Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 42

Verse 2

Before the length of an hundred cubits was the north door, and the breadth was fifty cubits.

The length — The temple of one hundred cubits long, and of fifty broad, was on the south prospect of these chambers.

Verse 3

Over against the twenty cubits which were for the inner court, and over against the pavement which was for the utter court, was gallery against gallery in three stories.

Against gallery — That is, a gallery on the south part toward the inner court, and a gallery toward the pavement north-ward, and between the backs of these galleries were chambers.

Verse 4

And before the chambers was a walk of ten cubits breadth inward, a way of one cubit; and their doors toward the north.

A way — Before the galleries probably, was a ledge of one cubit broad, running the whole length from east to west, called here a way, though not designed for any to walk on it.

Verse 5

Now the upper chambers were shorter: for the galleries were higher than these, than the lower, and than the middlemost of the building.

Shorter — At first view it should seem to refer to the length, but indeed it refers to the height of the chambers, of which the lowest chamber was highest, the second lower pitched than the first, yet of greater height than the uppermost between the floor and ceiling.

Verse 6

For they were in three stories, but had not pillars as the pillars of the courts: therefore the building was straitened more than the lowest and the middlemost from the ground.

As the pillars — So thick and strong as those were.

Verse 7

And the wall that was without over against the chambers, toward the utter court on the forepart of the chambers, the length thereof was fifty cubits.

The wall — A wall at a distance from them, perhaps some wall that might keep up a terrace-walk.

Verse 11

And the way before them was like the appearance of the chambers which were toward the north, as long as they, and as broad as they: and all their goings out were both according to their fashions, and according to their doors.

The way — The walk.

Was like — Exactly uniform with the fabrick on the north-side.

All their goings — Every window and door.

Were — Framed in the same manner. In all things exactly alike.

Verse 13

Then said he unto me, The north chambers and the south chambers, which are before the separate place, they be holy chambers, where the priests that approach unto the LORD shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; for the place is holy.

Shall they lay — In some of these chambers the holy things that might be eat, were laid up as in a store-house; and those which were not for present use, were reserved, ’till they were to be used.

Verse 14

When the priests enter therein, then shall they not go out of the holy place into the utter court, but there they shall lay their garments wherein they minister; for they are holy; and shall put on other garments, and shall approach to those things which are for the people.

Which are — Which common people may meddle with.

Verse 20

He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place.

Five hundred broad — Each reed was above three yards and an half, so that it was about eight miles round. Thus large were the suburbs of this mystical temple, signifying the great extent of the church in gospel times. It is in part fulfilled already, by the accession of the Gentiles to the church: and will be throughly accomplished, when the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in, and all Israel shall be saved.

A separation — To distinguish, and accordingly to exclude, or admit persons, for all might not go in.