11 Yet they shall be ministers H8334 in my sanctuary, H4720 having charge H6486 at the gates H8179 of the house, H1004 and ministering H8334 to the house: H1004 they shall slay H7819 the burnt offering H5930 and the sacrifice H2077 for the people, H5971 and they shall stand H5975 before H6440 them to minister H8334 unto them.
Seemeth it but a small thing H4592 unto you, that the God H430 of Israel H3478 hath separated H914 you from the congregation H5712 of Israel, H3478 to bring you near H7126 to himself to do H5647 the service H5656 of the tabernacle H4908 of the LORD, H3068 and to stand H5975 before H6440 the congregation H5712 to minister H8334 unto them?
But the priests H3548 were too few, H4592 so that they could H3201 not flay H6584 all the burnt offerings: H5930 wherefore their brethren H251 the Levites H3881 did help H2388 them, till the work H4399 was ended, H3615 and until the other priests H3548 had sanctified H6942 themselves: for the Levites H3881 were more upright H3477 in heart H3824 to sanctify H6942 themselves than the priests. H3548
Concerning the divisions H4256 of the porters: H7778 Of the Korhites H7145 was Meshelemiah H4920 the son H1121 of Kore, H6981 of the sons H1121 of Asaph. H623 And the sons H1121 of Meshelemiah H4920 were, Zechariah H2148 the firstborn, H1060 Jediael H3043 the second, H8145 Zebadiah H2069 the third, H7992 Jathniel H3496 the fourth, H7243 Elam H5867 the fifth, H2549 Jehohanan H3076 the sixth, H8345 Elioenai H454 the seventh. H7637 Moreover the sons H1121 of Obededom H5654 were, Shemaiah H8098 the firstborn, H1060 Jehozabad H3075 the second, H8145 Joah H3098 the third, H7992 and Sacar H7940 the fourth, H7243 and Nethaneel H5417 the fifth, H2549 Ammiel H5988 the sixth, H8345 Issachar H3485 the seventh, H7637 Peulthai H6469 the eighth: H8066 for God H430 blessed H1288 him. Also unto Shemaiah H8098 his son H1121 were sons H1121 born, H3205 that ruled H4474 throughout the house H1004 of their father: H1 for they were mighty men H1368 of valour. H2428 The sons H1121 of Shemaiah; H8098 Othni, H6273 and Rephael, H7501 and Obed, H5744 Elzabad, H443 whose brethren H251 were strong H2428 men, H1121 Elihu, H453 and Semachiah. H5565 All these of the sons H1121 of Obededom: H5654 they and their sons H1121 and their brethren, H251 able H2428 men H376 for strength H3581 for the service, H5656 were threescore H8346 and two H8147 of Obededom. H5654 And Meshelemiah H4920 had sons H1121 and brethren, H251 strong H2428 men, H1121 eighteen. H8083 H6240 Also Hosah, H2621 of the children H1121 of Merari, H4847 had sons; H1121 Simri H8113 the chief, H7218 (for though he was not the firstborn, H1060 yet his father H1 made H7760 him the chief;) H7218 Hilkiah H2518 the second, H8145 Tebaliah H2882 the third, H7992 Zechariah H2148 the fourth: H7243 all the sons H1121 and brethren H251 of Hosah H2621 were thirteen. H7969 H6240 Among these were the divisions H4256 of the porters, H7778 even among the chief H7218 men, H1397 having wards H4931 one against H5980 another, H251 to minister H8334 in the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068 And they cast H5307 lots, H1486 as well the small H6996 as the great, H1419 according to the house H1004 of their fathers, H1 for every gate. H8179 And the lot H1486 eastward H4217 fell H5307 to Shelemiah. H8018 Then for Zechariah H2148 his son, H1121 a wise H7922 counsellor, H3289 they cast H5307 lots; H1486 and his lot H1486 came out H3318 northward. H6828 To Obededom H5654 southward; H5045 and to his sons H1121 the house H1004 of Asuppim. H624 To Shuppim H8206 and Hosah H2621 the lot came forth westward, H4628 with the gate H8179 Shallecheth, H7996 by the causeway H4546 of the going up, H5927 ward H4929 against H5980 ward. H4929 Eastward H4217 were six H8337 Levites, H3881 northward H6828 four H702 a day, H3117 southward H5045 four H702 a day, H3117 and toward Asuppim H624 two H8147 and two. H8147 At Parbar H6503 westward, H4628 four H702 at the causeway, H4546 and two H8147 at Parbar. H6503 These are the divisions H4256 of the porters H7778 among the sons H1121 of Kore, H7145 and among the sons H1121 of Merari. H4847
But I will make H5414 them keepers H8104 of the charge H4931 of the house, H1004 for all the service H5656 thereof, and for all that shall be done H6213 therein.
And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559 Bring H7126 the tribe H4294 of Levi H3878 near, H7126 and present H5975 them before H6440 Aaron H175 the priest, H3548 that they may minister H8334 unto him. And they shall keep H8104 his charge, H4931 and the charge H4931 of the whole congregation H5712 before H6440 the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 to do H5647 the service H5656 of the tabernacle. H4908 And they shall keep H8104 all the instruments H3627 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 and the charge H4931 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 to do H5647 the service H5656 of the tabernacle. H4908 And thou shalt give H5414 the Levites H3881 unto Aaron H175 and to his sons: H1121 they are wholly given H5414 unto him out of the children H1121 of Israel. H3478 And thou shalt appoint H6485 Aaron H175 and his sons, H1121 and they shall wait on H8104 their priest's office: H3550 and the stranger H2114 that cometh nigh H7131 shall be put to death. H4191 And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559 And I, behold, I have taken H3947 the Levites H3881 from among H8432 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 instead of all the firstborn H1060 that openeth H6363 the matrix H7358 among the children H1121 of Israel: H3478 therefore the Levites H3881 shall be mine; Because all the firstborn H1060 are mine; for on the day H3117 that I smote H5221 all the firstborn H1060 in the land H776 of Egypt H4714 I hallowed H6942 unto me all the firstborn H1060 in Israel, H3478 both man H120 and beast: H929 mine shall they be: I am the LORD. H3068 And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses H4872 in the wilderness H4057 of Sinai, H5514 saying, H559 Number H6485 the children H1121 of Levi H3878 after the house H1004 of their fathers, H1 by their families: H4940 every male H2145 from a month H2320 old H1121 and upward H4605 shalt thou number H6485 them. And Moses H4872 numbered H6485 them according to the word H6310 of the LORD, H3068 as he was commanded. H6680 And these were the sons H1121 of Levi H3878 by their names; H8034 Gershon, H1648 and Kohath, H6955 and Merari. H4847 And these are the names H8034 of the sons H1121 of Gershon H1648 by their families; H4940 Libni, H3845 and Shimei. H8096 And the sons H1121 of Kohath H6955 by their families; H4940 Amram, H6019 and Izehar, H3324 Hebron, H2275 and Uzziel. H5816 And the sons H1121 of Merari H4847 by their families; H4940 Mahli, H4249 and Mushi. H4187 These are H1992 the families H4940 of the Levites H3881 according to the house H1004 of their fathers. H1 Of Gershon H1648 was the family H4940 of the Libnites, H3846 and the family H4940 of the Shimites: H8097 these are the families H4940 of the Gershonites. H1649 Those that were numbered H6485 of them, according to the number H4557 of all the males, H2145 from a month H2320 old H1121 and upward, H4605 even those that were numbered H6485 of them were seven H7651 thousand H505 and five H2568 hundred. H3967 The families H4940 of the Gershonites H1649 shall pitch H2583 behind H310 the tabernacle H4908 westward. H3220 And the chief H5387 of the house H1004 of the father H1 of the Gershonites H1649 shall be Eliasaph H460 the son H1121 of Lael. H3815 And the charge H4931 of the sons H1121 of Gershon H1648 in the tabernacle H168 of the congregation H4150 shall be the tabernacle, H4908 and the tent, H168 the covering H4372 thereof, and the hanging H4539 for the door H6607 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 And the hangings H7050 of the court, H2691 and the curtain H4539 for the door H6607 of the court, H2691 which is by the tabernacle, H4908 and by the altar H4196 round about, H5439 and the cords H4340 of it for all the service H5656 thereof. And of Kohath H6955 was the family H4940 of the Amramites, H6020 and the family H4940 of the Izeharites, H3325 and the family H4940 of the Hebronites, H2276 and the family H4940 of the Uzzielites: H5817 these are the families H4940 of the Kohathites. H6956 In the number H4557 of all the males, H2145 from a month H2320 old H1121 and upward, H4605 were eight H8083 thousand H505 and six H8337 hundred, H3967 keeping H8104 the charge H4931 of the sanctuary. H6944 The families H4940 of the sons H1121 of Kohath H6955 shall pitch H2583 on the side H3409 of the tabernacle H4908 southward. H8486 And the chief H5387 of the house H1004 of the father H1 of the families H4940 of the Kohathites H6956 shall be Elizaphan H469 the son H1121 of Uzziel. H5816 And their charge H4931 shall be the ark, H727 and the table, H7979 and the candlestick, H4501 and the altars, H4196 and the vessels H3627 of the sanctuary H6944 wherewith they minister, H8334 and the hanging, H4539 and all the service H5656 thereof. And Eleazar H499 the son H1121 of Aaron H175 the priest H3548 shall be chief H5387 over the chief H5387 of the Levites, H3881 and have the oversight H6486 of them that keep H8104 the charge H4931 of the sanctuary. H6944 Of Merari H4847 was the family H4940 of the Mahlites, H4250 and the family H4940 of the Mushites: H4188 these are the families H4940 of Merari. H4847 And those that were numbered H6485 of them, according to the number H4557 of all the males, H2145 from a month H2320 old H1121 and upward, H4605 were six H8337 thousand H505 and two hundred. H3967 And the chief H5387 of the house H1004 of the father H1 of the families H4940 of Merari H4847 was Zuriel H6700 the son H1121 of Abihail: H32 these shall pitch H2583 on the side H3409 of the tabernacle H4908 northward. H6828 And under the custody H6486 and charge H4931 of the sons H1121 of Merari H4847 shall be the boards H7175 of the tabernacle, H4908 and the bars H1280 thereof, and the pillars H5982 thereof, and the sockets H134 thereof, and all the vessels H3627 thereof, and all that serveth H5656 thereto, And the pillars H5982 of the court H2691 round about, H5439 and their sockets, H134 and their pins, H3489 and their cords. H4340
So the service H5656 was prepared, H3559 and the priests H3548 stood H5975 in their place, H5977 and the Levites H3881 in their courses, H4256 according to the king's H4428 commandment. H4687 And they killed H7819 the passover, H6453 and the priests H3548 sprinkled H2236 the blood from their hands, H3027 and the Levites H3881 flayed H6584 them.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ezekiel 44
Commentary on Ezekiel 44 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 44
Eze 44:1-31. Ordinances for the Prince and the Priests.
2. shut … not be opened—(Job 12:14; Isa 22:22; Re 3:7). "Shut" to the people (Ex 19:21, 22), but open to "the prince" (Eze 44:3), he holding the place of God in political concerns, as the priests do in spiritual. As a mark of respect to an Eastern monarch, the gate by which he enters is thenceforth shut to all other persons (compare Ex 19:24).
3. the prince—not King Messiah, as He never would offer a burnt offering for Himself, as the prince is to do (Eze 46:4). The prince must mean the civil ruler under Messiah. His connection with the east gate (by which the Lord had returned to His temple) implies, that, as ruling under God, he is to stand in a place of peculiar nearness to God. He represents Messiah, who entered heaven, the true sanctuary, by a way that none other could, namely, by His own holiness; all others must enter as sinners by faith in His blood, through grace.
eat bread before the Lord—a custom connected with sacrifices (Ge 31:54; Ex 18:12; 24:11; 1Co 10:18).
4-6. Directions as to the priests. Their acts of desecration are attributed to "the house of Israel" (Eze 44:6, 7), as the sins of the priesthood and of the people acted and reacted on one another; "like people, like priest" (Jer 5:31; Ho 4:9).
7. uncircumcised in heart—Israelites circumcised outwardly, but wanting the true circumcision of the heart (De 10:16; Ac 7:51).
uncircumcised in flesh—not having even the outward badge of the covenant-people.
8. keepers … for yourselves—such as you yourselves thought fit, not such as I approve of. Or else, "Ye have not yourselves kept the charge of My holy things, but have set others as keepers of My charge in My sanctuary for yourselves" [Maurer].
10, 11. Levites … shall … bear—namely, the punishment of
their iniquity … Yet they shall be ministers—So Mark, a Levite, nephew of Barnabas (Ac 4:36), was punished by Paul for losing an opportunity of bearing the cross of Christ, and yet was afterwards admitted into his friendship again, and showed his zeal (Ac 13:13; 15:37; Col 4:10; 2Ti 4:11). One may be a believer, and that too in a distinguished place, and yet lose some special honor—be acknowledged as pious, yet be excluded from some dignity [Bengel].
charge at the gates—Better to be "a doorkeeper in the house of God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness" (Ps 84:10). Though standing as a mere doorkeeper, it is in the house of God, which hath foundations: whereas he who dwells with the wicked, dwells in but shifting tents.
15. Zadok—The priests of the line of Ithamar were to be discharged from ministrations in the temple, because of their corruptions, following in the steps of Eli's sons, against whom the same denunciation was uttered (1Sa 2:32, 35). Zadok, according to his name (which means "righteous") and his line, were to succeed (1Ki 2:35; 1Ch 24:3), as they did not take part in the general apostasy to the same degree, and perhaps [Fairbairn] the prophet, referring to their original state, speaks of them as they appeared when first chosen to the office.
17. linen—symbolical of purity. Wool soon induces perspiration in the sultry East and so becomes uncleanly.
18. bonnets—turbans.
19. not sanctify the people with their garments—namely, those peculiarly priestly vestments in which they ministered in the sanctuary.
20. Neither … shave … heads—as mourners do (Le 21:1-5). The worshippers of the Egyptian idols Serapis and Isis shaved their heads; another reason why Jehovah's priests are not to do so.
nor suffer … locks to grow long—as the luxurious, barbarians, and soldiers in warfare did [Jerome].
21. Neither … wine—lest the holy enthusiasm of their devotion should be mistaken for inebriation, as in Peter's case (Ac 2:13, 15, 18).
28. I am their inheritance—(Nu 18:20; De 10:9; 18:1; Jos 13:14, 32).
30. give … priest the first … that he may cause the blessing to rest—(Pr 3:9, 10; Mal 3:10).