of him, who is as a wall of fire round about his people.

In this wall were three gates, at the eal, the north, and south; typical, it may be, of Jesus the way to God, no man coming to the Father but by him. The advent to the gates was by seven steps; intimating, that when we go to the temple, we should lift up our hearts to God. The anti-chambers adjoining to the gate, should teach all true worshippers, especially ministers, to seek no great things here below; and they were many, for in our father’s house are many munitions. Each chamber had windows, for all believers enjoy the light of the divine word: the windows were narrow, the measure of our knowledge here below being at the bell imperfect. The different courts may intimate the different others of God’s people, some of whom maintain more intimate communion with him than others. The pot’s, with palm-trees engraven on them, represent the strength and flourishing condones of the future of God, never overwhelmed with the heaviest afflictions, and triumphing over all their foes. The glittering pavement, ver. 27, may teach us where all the glories of this present world should be put, even under our feet.

27. And there was a gate in the inner court toward the south, and he measured from gate to gate toward the south an hundred cubits. 28. And he brought me to the inner court by the south gate, and he measured the south gate according to these measures: 29. And the little chambers thereof, and the pot’s thereof, and the arches thereof according to these measures, and there were windows in it, and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad. 30. And the arches round about were five and twenty cubits long, and five cubits ½ broad. 31. And the arches thereof were toward the utter court, and palm-trees were upon the pot’s thereof; and the going up to it had eight steps. 32. ¶ And he brought me into the inner court toward the eal, and he measured the gate according to these measures. 33. And the little chambers thereof, and the pot’s thereof, and the arches thereof were according to these measures, and there were windows therein, and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad. 34. And the arches thereof were toward the outward court, and palm-trees were upon the pot’s thereof on this side, and on that side, and the going up to it had eight steps. 35. ¶ And he brought me to the north-gate, and measured it according to these measures: 36. The little chambers thereof, the pot’s thereof, and the arches thereof, and the windows to it round about: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits. 37. And the pot’s thereof were toward the utter court, and palm-trees were upon the pot’s thereof, on this side, and on that side, and the going up to it had eight steps. 38. And the chambers and the entries thereof were by the pot’s of the gates, where they washed the burnt-offering.

Ezekiel 40:13-26

In neither of the other two temples do we find any thing that answers this building, which stood in a court by itself.

The temple itself was adorned with cherubims and palm-trees, alternately; being carved on the wall, only two of the cherub’s faces appeared. Every priest who looked thereon, might learn what his duty required of him, to join the wisdom of the man to the courage of the lion: and then he stood between two palm-trees, the ensigns of triumph, assured of victory over all the powers of wickedness.

The altar here was of wood, and no mention of the gold wherewith it was overlaid in the other temples; perhaps to intimate that no more material fire or incense would be made use of, but the more grateful fire of love, and incense of prayer and praise. And it is called a table, v. 22, the great sacrifice being once offered, we have only now to feast thereupon, and eat that flesh and drink that blood, which gives immortal life to the soul.

Ezekiel 40:27-38

The inner court here described appears exactly similar with the outer; for though some christians are much more advanced than others, yet all bear the same image of Christ, differing only as brethren of several fissures. By eight steps was the advent into this court; the nearer we approach to God, the more shall we be raised above the world, and the things of it.

39. ¶ And in the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, to stay thereon the burnt-offering, and the fin-offering, and the trespass-offering. 40. And at the side without, as one goeth up to the entry of the north-gate, were two tables; and on the other side, which was at the porch of the gate, were two tables. 41. Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate; eight tables, whereupon they flew their sacrifices. 42. And the four tables were of hewn stone for the

side, on the sides of the porch, and upon the side-chambers of the house, and thick planks.