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Ezekiel 45:1-25 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 Moreover, when ye shall divide H5307 by lot the land H776 for inheritance, H5159 ye shall offer H7311 an oblation H8641 unto the LORD, H3068 an holy portion H6944 of the land: H776 the length H753 shall be the length H753 of five H2568 and twenty H6242 thousand H505 reeds, and the breadth H7341 shall be ten H6235 thousand. H505 This shall be holy H6944 in all the borders H1366 thereof round about. H5439

2 Of this there shall be for the sanctuary H6944 five H2568 hundred H3967 in length, with five H2568 hundred H3967 in breadth, square H7251 round about; H5439 and fifty H2572 cubits H520 round about H5439 for the suburbs H4054 thereof.

3 And of this measure H4060 shalt thou measure H4058 the length H753 of five H2568 and twenty H6242 thousand, H505 and the breadth H7341 of ten H6235 thousand: H505 and in it shall be the sanctuary H4720 and the most H6944 holy H6944 place.

4 The holy H6944 portion of the land H776 shall be for the priests H3548 the ministers H8334 of the sanctuary, H4720 which shall come near H7131 to minister H8334 unto the LORD: H3068 and it shall be a place H4725 for their houses, H1004 and an holy place H4720 for the sanctuary. H4720

5 And the five H2568 and twenty H6242 thousand H505 of length, H753 and the ten H6235 thousand H505 of breadth, H7341 shall also the Levites, H3881 the ministers H8334 of the house, H1004 have for themselves, for a possession H272 for twenty H6242 chambers. H3957

6 And ye shall appoint H5414 the possession H272 of the city H5892 five H2568 thousand H505 broad, H7341 and five H2568 and twenty H6242 thousand H505 long, H753 over against H5980 the oblation H8641 of the holy H6944 portion: it shall be for the whole house H1004 of Israel. H3478

7 And a portion shall be for the prince H5387 on the one side and on the other side of the oblation H8641 of the holy H6944 portion, and of the possession H272 of the city, H5892 before H6440 the oblation H8641 of the holy H6944 portion, and before H6440 the possession H272 of the city, H5892 from the west H3220 side H6285 westward, H3220 and from the east H6924 side H6285 eastward: H6921 and the length H753 shall be over against H5980 one H259 of the portions, H2506 from the west H3220 border H1366 unto the east H6921 border. H1366

8 In the land H776 shall be his possession H272 in Israel: H3478 and my princes H5387 shall no more oppress H3238 my people; H5971 and the rest of the land H776 shall they give H5414 to the house H1004 of Israel H3478 according to their tribes. H7626

9 Thus saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Let it suffice H7227 you, O princes H5387 of Israel: H3478 remove H5493 violence H2555 and spoil, H7701 and execute H6213 judgment H4941 and justice, H6666 take away H7311 your exactions H1646 from my people, H5971 saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD. H3069

10 Ye shall have just H6664 balances, H3976 and a just H6664 ephah, H374 and a just H6664 bath. H1324

11 The ephah H374 and the bath H1324 shall be of one H259 measure, H8506 that the bath H1324 may contain H5375 the tenth part H4643 of an homer, H2563 and the ephah H374 the tenth part H6224 of an homer: H2563 the measure H4971 thereof shall be after the homer. H2563

12 And the shekel H8255 shall be twenty H6242 gerahs: H1626 twenty H6242 shekels, H8255 five H2568 and twenty H6242 shekels, H8255 fifteen H2568 H6235 shekels, H8255 shall be your maneh. H4488

13 This is the oblation H8641 that ye shall offer; H7311 the sixth part H8345 of an ephah H374 of an homer H2563 of wheat, H2406 and ye shall give the sixth part H8341 of an ephah H374 of an homer H2563 of barley: H8184

14 Concerning the ordinance H2706 of oil, H8081 the bath H1324 of oil, H8081 ye shall offer the tenth part H4643 of a bath H1324 out of the cor, H3734 which is an homer H2563 of ten H6235 baths; H1324 for ten H6235 baths H1324 are an homer: H2563

15 And one H259 lamb H7716 out of the flock, H6629 out of two hundred, H3967 out of the fat pastures H4945 of Israel; H3478 for a meat offering, H4503 and for a burnt offering, H5930 and for peace offerings, H8002 to make reconciliation H3722 for them, saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD. H3069

16 All the people H5971 of the land H776 shall give this oblation H8641 for the prince H5387 in Israel. H3478

17 And it shall be the prince's part H5387 to give burnt offerings, H5930 and meat offerings, H4503 and drink offerings, H5262 in the feasts, H2282 and in the new moons, H2320 and in the sabbaths, H7676 in all solemnities H4150 of the house H1004 of Israel: H3478 he shall prepare H6213 the sin offering, H2403 and the meat offering, H4503 and the burnt offering, H5930 and the peace offerings, H8002 to make reconciliation H3722 for the house H1004 of Israel. H3478

18 Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 In the first H7223 month, in the first H259 day of the month, H2320 thou shalt take H3947 a young H1121 H1241 bullock H6499 without blemish, H8549 and cleanse H2398 the sanctuary: H4720

19 And the priest H3548 shall take H3947 of the blood H1818 of the sin offering, H2403 and put H5414 it upon the posts H4201 of the house, H1004 and upon the four H702 corners H6438 of the settle H5835 of the altar, H4196 and upon the posts H4201 of the gate H8179 of the inner H6442 court. H2691

20 And so thou shalt do H6213 the seventh H7651 day of the month H2320 for every one H376 that erreth, H7686 and for him that is simple: H6612 so shall ye reconcile H3722 the house. H1004

21 In the first H7223 month, in the fourteenth H702 H6240 day H3117 of the month, H2320 ye shall have the passover, H6453 a feast H2282 of seven H7620 days; H3117 unleavened bread H4682 shall be eaten. H398

22 And upon that day H3117 shall the prince H5387 prepare H6213 for himself and for all the people H5971 of the land H776 a bullock H6499 for a sin offering. H2403

23 And seven H7651 days H3117 of the feast H2282 he shall prepare H6213 a burnt offering H5930 to the LORD, H3068 seven H7651 bullocks H6499 and seven H7651 rams H352 without blemish H8549 daily H3117 the seven H7651 days; H3117 and a kid H8163 of the goats H5795 daily H3117 for a sin offering. H2403

24 And he shall prepare H6213 a meat offering H4503 of an ephah H374 for a bullock, H6499 and an ephah H374 for a ram, H352 and an hin H1969 of oil H8081 for an ephah. H374

25 In the seventh H7651 month, in the fifteenth H2568 H6240 day H3117 of the month, H2320 shall he do H6213 the like in the feast H2282 of the seven H7637 days, H3117 according to the sin offering, H2403 according to the burnt offering, H5930 and according to the meat offering, H4503 and according to the oil. H8081

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Ezekiel 45

Commentary on Ezekiel 45 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 45

In this chapter is further represented to the prophet, in vision,

  • I. The division of the holy land, so much for the temple, and the priests that attended the service of it (v. 1-4), so much for the Levites (v. 5), so much for the city (v. 6), so much for the prince, and the residue to the people (v. 7, 8).
  • II. The ordinances of justice that were given both to prince and people (v. 9-12).
  • III. The oblations they were to offer, and the prince's part in those oblations (v. 13-17). Particularly in the beginning of the year (v. 18-20) and in the passover, and the feast of tabernacles (v. 21-25). And all this seems to point at the new church-state that should be set up under the gospel, which, both for extent and for purity, should far exceed that of the Old Testament.

Eze 45:1-8

Directions are here given for the dividing of the land after their return to it; and, God having warranted them to do it, would be an act of faith, and not of folly, thus to divide it before they had it. And it would be welcome news to the captives to hear that they should not only return to their own land, but that, whereas they were now but few in number, they should increase and multiply, so as to replenish it. But this never had its accomplishment in the Jewish state after the return out of captivity, but was to be fulfilled in the model of the Christian church, which was perfectly new (as this division of the land was quite different from that in Joshua's time) and much enlarged by the accession of the Gentiles to it; and it will be perfected in the heavenly kingdom, of which the land of Canaan had always been a type. Now,

  • 1. Here is the portion of land assigned to the sanctuary, in the midst of which the temple was to be built, with all its courts and purlieus; the rest round about it was for the priests. This is called (v. 1) an oblation to the Lord; for what is given in works of piety, for the maintenance and support of the worship of God and the advancement of religion, God accepts as given to him, if it be done with a single eye. It is a holy portion of the land, which is to be set out first, as the first-fruits that sanctify the lump. The appropriating of lands for the support of religion and the ministry is an act of piety that bids as fair for perpetuity, and the benefit of posterity, as any. This holy portion of the land was to be measured, and the borders of it fixed, that the sanctuary itself might not have more than its share and in time engross the whole land. So far the lands of the church shall extend and no further; as in our own kingdom donations to the church were of old limited by the statute of mortmain. The lands here allotted to the sanctuary were 25,000 reeds (so our translation makes it, though some make them only cubits) in length, and 10,000 in breadth-about eighty miles one way and thirty miles another way (say some); twenty-five miles one way and ten miles the other way, so others. The priests and Levites that were to come near to minister were to have their dwellings in this portion of the land that was round about the sanctuary, that they might be near their work; whereas by the distribution of land in Joshua's time the cities of the priests and Levites were dispersed all the nation over. This intimates that gospel ministers should reside upon their charge; where their service lies there must they live.
  • 2. Next to the lands of the sanctuary the city-lands are assigned, in which the holy city was to be built, and with the issues and profits of which the citizens were to be maintained (v. 6): It shall be for the whole house of Israel, not appropriated, as before, to one tribe or two, but some of all the tribes shall dwell in the city, as we find they did, Neh. 11:1, 2. The portion for the city was fully as long, but only half as broad, as that for the sanctuary; for the city was enriched by trade and therefore had the less need of lands.
  • 3. The next allotment after the church-lands and the city-lands is of the crown-lands, v. 7, 8. Here is no admeasurement of these, but they are said to lie on the one side and on the other side of the church-lands and city-lands, to intimate that the prince with his wealth and power was to be a protection to both. Some make the prince's share equal to the church's and city's share both together; others make it to be a thirteenth part of the rest of the land, the other twelve parts being for the twelve tribes. The prince that attends continually to the administration of public affairs must have wherewithal to support his dignity, and have abundance, that he may not be in temptation to oppress the people, which yet with many does not prevent that; but the grace of God shall prevent it, for it is promised here, My princes shall no more oppress my people; for God will make the officers peace and the exactors righteousness. Notwithstanding this, we find that after the return of the Jews to their own land the princes were complained of for their exactions. But Nehemiah was one that did not do as the former governors, and yet kept a handsome court, Neh. 5:15, 18. But so much is said of the prince in this mystical holy state, to intimate that in the gospel-church magistrates should be as nursing fathers to it and Christian princes its patrons and protectors; and the holy religion they profess, as far as they are subject to the power of it, will restrain them from oppressing God's people, because they are more his people than theirs.
  • 4. The rest of the lands were to be distributed to the people according to their tribes, who had reason to think themselves well settled, when they had both the testimony of Israel and the throne of judgment so near them.

Eze 45:9-12

We have here some general rules of justice laid down both for prince and people, the rules of distributive and commutative justice; for godliness without honesty is but a form of godliness, will neither please God nor avail to the benefit of any people. Be it therefore enacted, by the authority of the church's King and God,

  • 1. That princes do not oppress their subjects, but duly and faithfully administer justice among them (v. 9): "Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel! that you have been oppressive to the people and have enriched yourselves by spoil and violence, that you have so long fleeced the flock instead of feeding them, and henceforward do so no more.' Note, Even princes and great men that have long done amiss must at length think it time, high time, to reform and amend; for no prescription will justify a wrong. Instead of saying that they have been long accustomed to oppress, and therefore may persist in it, for the custom will bear them out, they should say that they have been long accustomed to it and therefore, as here, Let the time pass suffice, and let them now remove violence and spoil; let them drop wrongful demands, cancel wrongful usages, and turn out those from employments under them that do violence. Let them take away their exactions, ease their subjects of those taxes which they find lie heavily upon them, and let them execute judgment and justice according to the law, as the duty of their place requires. Note, All princes, but especially the princes of Israel, are concerned to do justice; for of their people God says, They are my people, and they in a special manner rule for God.
  • 2. That one neighbour do not cheat another in commerce (v. 10): You shall have just balances, in which to weigh both money and goods, a just ephah for dry measure of corn and flour, a just bath for the measure of liquids, wine, and oil; and the ephah and bath shall be one measure, the tenth part of a chomer, or cor, v. 11. So that the ephah and bath contained (as the learned Dr. Cumberland has computed) seven wine gallons and four pints, and something more. An omer was but the tenth part of an ephah (Ex. 16:36) and the one hundredth part of a chomer, or homer, and contained about six pints. The shekel is here settled (v. 13); it is twenty jerahs, just half a Roman ounce, in our money 2s. 4 1/4d. and almost the eighth part of a farthing, as the aforesaid learned man exactly computes it. By the shekels the maneh, or pound, was reckoned, which, when it was set for a mere weight (says bishop Cumberland), without respect to coinage, contained just 100 shekels, as appears by comparing 1 Ki. 10:17, where it is said three manehs, or pounds, of gold, went to one shield, with the parallel place, 2 Chr. 9:16, where it is said 300 shekels of gold went to one shield. But when the maneh is set for a sum of money or coin it contains but sixty shekels, as appears here, where twenty shekels, twenty-five shekels, and fifteen shekels, which in all make sixty, shall be the maneh. But it is thus reckoned because they had one piece of money that weighed twenty shekels, another twenty-five, another fifteen, all of which made up one pound, as a learned writer here observes. Note, It concerns God's Israel to be very honest and just in all their dealings, very punctual and exact in rendering to all their due, and very cautious to do wrong to none, because otherwise they spoil the acceptableness of their profession with God and the reputation of it before men.

Eze 45:13-25

Having laid down the rules of the righteousness toward men, which is really a branch off true religion, he comes next to give some directions for their religion towards God, which is a branch of universal righteousness.

  • I. It is required that they offer an oblation to the Lord out of what they have (v. 13): All the people of the land must give an oblation, v. 16. As God's tenants, they must pay a quitrent to their great landlord. They had offered an oblation out of their real estates (v. 1), a holy portion of their land; now they are directed to offer an oblation out of their personal estates, their goods and chattels, as an acknowledgement of their receivings from him, their dependence on him, and their obligations to him. Note, Whatever our substance is we must honour God with it, by giving him his dues out of it. Not that God has need of or may be benefited by any thing that we can give him, Ps. 50:9. No; it is but an oblation; we only offer it to him; the benefit of it returns back to ourselves, to his poor, who, as our neighbours, are ourselves, or to his ministers who serve continually for our good.
  • II. The proportion of this oblation is here determined, which was not done by the law of Moses. No mention is made of the title, but only of this oblation. And the quantum of this is thus settled:-
    • 1. Out of their corn they were to offer a sixtieth part; out of every homer of wheat and barley, which contained ten ephahs, they were to offer the sixth part of one ephah, which was a sixtieth part of the whole, v. 13.
    • 2. Out of their oil (and probably their wine too) they were to offer a hundredth part, for this oblation; out of every cor, or homer, which contained ten baths they were to offer the tenth part of one bath, v. 14. This was given to the altar; for in eery meat-offering there was flour mingled with oil.
    • 3. Out of their flocks they were to give one lamb out of 200; that was the smallest proportion of all, v. 15. But it must be out of the fat pastures of Israel. They must not offer to God that which was taken up from the common, but the fattest and best they had, for burnt-offerings and peace-offerings: the former were offered for the giving of glory to God, the latter for the fetching in of mercy, grace, and peace, from God, and in our spiritual sacrifices these are our two great errands at the throne of grace; but, in order to the acceptance of both, these sacrifices were to make reconciliation for them. Christ is our sacrifice of atonement, by whom reconciliation is made, and to him we must have an eye in our sacrifices of acknowledgment.
  • III. This oblation must be given for the prince in Israel, v. 16. Some read it to the prince, and understand it of Christ, who is indeed the prince in Israel, to whom we must offer our oblations, and into whose hands we must put them, to be presented to the Father. Or, They shall give it with the prince; every private person shall bring his oblation, to be offered with that of the prince; for it follows (v. 17). It shall be the prince's part to provide all the offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel. The people were to bring their oblations to him according to the foregoing rules, and he was to bring them to the sanctuary, and to make up what fell short out of his own. Note, It is the duty of rulers to take care of religion, and to see that the duties of it be regularly and carefully performed by those under their charge, and that nothing be wanting that is requisite thereto: the magistrate is the keeper of both tables; and it is a happy thing when those that are above others in power and dignity go before them in the service of God.
  • IV. Some particular solemnities are here appointed.
    • 1. Here is one in the beginning of the year, which seems to be altogether new, and not instituted by the law of Moses; it is the annual solemnity of cleansing the sanctuary.
      • (1.) On the first day of the first month (upon new-year's day) they were to offer a sacrifice for the cleansing of the sanctuary (v. 18), that is, to make atonement for the iniquity of the holy things the year past, that they might bring none of the guilt of them into the services of the new year, and to implore grace for the preventing of that iniquity, and for the better performance of the service of the sanctuary the ensuing year. And, in token of this, the blood of this sin-offering was to be put upon the posts of the gate of the inner court (v. 19), to signify that by it atonement was intended to be made for the sins of all the servants that attended that house, priests, Levites, and people, even the sins that were found in all their services. Note, Even sanctuaries on earth need cleansing, frequent cleansing; that above needs none. Those what worship God together should often join in renewing their repentance for their manifold defects, and applying the blood of Christ for the pardon of them, and in renewing their covenants to be more careful for the future; and it is very seasonable to begin the year with this work, as Hezekiah did when it had been long neglected, 2 Chr. 29:17. They were here appointed to cleanse the sanctuary upon the first day of the month, because on the fourteenth day of the month they were to eat the passover, an ordinance which, of all Old-Testament institutions, had most in it of Christ and gospel grace, and therefore it was very fit that they should begin to prepare for it a fortnight before by cleansing the sanctuary.
      • (2.) This sacrifice was to be repeated on the seventh day of the first month, v. 20. And then it was intended to make atonement for every one that errs, and for him that is simple. Note, He that sins errs and is simple; he mistakes, he goes out of the way, and shows himself to be foolish and unwise. But here it is spoken of those sins which are committed through ignorance, mistake, or inadvertency, whether by any of the priests, or of the Levites, or of the people. Sacrifices were appointed to atone for such sins as men were surprised into, or did before they were aware, which they would not have done if they had known and remembered aright, which they were overtaken in, and for which, afterwards, they condemn themselves. But for presumptuous sins, committed with a high hand, there was no sacrifice appointed, Num. 15:30. By these repeated sacrifices you shall reconcile the house, that is, God will be reconciled to it, and continue the tokens of his presence in it, and will let it alone this year also.
    • 2. The passover was to be religiously observed at the time appointed, v. 21. Christ is our passover, that is sacrificed for us. We celebrate the memorial of that sacrifice and feast upon it, triumphing in our deliverance out of the Egyptian slavery of sin and our preservation from the sword of the destroying angel, the sword of divine justice, in the Lord's supper, which is our passover-feast, as the whole Christian life is, and must be, the feast of unleavened bread. It is here appointed that the prince shall prepare a sin-offering, to be offered for himself and the people, a bullock on the first day (v. 22) and a kid of the goats every other day (v. 23), to teach us, in all our attendance upon God for communion with him, to have an eye to the great sin-offering, by which transgression was finished and an everlasting righteousness brought in. On every day of the feast there was to be a burnt-offering, purely for the honour of God, of no less than seven bullocks and seven rams, with their meat-offering, which were wholly consumed upon the altar, and yet no waste, v. 23, 24.
    • 3. The feast of tabernacles; that is spoken of next (v. 25), and there is no mention of the feast of pentecost, which came between that of the passover and that of tabernacles. Orders are here given (above what were given by the law of Moses) for the same sacrifices to be offered during the seven days of the passover. See the deficiency of the legal sacrifices for sin; they were therefore often repeated, not only every year, but every feast, every day of the feast, because they could not make the comers thereunto perfect, Heb. 10:1, 3. See the necessity of our frequently repeating the same religious exercises. Though the sacrifice of atonement is offered once for all, yet the sacrifices of acknowledgement, that of a broken heart, that of a thankful heart, those spiritual sacrifices which are acceptable to God through Christ Jesus, must be every day offered. We should, as here, fall into a method of holy duties, and keep to it.