3 It is for the prince; H5387 the prince, H5387 he shall sit H3427 in it to eat H398 bread H3899 before H6440 the LORD; H3068 he shall enter H935 by the way H1870 of the porch H197 of that gate, H8179 and shall go out H3318 by the way H1870 of the same.
And the prince H5387 shall enter H935 by the way H1870 of the porch H197 of that gate H8179 without, H2351 and shall stand H5975 by the post H4201 of the gate, H8179 and the priests H3548 shall prepare H6213 his burnt offering H5930 and his peace offerings, H8002 and he shall worship H7812 at the threshold H4670 of the gate: H8179 then he shall go forth; H3318 but the gate H8179 shall not be shut H5462 until the evening. H6153
And they shall dwell H3427 in the land H776 that I have given H5414 unto Jacob H3290 my servant, H5650 wherein your fathers H1 have dwelt; H3427 and they shall dwell H3427 therein, even they, and their children, H1121 and their children's H1121 children H1121 for ever: H5769 and my servant H5650 David H1732 shall be their prince H5387 for H5704 ever. H5769
Then went up H5927 Moses, H4872 and Aaron, H175 Nadab, H5070 and Abihu, H30 and seventy H7657 of the elders H2205 of Israel: H3478 And they saw H7200 the God H430 of Israel: H3478 and there was under his feet H7272 as it were a paved H3840 work H4639 of a sapphire stone, H5601 and as it were the body H6106 of heaven H8064 in his clearness. H2892 And upon the nobles H678 of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 he laid H7971 not his hand: H3027 also they saw H2372 God, H430 and did eat H398 and drink. H8354
And when the prince H5387 shall enter, H935 he shall go H935 in by the way H1870 of the porch H197 of that gate, H8179 and he shall go forth H3318 by the way H1870 thereof. But when the people H5971 of the land H776 shall come H935 before H6440 the LORD H3068 in the solemn feasts, H4150 he that entereth H935 in by the way H1870 of the north H6828 gate H8179 to worship H7812 shall go out H3318 by the way H1870 of the south H5045 gate; H8179 and he that entereth H935 by the way H1870 of the south H5045 gate H8179 shall go forth H3318 by the way H1870 of the north H6828 gate: H8179 he shall not return H7725 by the way H1870 of the gate H8179 whereby he came in, H935 but shall go forth H3318 over against H5226 it. And the prince H5387 in the midst H8432 of them, when they go in, H935 shall go in; H935 and when they go forth, H3318 shall go forth. H3318
And there ye shall eat H398 before H6440 the LORD H3068 your God, H430 and ye shall rejoice H8055 in all that ye put H4916 your hand H3027 unto, ye and your households, H1004 wherein the LORD H3068 thy God H430 hath blessed H1288 thee.
Thou mayest H3201 not eat H398 within thy gates H8179 the tithe H4643 of thy corn, H1715 or of thy wine, H8492 or of thy oil, H3323 or the firstlings H1062 of thy herds H1241 or of thy flock, H6629 nor any of thy vows H5088 which thou vowest, H5087 nor thy freewill offerings, H5071 or heave offering H8641 of thine hand: H3027 But thou must eat H398 them before H6440 the LORD H3068 thy God H430 in the place H4725 which the LORD H3068 thy God H430 shall choose, H977 thou, and thy son, H1121 and thy daughter, H1323 and thy manservant, H5650 and thy maidservant, H519 and the Levite H3881 that is within thy gates: H8179 and thou shalt rejoice H8055 before H6440 the LORD H3068 thy God H430 in all that thou puttest H4916 thine hands H3027 unto.
And she looked, H7200 and, behold, the king H4428 stood H5975 at his pillar H5982 at the entering in, H3996 and the princes H8269 and the trumpets H2689 by the king: H4428 and all the people H5971 of the land H776 rejoiced, H8056 and sounded H8628 with trumpets, H2689 also the singers H7891 with instruments H3627 of musick, H7892 and such as taught H3045 to sing praise. H1984 Then Athaliah H6271 rent H7167 her clothes, H899 and said, H559 Treason, H7195 Treason. H7195
And the king H4428 stood H5975 in his place, H5977 and made H3772 a covenant H1285 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 to walk H3212 after H310 the LORD, H3068 and to keep H8104 his commandments, H4687 and his testimonies, H5715 and his statutes, H2706 with all his heart, H3824 and with all his soul, H5315 to perform H6213 the words H1697 of the covenant H1285 which are written H3789 in this book. H5612
And her merchandise H5504 and her hire H868 shall be holiness H6944 to the LORD: H3068 it shall not be treasured H686 nor laid up; H2630 for her merchandise H5504 shall be for them that dwell H3427 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 to eat H398 sufficiently, H7654 and for durable H6266 clothing. H4374
But they that have gathered H622 it shall eat H398 it, and praise H1984 the LORD; H3068 and they that have brought it together H6908 shall drink H8354 it in the courts H2691 of my holiness. H6944
And speak H559 unto him, saying, H559 Thus speaketh H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 saying, H559 Behold the man H376 whose name H8034 is The BRANCH; H6780 and he shall grow up H6779 out of his place, and he shall build H1129 the temple H1964 of the LORD: H3068 Even he shall build H1129 the temple H1964 of the LORD; H3068 and he shall bear H5375 the glory, H1935 and shall sit H3427 and rule H4910 upon his throne; H3678 and he shall be a priest H3548 upon his throne: H3678 and the counsel H6098 of peace H7965 shall be between them both. H8147
Behold G991 Israel G2474 after G2596 the flesh: G4561 are G1526 not G3780 they G1526 which eat G2068 of the sacrifices G2378 partakers G2844 of the altar? G2379 What G5101 say I G5346 then? G3767 that G3754 the idol G1497 is G2076 any thing, G5100 or G2228 that G3754 which is offered in sacrifice to idols G1494 is G2076 any thing? G5100 But G235 I say, that G3754 the things which G3739 the Gentiles G1484 sacrifice, G2380 they sacrifice G2380 to devils, G1140 and G2532 not G3756 to God: G2316 and G1161 I would G2309 not G3756 that ye G5209 should have G1096 fellowship G2844 with devils. G1140 Ye cannot G3756 G1410 drink G4095 the cup G4221 of the Lord, G2962 and G2532 the cup G4221 of devils: G1140 ye cannot G3756 G1410 be partakers G3348 of the Lord's G2962 table, G5132 and G2532 of the table G5132 of devils. G1140 Do we provoke G3863 G2228 the Lord G2962 to jealousy? G3863 are we G2070 stronger than G3361 G2478 he? G846 All things G3956 are lawful G1832 for me, G3427 but G235 all things G3956 are G4851 not G3756 expedient: G4851 all things G3956 are lawful G1832 for me, G3427 but G235 all things G3956 edify G3618 not. G3756 Let G2212 no man G3367 seek G2212 his own, G1438 but G235 every man G1538 another's G2087 wealth. Whatsoever G3956 is sold G4453 in G1722 the shambles, G3111 that eat, G2068 asking G350 no G3367 question G350 for G1223 conscience G4893 sake: G1223 For G1063 the earth G1093 is the Lord's, G2962 and G2532 the fulness G4138 thereof. G846 G1161 If any G1536 of them that believe not G571 bid G2564 you G5209 to a feast, and G2532 ye be disposed G2309 to go; G4198 whatsoever G3956 is set before G3908 you, G5213 eat, G2068 asking G350 no G3367 question G350 for G1223 conscience G4893 sake. G1223 But G1161 if G1437 any man G5100 say G2036 unto you, G5213 This G5124 is G2076 offered in sacrifice unto idols, G1494 eat G2068 not G3361 for G1223 his sake G1565 that shewed it, G3377 and G2532 for conscience sake: G4893 for G1063 the earth G1093 is the Lord's, G2962 and G2532 the fulness G4138 thereof: G846 Conscience, G4893 G1161 I say, G3004 not G3780 thine own, G1438 but G235 of the other: G2087 for G1063 why G2444 is G2919 my G3450 liberty G1657 judged G2919 of G5259 another G243 man's conscience? G4893 For G1161 if G1487 I G1473 by grace G5485 be a partaker, G3348 why G5101 am I evil spoken of G987 for that G5228 for which G3739 I G1473 give thanks? G2168 Whether G1535 therefore G3767 ye eat, G2068 or G1535 drink, G4095 or G1535 whatsoever G5100 ye do, G4160 do G4160 all G3956 to G1519 the glory G1391 of God. G2316 Give G1096 none offence, G677 neither G2532 to the Jews, G2453 nor G2532 to the Gentiles, G1672 nor G2532 to the church G1577 of God: G2316 Even as G2531 I G2504 please G700 all G3956 men in all G3956 things, not G3361 seeking G2212 mine own G1683 profit, G4851 but G235 the profit G3588 of many, G4183 that G2443 they may be saved. G4982
Behold, G2400 I stand G2476 at G1909 the door, G2374 and G2532 knock: G2925 if G1437 any man G5100 hear G191 my G3450 voice, G5456 and G2532 open G455 the door, G2374 I will come in G1525 to G4314 him, G846 and G2532 will sup G1172 with G3326 him, G846 and G2532 he G846 with G3326 me. G1700
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).