Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezekiel 40

Introduction

1  The time, manner, and end of the vision of the city and temple.
6  The description of the east gate of the outer court;
20  of the north gate;
24  of the south gate;
27  of the south gate of the inner court;
32  of the east gate;
35  and of the north gate.
39  Eight tables.
44  The chambers.
48  The porch of the house.
Verse 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 selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither.
In the five
On Tuesday, April 20.
1:2, 8:1, 29:17, 32:1,17
after
33:21, 2 Kings 25:1-30, Jeremiah 39:1-18, 52:1-34
selfsame
Exodus 12:41
hand
1:3, 3:14,22, 11:24, 37:1, Revelation 1:10
Verse 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.
the visions
There can be little doubt, that the grand outlines of the description of the temple, in the following extraordinary vision, were taken from that of Solomon's, with all the additions made to it in after ages; and we may suppose that Zerubbabel and the other Jews had respect to it, as far as circumstances would permit, in rebuilding the temple after the captivity. There are, however, many circumstances which conclusively shew, that something infinitely superior to either the first or second temple was intended; and that the external description must be considered as a figure and emblem of spiritual blessings. Probably the more immediate accomplishment of the prophecy will be subsequent to the conversion and restoration of the Jews, the destruction of Gog and Magog, and the pouring out of the Spirit, mentioned at the close of the last chapter; but whether there will be any external forms analogous to these cannot be determined, though in some respects it seems improbable.
1:1, 8:3, Daniel 7:1,7, Acts 2:17, 16:9, 2 Corinthians 12:1-7
a very
17:22,23, Isaiah 2:2,3, Daniel 2:34,35, Micah 4:1, Revelation 21:10
by
or, upon. as the.
48:30-35, Galatians 4:26, Revelation 21:10-23
frame
1 Chronicles 28:12,19
on the south
Isaiah 48:2, 14:13
Verse 3

And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.
whose
1:7,27, Daniel 10:5,6, Revelation 1:15
with
47:3, Isaiah 8:20, 28:17, Zechariah 2:1,2, Revelation 11:1, 21:15
Verse 4

And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear 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 seest to the house of Israel.
behold
2:7,8, 3:17, 43:10, 44:5, Matthew 10:27, 13:9,51,52
declare
Isaiah 21:10, Jeremiah 26:2, Acts 20:27, 1 Corinthians 11:23
Verse 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.
a wall
42:20, Psalms 125:2, Isaiah 26:1, 60:18, Zechariah 2:5, Revelation 21:12
by
Deuteronomy 3:11
so he
42:20
Verse 6

Then came he unto the gate which looketh toward the east, 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.
unto
20, 8:16, 11:1, 43:1, 44:1, 46:1,12, 1 Chronicles 9:18,24, Nehemiah 3:29, Jeremiah 19:2
which looketh
Heb. whose face was the way. stairs.
26, 1 Kings 6:8
threshold
10:18, 43:8, 46:2, 47:1, Psalms 84:10; *marg:
one reed
5,7
Verse 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.
42:5, 1 Kings 6:5-10, 1 Chronicles 9:26, 23:28, 2 Chronicles 3:9, 31:11, Ezra 8:29, Jeremiah 35:4
Verse 9

Then measured he the porch of the gate, eight cubits; and the posts thereof, two cubits; and the porch of the gate was inward.
the posts
45:19
Verse 10

And the little chambers of the gate eastward were three on this side, and three on that side; they three were of one measure: and the posts had one measure on this side and on that side.
the little
they three
The entrance into the outer court seems to have been through a porch with doors at both ends; and on each side of this porch were three small chambers, or rooms, for the use of the porters, a reed square in size, with a passage of five cubits between them. The common cubit, termed the "cubit of a man," (De 3:11,) was about 18 inches; but the cubit used by the angel was, as we learn from ch. 43:13, "a cubit and a hand breadth," or about three inches more than the common cubit, that is 21 inches. Hence the measuring reed, which was "six cubits long, by the cubit and the hand breadth," (ver. 5,) must have been about 10® feet
Verse 12

The 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.
space
Heb. limit, or bound.
Verse 13

He measured then the gate from the roof of one little chamber to the roof of another: the breadth was five and twenty cubits, door against door.
the gate
The whole arch of the east gate, measured from the southern extremity of one room to the northern extremity of the opposite room, was 25 cubits; including the dimensions of the two rooms, or twelve cubits, (ver. 7;) the spaces before the rooms, or two cubits, (ver. 12;) and the breadth of the entrance, ten cubits, (ver. 11;) making all 24 cubits, leaving one cubit for the thickness of the walls.
Verse 14

He made also posts of threescore cubits, even unto the post of the court round about the gate.
the court
8:7, 42:1, Exodus 27:9, 35:17, Leviticus 6:16, 1 Chronicles 28:6, Psalms 100:4, Isaiah 62:9
Verse 15

And from the face of the gate of the entrance unto the face of the porch of the inner gate were fifty cubits.
the face of the gate
This was the whole length of the porch, from the outward front, (ch. 41:21, 25,) to the inner side which looks into the first court, (ver. 17,) including the thickness of the walls, (ver. 6,) chambers, (ver. 7,) and spaces between them.
Verse 16

And there were narrow windows to the little chambers, and to their posts within the gate round about, and likewise to the arches: and windows were round about inward: and upon each post were palm trees.
narrow
Heb. closed.
41:16, 1 Kings 6:4, 1 Corinthians 13:12
the little
7,12
arches
or, galleries, or porches.
21,22,25,30, 41:15, 42:3, John 5:2
inward
or, within. palm trees.
1 Kings 6:29,32,35, 2 Chronicles 3:5, Psalms 92:12, Revelation 7:9
Verse 17

Then brought he me into the outward court, and, lo, there were chambers, and a pavement made for the court round about: thirty chambers were upon the pavement.
the outward
10:5, 42:1, 46:21, Revelation 11:2
there were
1 Kings 6:5, 1 Chronicles 9:26, 23:28, 2 Chronicles 31:11
thirty
42:4, 45:5
Verse 19

Then he measured the breadth from the forefront of the lower gate unto the forefront of the inner court without, an hundred cubits eastward and northward.
unto the
23,27, 46:1,2
without
or, from without.
Verse 20

And the gate of the outward court that looked toward the north, he measured the length thereof, and the breadth thereof.
the gate
that looked
Heb. whose face was.
Verse 21

And the little chambers thereof were three on this side and three on that side; and the posts 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.
the little
7,10-16,29,30,36,37
arches
or, galleries, or porches.
16,26,30,34
after
8,10,13,15,25,29
Verse 22

And their windows, and their arches, and their palm trees, were after the measure of the gate that looketh toward the east; and they went up unto it by seven steps; and the arches thereof were before them.
palm trees
16,31,37, 1 Kings 6:29,32,35, 7:36, 2 Chronicles 3:5, Revelation 7:9
and they
6,26,31,34,37,49, Hebrews 6:1
before them
Or, "suitable to them," that is, to the arches of the east gate. The north gate into the outward court, and every thing belonging to it, were exactly the same as the east gate.
Verse 23

And the gate of the inner court was over against the gate toward the north, and toward the east; and he measured from gate to gate an hundred cubits.
the gate of
That is, the gate of the inner court was opposite, and exactly answered to the gate of the outward court, both on the north and east side; and between the gates of the outward and inner court was a space of an hundred cubits.
19,27,28,44
and he
Exodus 27:9-18, 38:9-12
Verse 24

After that he brought me toward the south, and behold a gate toward the south: and he measured the posts thereof and the arches thereof according to these measures.
and behold
6,20,35, 46:9
and he
21,28,29,33,35,36
according
That is, according to the measures of the eastern and northern gates. There does not appear to have been any gates on the west, though the courts seem to have extended to the western wall
Verse 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.
windows
16,22,29, John 12:46, 1 Corinthians 13:12, 2 Peter 1:19
the length
21,33
Verse 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 posts thereof.
seven
6,22,29, 2 Peter 3:18
palm trees
16,22, Psalms 92:12,13, Song of Solomon 7:7,8
Verse 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.
in the
23,32
and he
19,23,47
Verse 28

And he brought me to the inner court by the south gate: and he measured the south gate according to these measures;
he brought
As the outward court inclosed the inner, the prophet was led from the south gate of the outward court to the south gate of the inner, which was opposite it, and so into the inner court itself.
according
32,35
Verse 29

And the little chambers thereof, and the posts 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.
the little
The entrance into the inner court seems to have been through a portico, exactly like that at each gate of the outward court; but the ascent was by eight steps, instead of seven.
7,10,12, 1 Chronicles 28:11,12, 2 Chronicles 31:11, Nehemiah 13:5,9, Jeremiah 35:2-4, 36:10
and there
16,22,25
Verse 30

And the arches round about were five and twenty cubits long, and five cubits broad.
the arches
These are supposed to have been built over the spaces which separated the little chambers, or porters' lodges.
five and
21,25,29,33,36
five cubits
Instead of five cubits, it seems evident, from the parallel places, that we should read twenty-five: the word êsrim appears to have been lost out of the text.
broad
Heb. breadth.
Verse 31

And the arches thereof were toward the utter court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof: and the going up to it had eight steps.
and palm
26,34
eight
22,26,34,37
Verse 32

And he brought me into the inner court toward the east: and he measured the gate according to these measures.
into the
28-31,35
Verse 33

And the little chambers thereof, and the posts 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.
it was
21,25,36
Verse 34

And the arches thereof were toward the outward court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps.
palm trees
That is, probably, the capital of each pillar was ornamented with sculpture, representing leaves or branches of the palm tree.
eight steps
6,22,26,31,34,37,49
Verse 35

And he brought me to the north gate, and measured it according to these measures;
to the
27,32, 44:4, 47:2
measured
The north gate, as well as the east, was built in the same manner, and of the same dimensions, as the south gate. See the parallel passages.
Verse 36

The little chambers thereof, the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, and the windows to it round about: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.
little
21,29,36
Verse 37

And the posts thereof were toward the utter court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps.
the posts
31,34
the utter court
That is, "the outer court," as the word utter primarily denotes.
Verse 38

And the chambers and the entries thereof were by the posts of the gates, where they washed the burnt offering.
the chambers
12, 41:10,11, 1 Kings 6:8
where
This place, where the legs and entrails of the sacrifices, especially of the burnt offerings, were washed, was just within the portico of the north entrance to the inner court, or court of the priests. An allusion to this is most probably made by the inspired apostle when writing his Epistle to the Hebrews, at the 10th chapter and 22nd verse. "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."
Leviticus 1:9, 8:21, Hebrews 10:22
Verse 39

And in the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, to slay thereon the burnt offering and the sin offering and the trespass offering.
tables on that
41:22, 44:16, Malachi 1:7,12, Luke 22:30, 1 Corinthians 10:16-21
the burnt
Leviticus 1:3-17
the sin
Leviticus 4:2,3,13-35, Isaiah 53:5,10, 2 Corinthians 5:21
the trespass
Leviticus 5:6-13, 6:6, 7:1,2
Verse 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.
at the side
Two tables were on each side, as you come into the porch of the gate; and two on each side of the inner part of the gate that looked towards the altar; in all eight tables, on which they slew and cut up the victims. It does not appear that any such tables were used either in the tabernacle or temple; and this seems to intimate the introduction of a new and more spiritual dispensation: See the referemces.
as one goeth up
or, at the step.
Verse 43

And within were hooks, an hand broad, fastened round about: and upon the tables was the flesh of the offering.
within
These were probably for hanging up the victims in order to flay them.
hooks
or, end-irons, or, the two hearth-stones. upon.
Leviticus 1:6,8, 8:20
Verse 44

And without the inner gate were the chambers of the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate; and their prospect was toward the south: one at the side of the east gate having the prospect toward the north.
the inner
23,27
chambers
7,10,29, 1 Chronicles 6:31,32, 16:41-43, 25:1-31, Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16
Verse 45

And he said unto me, This chamber, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house.
chamber
The word chamber probably here denotes a row of chambers, of which there seems to have been three: one for the singers; one for the priests who in their courses took charge of the sacred vessels and treasures; and one for the priests who attended on the altar and sacrifices.
whose
8:5
the keepers
Leviticus 8:35, Numbers 3:27,28,32,38, 18:5, 1 Chronicles 6:49, 9:23, 2 Chronicles 13:11, Psalms 134:1, Malachi 2:4-7, 1 Timothy 6:20, Revelation 1:6
charge
or, ward, or, ordinance, and so ver.
Verse 46

And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.
the keepers
44:15, Leviticus 6:12,13, Numbers 18:5
these
43:19, 44:15, 48:11, 1 Kings 2:35
which come
Leviticus 10:3, Numbers 16:5,40, Ephesians 2:13
Verse 47

So he measured the court, an hundred cubits long, and an hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the altar that was before the house.
court
This was the inner court, or court of the priests, which was of the same dimensions with each division of the outer court; and the altar stood directly before the porch of the temple.
an hundred cubits long
19,23,27
Verse 48

And he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured each post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the gate was three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side.
the porch
The length of the porch was twenty cubits, the same as the breadth of the temple, and the breadth eleven cubits, that is, one cubit more than in Solomon's temple. Two bivalve, or folding doors, each leaf of them being three cubits wide, seem to have formed the entrance; which, with five cubits, perhaps of brick or stone work, one each side, called "the post of the porch," amount to sixteen cubits; and the other four cubits may be supposed to have been the distance from these posts to the outside walls of the temple.
1 Kings 6:3, 2 Chronicles 3:4
Verse 49

The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits; and he brought me by the steps whereby they went up to it: and there were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side.
The steps
This was a flight of steps which led from the inner court into the temple.
31,34,37
pillars
1 Kings 7:15-21, 2 Chronicles 3:17, Jeremiah 52:17-23, Revelation 3:12

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