Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 41

Verse 1

Eze 41:1. The heading on the pages of most Bibles, also the statements in works of reference, give to this chapter as a whole the subject of the temple. I believe that to be correct and will make my comments accordingly. In writing on that subject, however, the prophet makes occasional references to the temple of Solomon and the tabernacle built by Moses. It will assist the reader if he can take the time to read the description of those buildings as given in Exodus, chapters 25-30 and 1 Kings 6. But the descriptions that are in the present chapter will be found much more complicated and indefinite than the ones referred to. (See the KEY again.) The posts in this temple correspond to the boards of the tabernacle that Moses made.

Verse 2

Eze 41:2. The door was 10 cubits or 15 feet wide. The sides of the door, which means the door jambs, were 5 cubits or seven and a half feet square. Length thereof means that of the room to which the mentioned door was the entrance.

Verse 3

Eze 41:3. The measurements of this verse are what he found on the inside part of the entrance structure.

Verse 4

Eze 41:4. The dimensions of thiB most holy place were the same as those in the temple of Solomon (1Ki 6:20).

Verse 5

Eze 41:5. The wall of this was 6 cubits or 9 feet thick, and all round the wall of the building there were chambers or rooms that were 4 cubits wide. These were similar to the chambers of which we read in the preceding chapter.

Verse 6

Eze 41:6. The chambers were three stories high and were attached to the wall but not built as a part of it. No doubt such an arrangement was had so that each chamber could be made steady but not weakened by being merged with the other material.

Verse 7

Eze 41:7. The three-storied groups of chambers were unique in their plan, for each one was wider than the one under it. In going from the ground floor or pavement to the top Btory, the stairway was on the inside so that it was necessary to ascend by way of the middle story. Such a plan might give the unit a top-heavy appearance, and that would explain why it was braced by being fastened to the side wall.

Verse 8

Eze 41:8. The side chambers were built upon a raised platform that was a reed thick. Great is not from a word that means size; it Is one that signifies something as a connection. The thought is that this platform that was supporting the chambers was in addition to the main wall or foundation of the building.

Verse 9

Eze 41:9. Much of the arrangement of this whole architecture was done so as to please the eye. For instance, it would look somewhat abrupt to hare the platform on which the chambers were resting to extend wide enough only to hold them, but Instead, there was an extension so as to give a margin of 5 cubits.

Verse 10

Eze 41:10. The chambers were not crowded up against each other in a way that would suggest any shortage of room; there was a space of 20 cubits between them.

Verse 11

Eze 41:11. These chambers had each a door on the side and one on the north. They were entered from the platform which was described in verses 8 and 9. This would be another reason why the chambers should not be jammed up against each other.

Verse 12

Eze 41:12. At one end of the building we have been studying was another that may be regarded as an addition or annex; it was 105 feet wide. Its wall was 8 feet thick and the whole annex was 135 feet long.

Verse 13

Eze 41:13. This verse is a summary of certain portions of the general structure that Ezekiel has been observing. The main house was 150 feet long, and besides this, there was an extension in length of 150 feet.

Verse 14

Eze 41:14. Separate place is from one original and refers to some part of the building on the east side. Face is evidently used figuratively because it was the rule to “face’' the east with important buildings.

Verse 15

Eze 41:15. Against the separate place means that part near the place noted in the preceding verse. Strong defines the original for galleries as “a ledge or offset in a building." These were extensions of some kind on the outside of the main building and served as a walkway or arcade, and they reached 100 cubits or 150 feet.

Verse 16

Eze 41:16. Transparent glass was not known in those times, hence the narrow windows or latticed loopholes were provided to serve these arcades. There were three stories to these arcades and all of them were ceiled with wood. This ceiling not only covered the top as is usually done, but the walls also were ceiled from the ground up as far as the windows, and some kind of covering was made for the windows.

Verse 17

Eze 41:17. The ceiling described in the preceding verse extended over the parts named in this. By measure denotes that the ceiling was measured to harmonize with the areas already described and checked by the adopted standard.

Verse 18

Eze 41:18. These cherubims and palm trees were for ornamentation, and for added attractiveness the two kinds of ornaments were placed so as to alternate with each other. The cherubims had each two faces Which will be explained in the next verse.

Verse 19

Eze 41:19, We usually think of a person who is "two-faced" In an unfavorable light, but such is not always necessary, even when the faces are not alike. Things may differ without being contradictory, and hence they may co-operate with each Other in a common interest. By having two faces the cherubims could see the palm trees from two viewpoints or with two kinds of interests. The palm tree was one of the most admired of all the plants that grew in Palestine. It is referred to in poetic speech as a symbol of peace, and it was literally used for food and other practical purposes. Since the tree therefore was useful for both man and beast, it was appropriate that the faces of the cherubims would be those of a man and a lion.

Verse 20

Eze 41:20. The wall of the temple from the ground to the height of the door bad these ornamental engravings or pictures of lions and palm trees.

Verse 21

Eze 41:21. This verse means that the general appearance of the posts or supporting columns, and the face or front of the building, were uniform and were square or 4-sided.

Verse 22

Eze 41:22. The altar of wood was for the purpose of burning incense, hence did not require to be covered with metal. Table before the Lord is in allusion to the aitar of incense that was in the tabernacle, and located against the vail covering the ark of testimony where the Lord was represented by the glorious light.

Verse 23

Eze 41:23. There were two apartments in the temple hence the need for two doors,

Verse 24

Eze 41:24. The doors were what are called “folding doors" today.

Verse 25

Eze 41:25. These doors had the same kind of ornamentation engraved on them as was on the walls. The thick planks were the kind used as stepping pieces or thresholds.

Verse 26

Eze 41:26. The narrow urindows were the same kind of latticed or perforated spaces that we have observed, because there was no transparent material in use at that time. The thick planks is from a different original from that in the preceding verse, and means some boards suitable for a protective covering or projection over the windows.