Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 46

Introduction

Overview

Ezekiel 46:1, Ordinances for the prince in his worship; Ezekiel 46:9, and for the people; Ezekiel 46:16, An order for the prince’s inheritance; Ezekiel 46:19, The courts for boiling and baking.

Verse 1

Thus saith: Whether the rules for public worship here laid down were designed to be observed in those things wherein they differed from the law of Moses, in the ministrations of the second temple, is not certain. In the latter history of the Jewish church, the law of Moses only was followed, except in the corruption of following the traditions of the fathers.

The gate: The prophet had before observed that the east gate of the outer court was shut, and was told that it must only be opened for the prince; and now he is informed that the gate of the inner court on the east was also shut, and is to be opened only on the sabbath and new moons, till the evening.

shall be shut: Ezekiel 44:1, Ezekiel 44:2

six working: Genesis 3:19, Exodus 20:9, Luke 13:14

on the sabbath: Ezekiel 45:17, Isaiah 66:23, Hebrews 4:9, Hebrews 4:10

Reciprocal: Genesis 1:14 - and let Exodus 16:26 - General Exodus 31:15 - Six days Numbers 28:11 - in the beginnings 1 Chronicles 9:18 - the king's Ezekiel 40:6 - unto Ezekiel 40:19 - unto the Ezekiel 43:1 - the gate that Ezekiel 46:12 - open him Colossians 2:16 - the new

Verse 2

the porch: John 10:1-3

by the post: Ezekiel 46:8, Ezekiel 44:3, 2 Chronicles 23:13, 2 Chronicles 34:31

the priests: Colossians 1:28

prepare: Or, "offer," as the word asah frequently denotes. The whole of this seems to intimate the constant, reverential, and exemplary attendance of kings on the pure ordinances of religion, in the approaching flourishing days of the church.

he shall worship: 1 Kings 8:22, 1 Kings 8:23, 1 Chronicles 17:16, 1 Chronicles 29:10-12, 2 Chronicles 6:13, 2 Chronicles 29:29, Matthew 26:39, Hebrews 5:7, Hebrews 5:8

but the gate: Ezekiel 46:12

Reciprocal: Leviticus 19:5 - a sacrifice 1 Kings 10:5 - cupbearers 2 Kings 11:5 - the watch 2 Kings 16:18 - the covert 1 Chronicles 9:18 - the king's 2 Chronicles 9:4 - ascent 2 Chronicles 23:5 - the king's house Ezekiel 40:6 - threshold Ezekiel 40:19 - unto the

Verse 3

Luke 1:10, John 10:9, Hebrews 10:19-22

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 11:5 - the watch 2 Chronicles 8:13 - every day 2 Chronicles 23:5 - the king's house

Verse 4

the burnt: The proportions of the burnt offerings, and also of the meat and drink offerings, are very different here form those prescribed in the Mosaic law. The meat offering, under the law, was only three tenths of an ephah to a bullock, two tenths for a ram, and one tenth for a lamb, with the fourth part of a hin of oil. Ezekiel 45:17, Numbers 28:9, Numbers 28:10

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 16:15 - the king's burnt 2 Chronicles 31:3 - the king's

Verse 5

the meat: Ezekiel 46:7, Ezekiel 46:11, Ezekiel 46:12, Ezekiel 45:24, Numbers 28:12

as he shall be able to give: Heb. the gift of his hand, Leviticus 14:21, Numbers 6:21, Deuteronomy 16:17

Reciprocal: Exodus 29:40 - hin Numbers 15:9 - a meat Numbers 28:10 - the burnt

Verse 6

Reciprocal: Genesis 1:14 - and let Numbers 28:11 - in the beginnings Isaiah 66:23 - that from

Verse 7

Reciprocal: Exodus 29:40 - hin Numbers 15:9 - a meat Ezekiel 46:5 - the meat Ezekiel 46:11 - the meat

Verse 8

he shall go: Ezekiel 46:2, Ezekiel 44:1-3, Colossians 1:18

Reciprocal: Ezekiel 44:3 - for Ezekiel 46:12 - open him

Verse 9

when the people: This may intimate, that every thing should be regulated, in divine worship, so as to prevent disorder and interruption, and also that men should go forward and make progress in religion, and not turn their backs upon God.

come before: Exodus 23:14-17, Exodus 34:23, Deuteronomy 16:16, Psalms 84:7, Malachi 4:4

he that entereth in: Ezekiel 1:12, Ezekiel 1:17, Philippians 3:13, Philippians 3:14, Hebrews 10:38, 2 Peter 2:20, 2 Peter 2:21

Reciprocal: Ezekiel 8:14 - toward Ezekiel 40:24 - and behold

Verse 10

2 Samuel 6:14-19, 1 Chronicles 29:20, 1 Chronicles 29:22, 2 Chronicles 6:2-4, 2 Chronicles 7:4, 2 Chronicles 7:5, 2 Chronicles 20:27, 2 Chronicles 20:28, 2 Chronicles 29:28, 2 Chronicles 29:29, 2 Chronicles 34:30, 2 Chronicles 34:31, Nehemiah 8:8, Nehemiah 8:9, Psalms 42:4, Psalms 122:1-4, Matthew 18:20, Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 3:6, Hebrews 4:14-16, Revelation 2:1

Verse 11

in the feasts: Leviticus 23:1-44, Numbers 15:1-41, Numbers 28:1 - Numbers 29:40, Deuteronomy 16:1-22

the meat: Ezekiel 46:5, Ezekiel 46:7

Reciprocal: Exodus 29:40 - hin Numbers 15:9 - a meat

Verse 12

a voluntary: Leviticus 1:3, Leviticus 23:38, Numbers 29:39, 1 Kings 3:4, 1 Chronicles 29:21, 2 Chronicles 5:6, 2 Chronicles 7:5-7, 2 Chronicles 29:31, Ezra 1:4, Ezra 3:5, Ezra 6:17, Romans 12:1, Ephesians 5:2

open him: Ezekiel 46:1, Ezekiel 46:2, Ezekiel 46:8, Ezekiel 44:3

as he did: Ezekiel 45:17

Reciprocal: Leviticus 7:16 - a voluntary Leviticus 19:5 - a sacrifice 2 Kings 16:15 - the king's burnt 2 Chronicles 31:3 - the king's Ezekiel 40:6 - unto Ezekiel 46:5 - the meat

Verse 13

Thou shalt daily: It is observable, that there is nothing said about the evening sacrifice, or the additional lamb, morning and evening, on the sabbath, which makes an important difference between this and the old laws; and is probably an intimation of that change in the external forms of religion which the coming of the Messiah should introduce. Exodus 29:38-42, Numbers 28:3-8, Numbers 28:10, Daniel 8:11-13, John 1:29, 1 Peter 1:19, 1 Peter 1:20, Revelation 13:8

of the first year: Heb. a son of his year, Exodus 12:5, Leviticus 12:6

every morning: Heb. morning by morning, Psalms 92:2, Isaiah 50:4

Reciprocal: Exodus 29:39 - in the morning Exodus 29:41 - offer 1 Chronicles 16:40 - To offer

Verse 14

the sixth: Numbers 28:5

Reciprocal: Exodus 12:14 - by an ordinance Exodus 29:40 - hin Leviticus 23:13 - the fourth Numbers 15:4 - the fourth Numbers 28:6 - a continual Daniel 8:11 - the daily

Verse 15

a continual: Hebrews 7:27, Hebrews 9:26, Hebrews 10:1-10

Reciprocal: Numbers 15:9 - a meat

Verse 16

If the prince: Genesis 25:5, Genesis 25:6, 2 Chronicles 21:3, Psalms 37:18, Matthew 25:34, Luke 10:42, John 8:35, John 8:36, Romans 8:15-17, Romans 8:29-32, Galatians 4:7

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 10:25 - General Ezekiel 45:7 - General

Verse 17

to the year: That is, the year of Jubilee, called the year of liberty, because there was then a general release: all servants had their liberty; and all alienated estates returned to their former owners. Leviticus 25:10, Matthew 25:14-29, Luke 19:25, Luke 19:26, Galatians 4:30, Galatians 4:31

Reciprocal: John 8:35 - the servant

Verse 18

the prince: Ezekiel 45:8, Psalms 72:2-4, Psalms 78:72, Isaiah 11:3, Isaiah 11:4, Isaiah 32:1, Isaiah 32:2, Jeremiah 23:5, Jeremiah 23:6

thrust: Ezekiel 22:27, 1 Kings 21:19, Micah 1:1, Micah 1:2, Micah 3:1-3

inheritance out: Psalms 68:18, John 10:28, Ephesians 4:8

my people: Ezekiel 34:3-6, Ezekiel 34:21

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 8:9 - the manner 1 Samuel 8:14 - General 2 Samuel 15:14 - bring 1 Kings 21:3 - I should give Ezekiel 44:3 - the prince

Verse 19

the entry: This entry was at the west side of the north gate of the inner court. Ezekiel 40:44-46, Ezekiel 42:9, Ezekiel 44:4, Ezekiel 44:5

a place: This place was at the west corners of the inner court, or court of the priests; where they prepared the most holy things, the trespass and sin offering, which none but the priests might eat; that they might not "bear them out into the utter court, to sanctify the people," that is, by touching them incapacitate them from discharging their ordinary occupations.

Verse 20

boil the trespass: Ezekiel 44:29, 1 Samuel 2:13-15, 2 Chronicles 35:13

bake the meat: Leviticus 2:4-7, Leviticus 7:1-38

to sanctify: Ezekiel 44:19

Reciprocal: Exodus 27:9 - the court Exodus 29:31 - seethe his flesh Leviticus 6:26 - priest Leviticus 8:31 - Boil 1 Kings 7:45 - the pots Jeremiah 52:18 - caldrons Ezekiel 46:24 - General Zechariah 14:20 - and the

Verse 21

in every corner of the court there was a court: Heb. a court in the corner of a court; and a court in a corner of a court, Ezekiel 46:21

Reciprocal: Ezekiel 10:5 - outer Ezekiel 40:17 - the outward

Verse 22

court: These court in the corners of the outer court, or court of the people, appear to have been a kind of uncovered apartments, surrounded with little chambers for the cooks, and used for dressing the peace offerings of the people. On these their families and friends feasted; and portions were sent to the poor, the widow, and the orphan; and thus the spirit of devotion preserved the spirit of mercy, charity, and benevolence, in the land.

joined: or, made with chimneys

corners: Heb. cornered, Ezekiel 46:22

Verse 24

Ezekiel 46:20, Matthew 24:45, John 21:15-17, 1 Peter 5:2