Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Ezekiel » Chapter 46 » Verse 1-3

Ezekiel 46:1-3 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 The gate H8179 of the inner H6442 court H2691 that looketh H6437 toward the east H6921 shall be shut H5462 the six H8337 working H4639 days; H3117 but on the sabbath H7676 H3117 it shall be opened, H6605 and in the day H3117 of the new moon H2320 it shall be opened. H6605

2 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

3 Likewise the people H5971 of the land H776 shall worship H7812 at the door H6607 of this gate H8179 before H6440 the LORD H3068 in the sabbaths H7676 and in the new moons. H2320

Commentary on Ezekiel 46 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 46

Eze 46:1-24. Continuation of the Ordinances for the Prince and for the People in Their Worship.

2. The prince is to go through the east gate without (open on the Sabbath only, to mark its peculiar sanctity) to the entrance of the gate of the inner court; he is to go no further, but "stand by the post" (compare 1Ki 8:14, 22, Solomon standing before the altar of the Lord in the presence of the congregation; also 2Ki 11:14; 23:3, "by a pillar": the customary place), the court within belonging exclusively to the priests. There, as representative of the people, in a peculiarly near relation to God, he is to present his offerings to Jehovah, while at a greater distance, the people are to stand worshipping at the outer gate of the same entrance. The offerings on Sabbaths are larger than those of the Mosaic law, to imply that the worship of God is to be conducted by the prince and people in a more munificent spirit of self-sacrificing liberality than formerly.

9. The worshippers were on the great feasts to pass from one side to the other, through the temple courts, in order that, in such a throng as should attend the festivals, the ingress and egress should be the more unimpeded, those going out not being in the way of those coming in.

10. prince in the midst—not isolated as at other times, but joining the great throng of worshippers, at their head, after the example of David (Ps 42:4, "I had gone with the multitude … to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holy day"); the highest in rank animating the devotions of the rest by his presence and example.

12-15. Not only is he to perform official acts of worship on holy days and feasts, but in "voluntary" offerings daily he is to show his individual zeal, surpassing all his people in liberality, and so setting them a princely example.

16-18. The prince's possession is to be inalienable, and any portion given to a servant is to revert to his sons at the year of jubilee, that he may have no temptation to spoil his people of their inheritance, as formerly (compare Ahab and Naboth, 1Ki 21:1-29). The mention of the year of jubilee implies that there is something literal meant, besides the spiritual sense. The jubilee year was restored after the captivity [Josephus, Antiquities, 14.10,6; 1 Maccabees 6:49]. Perhaps it will be restored under Messiah's coming reign. Compare Isa 61:2, 3, where "the acceptable year of the Lord" is closely connected with the comforting of the mourners in Zion, and "the day of vengeance" on Zion's foes. The mention of the prince's sons is another argument against Messiah being meant by "the prince."

19-24. Due regard is to be had for the sanctity of the officiating priests' food, by cooking courts being provided close to their chambers. One set of apartments for cooking was to be at the corners of the inner court, reserved for the flesh of the sin offerings, to be eaten only by the priests whose perquisite it was (Le 6:25; 7:7), before coming forth to mingle again with the people; another set at the corners of the outer court, for cooking the flesh of the peace offerings, of which the people partook along with the priests. All this implies that no longer are the common and unclean to be confounded with the sacred and divine, but that in even the least things, as eating and drinking, the glory of God is to be the aim (1Co 10:31).

22. courts joined—Fairbairn translates, "roofed" or "vaulted." But these cooking apartments seem to have been uncovered, to let the smoke and smell of the meat the more easily pass away. They were "joined" or "attached" to the walls of the courts at the corners of the latter [Menochius].

23. boiling places—boilers.

under the rows—At the foot of the rows, that is, in the lowest part of the walls, were the places for boiling made.