Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 44

Introduction

Overview

Ezekiel 44:1, The east gate assigned only to the prince; Ezekiel 44:4, The priests reproved for polluting the sanctuary; Ezekiel 44:9, Idolaters incapable of the priests office; Ezekiel 44:15, The sons of Zadok are accepted thereto; Ezekiel 44:17, Ordinances for the priests.

Verse 1

the outward: So called in opposition to the temple itself, which was the inner sanctuary. Ezekiel 40:6, Ezekiel 40:17, Ezekiel 42:14, 2 Chronicles 4:9, 2 Chronicles 20:5, 2 Chronicles 33:5, Acts 21:28-30

looketh: Ezekiel 43:1, Ezekiel 43:4, Ezekiel 46:1

Reciprocal: Ezekiel 46:8 - he shall go

Verse 2

because: Ezekiel 43:2-4, Exodus 24:10, Isaiah 6:1-5

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 11:5 - the watch 1 Chronicles 9:18 - the king's 2 Chronicles 23:5 - the king's house Ezekiel 43:4 - came Ezekiel 46:1 - shall be shut Ezekiel 47:2 - northward

Verse 3

for: Ezekiel 46:2, Ezekiel 46:8, 2 Chronicles 23:13, 2 Chronicles 34:31

the prince: It is probable that the prince mentioned here and elsewhere, does not mean the Messiah, but the ruler of the Jewish nation for the time being. For it is not only directed where he should sit in the temple, and eat his portion of the sacrifices, and when and how he should go out; but it is also ordered - Ezekiel 45:22, that at the passover he shall offer a bullock, a sin offering for himself and the people; and to guard him against any temptation of oppressing the people, he had a provision of land allotted to him - Ezekiel 45:8, out of which he is to give an inheritance for his sons - Ezekiel 46:18. These appear plainly to be political rules for common princes, and for a succession of them; but as no such rules were observed under the second temple, the fulfilment of it must still be future. Ezekiel 34:24, Ezekiel 37:25, Zechariah 6:12, Zechariah 6:13

to eat: Genesis 31:54, Exodus 24:9-11, Deuteronomy 12:7, Deuteronomy 12:17, Deuteronomy 12:18, Isaiah 23:18, Isaiah 62:9, 1 Corinthians 10:18-33, Revelation 3:20

he shall enter: Ezekiel 40:9, Ezekiel 46:2, Ezekiel 46:8-10

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 10:5 - cupbearers 2 Kings 11:5 - the watch 1 Chronicles 9:18 - the king's 2 Chronicles 9:4 - ascent 2 Chronicles 23:5 - the king's house Ezekiel 46:12 - open him

Verse 4

the way: Ezekiel 40:20, Ezekiel 40:40

the glory: Ezekiel 3:23, Ezekiel 10:4, Ezekiel 10:18, Ezekiel 10:19, Ezekiel 11:22, Ezekiel 11:23, Ezekiel 43:4, Ezekiel 43:5, Isaiah 6:3, Isaiah 6:4, Haggai 2:7, Malachi 3:1

and I fell: Ezekiel 1:28, Ezekiel 43:3, Genesis 17:3, Numbers 16:42-45, Psalms 89:7, Revelation 1:17

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 8:11 - for the glory 2 Chronicles 7:1 - the glory Ezekiel 8:14 - toward Ezekiel 40:35 - to the Ezekiel 46:19 - the entry Ezekiel 47:2 - northward Revelation 14:1 - I looked

Verse 5

mark well: Heb. set thine heart, Ezekiel 40:4, Exodus 9:21, *marg. Deuteronomy 32:46, 1 Chronicles 22:19, 2 Chronicles 11:16, Proverbs 24:32, *marg. Daniel 10:12

concerning: Ezekiel 43:10, Ezekiel 43:11, Deuteronomy 12:32, Matthew 28:20

and mark well: Psalms 119:4

the entering: Psalms 96:8, Psalms 96:9, Acts 8:37

Reciprocal: Leviticus 15:31 - that they Ezekiel 46:19 - the entry Ezekiel 47:6 - hast thou

Verse 6

thou shalt say: Ezekiel 2:5-8, Ezekiel 3:9, Ezekiel 3:26, Ezekiel 3:27

let it suffice: Ezekiel 45:9, 1 Peter 4:3

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 12:31 - priests Ezekiel 12:2 - thou Ezekiel 43:11 - show them

Verse 7

ye have brought: Ezekiel 44:9, Ezekiel 7:20, Ezekiel 22:26, Ezekiel 43:7, Ezekiel 43:8, Leviticus 22:25, Acts 21:28

strangers: Heb. children of a stranger, Isaiah 56:6, Isaiah 56:7

uncircumcised in heart: The introduction of uncircumcised persons to eat of the peace offerings and oblations, would have been a gross violation of the Mosaic law; but, as there was no law to exclude "the uncircumcised of heart," who were circumcised and ritually clean, this seems to point out a new and different constitution. Leviticus 26:41, Deuteronomy 10:16, Deuteronomy 30:6, Jeremiah 4:4, Jeremiah 9:26, Acts 7:51, Romans 2:28, Romans 2:29, Colossians 2:11-13

when: Leviticus 3:16, Leviticus 21:6, Leviticus 21:8, Leviticus 21:17, Leviticus 21:21, Leviticus 22:25, Malachi 1:7, Malachi 1:12-14, John 6:52-58

the fat: Leviticus 3:13-17, Leviticus 17:11

broken: Genesis 17:14, Leviticus 26:15, Deuteronomy 31:16, Deuteronomy 31:20, Isaiah 24:5, Jeremiah 11:10, Jeremiah 31:32, Hebrews 8:9

Reciprocal: Leviticus 3:5 - Aaron's Leviticus 3:11 - the food Leviticus 3:17 - blood Leviticus 17:10 - that eateth 1 Samuel 31:4 - uncircumcised Psalms 18:44 - strangers Lamentations 1:10 - whom Ezekiel 5:11 - thou hast Ezekiel 23:39 - thus Ezekiel 28:10 - the deaths Ezekiel 32:25 - all of them Ezekiel 44:15 - the fat Zephaniah 3:4 - her priests

Verse 8

ye have not: Leviticus 22:2-33, Numbers 18:3-5, Acts 7:53, 1 Timothy 6:13, 2 Timothy 4:1

charge: or, ward, or ordinance, and so Ezekiel 44:14, Ezekiel 44:16, Ezekiel 40:45, Ezekiel 40:46, 1 Chronicles 23:32, Ezra 8:24-30

Reciprocal: Numbers 3:10 - they shall Numbers 8:26 - to keep Numbers 9:23 - they kept 2 Chronicles 13:11 - we keep Zephaniah 3:4 - her priests Zechariah 3:7 - if thou wilt keep

Verse 9

Ezekiel 44:7, Psalms 50:16, Psalms 93:5, Joel 3:17, Zechariah 14:21, Mark 16:16, John 3:3-5, Titus 1:5-9

Reciprocal: Exodus 12:48 - let all Leviticus 21:23 - go in Isaiah 35:8 - the unclean Jeremiah 9:26 - uncircumcised in Jeremiah 33:18 - General Ezekiel 28:10 - the deaths Ezekiel 32:25 - all of them Malachi 2:4 - that my Mark 13:14 - where Acts 7:51 - uncircumcised

Verse 10

the Levites: Ezekiel 44:15, Ezekiel 22:26, Ezekiel 48:11, 2 Kings 23:8, 2 Kings 23:9, 2 Chronicles 29:4, 2 Chronicles 29:5, Nehemiah 9:34, Jeremiah 23:11, Zephaniah 3:4, 1 Timothy 5:22

bear: Genesis 4:13, Leviticus 19:8, Numbers 5:31, Psalms 38:4, Isaiah 53:11

Reciprocal: Leviticus 13:4 - shut up Numbers 16:9 - separated 1 Samuel 2:31 - I will cut 1 Samuel 2:36 - is left 1 Chronicles 9:23 - the oversight Ezra 2:62 - General Ezekiel 14:11 - the house Ezekiel 23:35 - therefore Ezekiel 44:12 - and they shall Zechariah 5:6 - This is an ephah Malachi 2:8 - ye are

Verse 11

they shall be: As few, if any, of those who, before the captivity, had been guilty in these respects, lived to witness the restoration of the temple service; and as it does not appear that their descendants were thus degraded for the idolatry of their ancestors; it is probable that a thorough reformation of the whole church, or the prevalence of pure religion among the converted Jews, is here predicted.

having charge: Ezekiel 44:14, Ezekiel 40:45, 1 Chronicles 26:1-19

shall slay: 2 Chronicles 29:34, 2 Chronicles 30:17, 2 Chronicles 35:10, 2 Chronicles 35:11

and they: Numbers 16:9, Numbers 18:6

Reciprocal: Numbers 8:19 - I have given Numbers 8:26 - to keep Deuteronomy 10:8 - to stand 1 Chronicles 9:23 - the oversight Zechariah 3:1 - standing Zechariah 5:6 - This is an ephah

Verse 12

they ministered: 1 Samuel 2:29, 1 Samuel 2:30, 2 Kings 16:10-16, Isaiah 9:16, Hosea 4:6, Hosea 5:1, Malachi 2:8, Malachi 2:9

caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity: Heb. were for a stumbling-block of iniquity unto, etc. Ezekiel 14:3, Ezekiel 14:4

therefore: Ezekiel 20:6, Ezekiel 20:15, Ezekiel 20:23, Ezekiel 20:28, Deuteronomy 32:40-42, Psalms 106:26, Amos 8:7, Revelation 10:5, Revelation 10:6

and they shall: Ezekiel 44:10, Ezekiel 44:13

Reciprocal: Psalms 119:48 - hands Ezekiel 7:19 - it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity Zephaniah 1:3 - stumblingblocks Luke 19:26 - and from 1 Corinthians 8:9 - a stumblingblock Revelation 2:14 - a stumblingblock

Verse 13

they shall not: Numbers 18:3, 2 Kings 23:9

bear: Ezekiel 32:20, Ezekiel 36:7

Reciprocal: Ezekiel 16:52 - bear thine Ezekiel 32:24 - borne Ezekiel 44:12 - and they shall Ezekiel 45:4 - which

Verse 14

Numbers 18:4, 1 Chronicles 23:28-32

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 9:23 - the oversight Ezekiel 44:8 - charge Ezekiel 44:11 - having charge Ezekiel 45:4 - which

Verse 15

the sons: Ezekiel 40:46, Ezekiel 43:19, Ezekiel 48:11, 1 Samuel 2:35, 1 Kings 2:35, 1 Timothy 3:3-10, 2 Timothy 2:2, Revelation 2:1, Revelation 2:8, Revelation 2:12, Revelation 2:18, Revelation 3:1, Revelation 3:7, Revelation 3:14, Revelation 3:22

when: Ezekiel 44:10

they shall stand: Deuteronomy 10:8, Zechariah 3:1-7

the fat: Ezekiel 44:7, Leviticus 3:16, Leviticus 3:17

the blood: Leviticus 17:5, Leviticus 17:6

Reciprocal: Leviticus 3:5 - Aaron's Numbers 16:5 - will cause Numbers 18:2 - but thou 1 Kings 1:8 - Zadok 1 Chronicles 6:53 - Zadok 1 Chronicles 12:28 - Zadok 2 Chronicles 13:11 - we keep 2 Chronicles 31:10 - Azariah Jeremiah 33:22 - the Levites Ezekiel 14:11 - the house Zechariah 3:7 - if thou wilt keep Malachi 3:3 - the sons

Verse 16

They shall enter: Revelation 1:6

to my table: To place the shew-bread there. It is observable, that the table in the sanctuary is mentioned rather than the altar of incense; perhaps intimating the change in the external institutions of Divine worship which should take place before the accomplishment of the prophecy. It is not easy to determine, whether any external regulations, with respect to Divine ordinances, answerable to these predictions, will be made among the converted Jews, when reinstated in their own land, or not. Ezekiel 41:22, Malachi 1:7, Malachi 1:12

keep: Numbers 18:7, Numbers 18:8, Deuteronomy 33:8-10

Reciprocal: Numbers 16:5 - will cause 1 Samuel 2:35 - I will raise 1 Kings 7:48 - the table 2 Chronicles 4:8 - ten tables Ezekiel 23:41 - a table Ezekiel 40:39 - tables on that Ezekiel 44:8 - charge Ezekiel 48:11 - the sons Zechariah 3:7 - if thou wilt keep Malachi 3:3 - the sons

Verse 17

they shall: Exodus 28:39, Exodus 28:40, Exodus 28:43, Exodus 39:27-29, Leviticus 16:4, Revelation 4:4, Revelation 19:8

Reciprocal: Leviticus 6:10 - linen garment Ezekiel 44:27 - unto the inner Revelation 15:6 - clothed

Verse 18

bonnets: Exodus 28:40, Exodus 28:41, Exodus 39:28, 1 Corinthians 11:4-10

linen breeches: Exodus 28:42, Exodus 28:43, 1 Corinthians 14:40, with anything that causeth sweat, or, in sweating places, Heb. in, or with sweat.

Reciprocal: Exodus 39:27 - coats Leviticus 6:10 - linen garment Leviticus 16:4 - holy linen coat Revelation 15:6 - clothed

Verse 19

they shall put: Ezekiel 42:13, Ezekiel 42:14, Leviticus 6:10, Leviticus 6:11

sanctify: Ezekiel 46:20, Exodus 29:37, Exodus 30:29, Leviticus 6:27, Matthew 23:17-19, 1 Corinthians 3:5, 1 Corinthians 3:6

Reciprocal: Leviticus 16:23 - General 2 Kings 21:5 - in the two courts Haggai 2:12 - General

Verse 20

shave: Leviticus 21:5-24, Deuteronomy 14:1

nor suffer: Numbers 6:5, 1 Corinthians 11:14

Reciprocal: Leviticus 19:27 - General Ezekiel 5:1 - take

Verse 21

Leviticus 10:9, Luke 1:15, 1 Timothy 3:8, 1 Timothy 5:23, Titus 1:7, Titus 1:8

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 15:3 - a teaching Isaiah 28:7 - erred 1 Timothy 3:3 - Not given to wine

Verse 22

Neither: This was prohibited only to the high priest under the law; but is here extended to all the priests, perhaps to intimate the superior sanctity of the times to which it refers.

a widow: Leviticus 21:7, Leviticus 21:13, Leviticus 21:14, 1 Timothy 3:2, 1 Timothy 3:4, 1 Timothy 3:5, 1 Timothy 3:11, 1 Timothy 3:12, Titus 1:6

put away: Heb. thrust forth, Deuteronomy 24:1-4

that had a priest before: Heb. from a priest

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 24:2 - she may go Ezra 10:18 - the sons 2 Corinthians 11:2 - a chaste

Verse 23

Ezekiel 22:26, Leviticus 10:10, Leviticus 10:11, Deuteronomy 33:10, Hosea 4:6, Micah 3:9-11, Zephaniah 3:4, Haggai 2:11-13, Malachi 2:6-9, 2 Timothy 2:24, 2 Timothy 2:25, Titus 1:9-11

Reciprocal: Genesis 7:2 - not Leviticus 11:47 - General Leviticus 13:3 - shall look Leviticus 14:57 - teach Leviticus 15:31 - Thus shall Isaiah 52:11 - touch Jeremiah 15:19 - take Ezekiel 42:20 - a separation Ezekiel 48:15 - a profane Zechariah 7:3 - speak Colossians 4:17 - Take

Verse 24

in controversy: This seems to intimate, that controversies, in the period predicted, will be generally decided by arbitration, according to the law of God; and not by litigations before human tribunals, according to the laws of man. Deuteronomy 17:8-13, 1 Chronicles 23:4, 2 Chronicles 19:8-10, Ezra 2:63

they shall keep: 1 Timothy 3:15

in all: Leviticus 23:1-44, Numbers 28:1 - Numbers 29:40, Nehemiah 8:1-18

and they shall hallow: Ezekiel 22:26, Isaiah 58:13, Isaiah 58:14

Reciprocal: Exodus 31:13 - a sign Exodus 31:14 - keep Deuteronomy 17:9 - they shall Deuteronomy 25:1 - General Deuteronomy 33:10 - They shall teach Ezekiel 20:20 - General Haggai 2:11 - General Zechariah 7:3 - speak Malachi 2:6 - law Colossians 4:17 - Take

Verse 25

Leviticus 21:1-6, Leviticus 22:4, Matthew 8:21, Matthew 8:22, Luke 9:59, Luke 9:60, 2 Corinthians 5:16, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15

Reciprocal: Numbers 6:7 - unclean

Verse 26

Numbers 6:10-21, Numbers 19:11-13, Hebrews 9:13, Hebrews 9:14

Verse 27

unto the inner: Ezekiel 44:17

he shall offer: Leviticus 4:3-35, Leviticus 8:14-36, Numbers 6:9-11, Hebrews 7:26-28

Verse 28

I am their inheritance: Ezekiel 45:4, Ezekiel 48:9-11, Numbers 18:20, Deuteronomy 10:9, Deuteronomy 18:1, Deuteronomy 18:2, Joshua 13:14, Joshua 13:33, 1 Peter 5:2-4

Reciprocal: Leviticus 6:26 - priest Ezekiel 48:10 - for the priests

Verse 29

eat: Leviticus 2:3, Leviticus 2:10, Leviticus 6:14-18, Leviticus 6:26, Leviticus 6:29, Leviticus 7:6, Numbers 18:9-11, 1 Corinthians 9:13, 1 Corinthians 9:14, Hebrews 13:10

dedicated: or, devoted, Leviticus 27:21, Leviticus 27:28,*compared with: Numbers 18:14

Reciprocal: Leviticus 6:16 - the remainder Leviticus 7:1 - the law Leviticus 7:9 - the meat Leviticus 10:12 - Take Numbers 5:9 - offering 2 Kings 23:9 - but they did Ezekiel 46:20 - boil the trespass

Verse 30

first: or, chief

all the firstfruits: Exodus 13:2, Exodus 13:12, Exodus 22:29, Exodus 23:19, Numbers 3:13, Numbers 15:19-21, Numbers 18:12-18, Numbers 18:27-30, Deuteronomy 18:4, 2 Chronicles 31:4-6, 2 Chronicles 31:10, Nehemiah 10:35-37, James 1:18

that he may: Deuteronomy 26:10-15, Proverbs 3:9, Proverbs 3:10, Malachi 3:10, Malachi 3:11

Reciprocal: Exodus 34:19 - openeth Leviticus 23:10 - sheaf Numbers 5:9 - offering Numbers 15:20 - a cake Deuteronomy 26:2 - That thou shalt Romans 11:16 - if the firstfruit

Verse 31

Exodus 22:31, Leviticus 17:15, Leviticus 22:8, Deuteronomy 14:21, Romans 14:20, 1 Corinthians 8:13

Reciprocal: Leviticus 7:24 - beast Leviticus 11:40 - eateth Malachi 1:13 - torn Acts 10:14 - for