Ezekiel 40

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40:1 In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither.
40:2 In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south.
40:3 And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.
40:4 And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.
40:5 And behold a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man's hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and an hand breadth: so he measured the breadth of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed.
40:6 Then came he unto the gate which looketh toward the east, and went up the stairs thereof, and measured the threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad; and the other threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad.
40:7 And every little chamber was one reed long, and one reed broad; and between the little chambers were five cubits; and the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate within was one reed.
40:8 He measured also the porch of the gate within, one reed.
40:9 Then measured he the porch of the gate, eight cubits; and the posts thereof, two cubits; and the porch of the gate was inward.
40:10 And the little chambers of the gate eastward were three on this side, and three on that side; they three were of one measure: and the posts had one measure on this side and on that side.
40:11 And he measured the breadth of the entry of the gate, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits.
40:12 The space also before the little chambers was one cubit on this side, and the space was one cubit on that side: and the little chambers were six cubits on this side, and six cubits on that side.
40:13 He measured then the gate from the roof of one little chamber to the roof of another: the breadth was five and twenty cubits, door against door.
40:14 He made also posts of threescore cubits, even unto the post of the court round about the gate.
40:15 And from the face of the gate of the entrance unto the face of the porch of the inner gate were fifty cubits.
40:16 And there were narrow windows to the little chambers, and to their posts within the gate round about, and likewise to the arches: and windows were round about inward: and upon each post were palm trees.
40:17 Then brought he me into the outward court, and, lo, there were chambers, and a pavement made for the court round about: thirty chambers were upon the pavement.
40:18 And the pavement by the side of the gates over against the length of the gates was the lower pavement.
40:19 Then he measured the breadth from the forefront of the lower gate unto the forefront of the inner court without, an hundred cubits eastward and northward.
40:20 And the gate of the outward court that looked toward the north, he measured the length thereof, and the breadth thereof.
40:21 And the little chambers thereof were three on this side and three on that side; and the posts thereof and the arches thereof were after the measure of the first gate: the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.
40:22 And their windows, and their arches, and their palm trees, were after the measure of the gate that looketh toward the east; and they went up unto it by seven steps; and the arches thereof were before them.
40:23 And the gate of the inner court was over against the gate toward the north, and toward the east; and he measured from gate to gate an hundred cubits.
40:24 After that he brought me toward the south, and behold a gate toward the south: and he measured the posts thereof and the arches thereof according to these measures.
40:25 And there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about, like those windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.
40:26 And there were seven steps to go up to it, and the arches thereof were before them: and it had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, upon the posts thereof.
40:27 And there was a gate in the inner court toward the south: and he measured from gate to gate toward the south an hundred cubits.
40:28 And he brought me to the inner court by the south gate: and he measured the south gate according to these measures; 40:29 And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, according to these measures: and there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.
40:30 And the arches round about were five and twenty cubits long, and five cubits broad.
40:31 And the arches thereof were toward the utter court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof: and the going up to it had eight steps.
40:32 And he brought me into the inner court toward the east: and he measured the gate according to these measures.
40:33 And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, were according to these measures: and there were windows therein and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.
40:34 And the arches thereof were toward the outward court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps.
40:35 And he brought me to the north gate, and measured it according to these measures; 40:36 The little chambers thereof, the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, and the windows to it round about: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.
40:37 And the posts thereof were toward the utter court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps.
40:38 And the chambers and the entries thereof were by the posts of the gates, where they washed the burnt offering.
40:39 And in the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, to slay thereon the burnt offering and the sin offering and the trespass offering.
40:40 And at the side without, as one goeth up to the entry of the north gate, were two tables; and on the other side, which was at the porch of the gate, were two tables.
40:41 Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate; eight tables, whereupon they slew their sacrifices.
40:42 And the four tables were of hewn stone for the burnt offering, of a cubit and an half long, and a cubit and an half broad, and one cubit high: whereupon also they laid the instruments wherewith they slew the burnt offering and the sacrifice.
40:43 And within were hooks, an hand broad, fastened round about: and upon the tables was the flesh of the offering.
40:44 And without the inner gate were the chambers of the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate; and their prospect was toward the south: one at the side of the east gate having the prospect toward the north.
40:45 And he said unto me, This chamber, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house.
40:46 And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.
40:47 So he measured the court, an hundred cubits long, and an hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the altar that was before the house.
40:48 And he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured each post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the gate was three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side.
40:49 The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits, and he brought me by the steps whereby they went up to it: and there were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side.


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Everything King James Bible:Ezekiel

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Ezekiel
Book: Ezekiel
Chapter: 40

Overview:
The Vision of the Temple.
- Here is a Vision, beginning at ch. 40, and continued to the
End of the Book, ch. 48, which is justly looked upon to be one
of the most difficult portions in all the Book of God. When we
despair to be satisfied as to any difficulty we meet with, let
us Bless God that our Salvation does not depend upon it, but
that things necessary are Plain enough; and let us wait till God
shall reveal even this unto us. This Chapter describes two
outward courts of the Temple. Whether the personage here
mentioned was the Son of God, or a created Angel, is not clear.
But Christ is both our Altar and our Sacrifice, to whom we must
look with Faith in all approaches to God; and he is Salvation in
the midst of the Earth, Ps 74:12, to be looked unto from all
quarters.
- After the Prophet had observed the courts, he was brought to
the Temple. If we attend to instructions in the plainer parts of
religion, and profit By them, we shall be led further into an
acquaintance with the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven.
- In this Chapter are described the priests' chambers, their
use, and the dimensions of the holy Mount On which the Temple
stood. These chambers were many. Jesus said, In my Father's
House are many mansions: in his House On Earth there are many;
multitudes, By Faith, are lodging in his Sanctuary, and yet
there is room. These chambers, though private, were near the
Temple. Our religious services in our chambers, must prepare for
public devotions, and further us in improving them, as our
opportunities are.
- After Ezekiel had surveyed the Temple of God, he had a Vision
of the Glory of God. When Christ crucified, and the things
freely given to us of God, through Him, are shown to us By the
Holy Ghost, they make us ashamed for our sins. This frame of
mind prepares us for Fuller discoveries of the mysteries of
redeeming Love; and the whole of the Scriptures should be opened
and applied, that men may see their sins, and repent of them. We
are not now to offer any atoning sacrifices, for By one Offering
Christ has perfected for ever those that are sanctified, Heb
10:14; but the sprinkling of his Blood is needful in all our
approaches to God the Father. Our best services can be accepted
only as sprinkled with the Blood which cleanses from all Sin.
- This Chapter contains ordinances relative to the true priests.
The Prince evidently means Christ, and the words in ver. 2,
may remind us that No other can enter Heaven, the true
Sanctuary, as Christ did; namely, By virtue of his own
excellency, and his personal Holiness, Righteousness, and
strength. He who is the Brightness of Jehovah's Glory entered By
his own Holiness; but that way is shut to the whole human race,
and we all must enter as sinners, By Faith in his Blood, and By
the power of his Grace.
- In the period here foretold, the Worship and the ministers of
God will be provided for; the princes will rule with Justice, as
holding their power under Christ; the people will live in peace,
ease, and Godliness. These things seem to be represented in
language taken from the customs of the times in which the
Prophet wrote. Christ is our Passover that is sacrificed for us:
we celebrate the memorial of that Sacrifice, and Feast upon it,
triumphing in our deliverance out of the Egyptian slavery of
Sin, and our preservation from the destroying Sword of Divine
Justice, in the Lord's Supper, which is our Passover Feast; as
the whole Christian Life is, and must be, the Feast of the
unleavened Bread of sincerity and Truth.
- The ordinances of Worship for the Prince and for the people,
are here described, and the Gifts the Prince may bestow On his
sons and servants. Our Lord has directed us to do many duties,
but he has also left many things to our choice, that those who
delight in his Commandments may abound therein to his Glory,
without entangling their own consciences, or prescribing rules
unfit for others; but we must never omit our daily Worship, nor
neglect to apply the Sacrifice of the Lamb of God to our souls,
for Pardon, peace, and Salvation.
- These waters signify the Gospel of Christ, which went forth
from Jerusalem, and spread into the countries about; also the
Gifts and powers of the Holy Ghost which accompanied it, By
virtue of which is spread far, and produced blessed effects.
Christ is the Temple; and he is the Door; from him the living
waters flow, out of his pierced side. They are increasing
waters. Observe the progress of the Gospel in the world, and the
process of the work of Grace in the Heart; attend the motions of
the blessed Spirit under Divine guidance. If we search into the
things of God, we find some things Plain and easy to be
understood, as the waters that were but to the ankles; others
more difficult, which require a deeper search, as the waters to
the knees, or the loins; and some quite Beyond our reach, which
we cannot penetrate; but must, as St. Paul did, Adore the depth,

Ro 11:33. It is Wisdom to begin with that which is most easy,
before we proceed to that which is dark and hard to be
understood. The promises of the sacred Word, and the privileges
of believers, as shed abroad in their souls By the quickening
Spirit, abound where the Gospel is preached; they nourish and
delight the souls of men; they never fade nor wither, nor are
exhausted. Even the leaves serve as medicines to the soul: the
warnings and reproofs of the Word, though less pleasant than
Divine consolations, tend to heal the diseases of the soul. All
who believe in Christ, and are united to him By his sanctifying
Spirit, will share the privileges of Israelites. There is room
in the Church, and in Heaven, for all who seek the blessings of
that new Covenant of which Christ is Mediator.
- Here is a description of the several portions of the land
belonging to each Tribe. In Gospel times, behold all things are
become new. Much is wrapped up in emblems and Numbers. This
method God has used to state mysterious truths in his Word, not
to be more clearly revealed till the proper time and season. But
into the Church of Christ, both in its state of warfare and
triumph, there is free access By Faith, from every side. Christ
has opened the kingdom of Heaven for all believers. Whoever
will, may come, and take of the water of Life, of the tree of
Life, freely. The Lord is there, in his Church, to be nigh unto
them in all they Call upon him for. This is true of every real
Christian; whatever soul has in it a living principle of Grace,
it may truly be said, The Lord is there. May we be found
citizens of this holy City, and act agreeably to that character;
and have the benefit of the Lord's presence with us, in Life, in
Death, and for evermore.