Ezekiel 40

Ezekiel’s predictions had begun with a vision of the Eternal on His chariot-throne, soon withdrawing from the Temple (x., xi.), which is shortly afterwards utterly destroyed; whilst Jerusalem is laid in ruins, the land desolated, the prince dethroned, and the people exiled. They now close with another vision, in which he beholds the restoration of the Temple, the renewal of worship, the re-establishment of royalty, a new partition of the land, and settlement of the people. Commentators differ greatly in the interpretation of this vision. The most prevalent view in the Christian Church has been that this vision is an elaborate symbol of the blessings which God designs to bestow upon His Church under the Gospel dispensation. The prophecy begins with a description of an ideal temple drawn from that of Solomon, but on a far larger scale. The prophet was writing for Jews, familiar with the details of temple buildings and sacrifices. But if we bear in mind its symbolical character and its spiritual meaning, as summed up in the closing words of the book, “The Lord is there,” much of the detail which seems uninteresting to the modern mind will be lit up with a new light or inspired with a new message.

2 by which. Rather, as R.V., “whereon.” The “very high mountain” represents the ideal exaltation of the mountain of the “Lord’s house” “above the hills”: cp. Isa. ii. 2; Micah iv. 1.

on the south. i.e., of the prophet’s position, entering the land from Chaldea.

3 like the appearance of brass. That is, bright and sparkling: see i. 7; cp. Rev. i. 15. The “man,” evidently, was an angel.

5 by the cubit and a hand-breadth. This cubit, the same as the cubit of Solomon’s Temple, was about twenty inches long. Hence the reed, or rod, would be about ten feet long.

7 little chamber. Or, “ledge”; or “guard chamber” (R.V. and marg.). There were three on each side, bordering the avenue that led up to the porch and east gate.

16 narrow windows. Or, “closed” (R.V.); i.e., with bars or lattices, which, being let into the walls or beams, could not be opened and shut at pleasure.

palm trees. Probably pilasters resembling palm-trees; the trunks forming the shafts, and the branches the capitals.

31 utter. That is, “outer”; and so in ver. 37, and xlii. 1, 14.

43 hooks. Rather, “edging boards”; i.e., borders to the tables.

46 the sons of Zadok. That is, of the family of the high priest: see note on xliv. 15.

48. And he, etc. From the court to the house, i.e., the Temple.