Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 42

1 'THen he brought me forth into the utter court, the way toward the North and he brought me into the chamber that was over-against the separate place, and which was before the building toward the North .

After a particular view of the Temple, and all its parts, with the inmost Court, and all in it, the Prophet is brought forth.

called so, in regard to that more inward, whence the Prophet now cometh; it is likely, if not certain, this was the Priests Court, which had two others more outward, but because the Prophet had been in one more inward, than that of the Priests, he giveth the name of outer to this Court.

Thro' the North Gate by which he descended into the Court, where the stair case was by which he went up into the chambers, built over the Pylasters, and Arches, so that underneath was a Cloyster, or Gallery.

Either the singular number for the plural, or chamber, for the row of chambers, or else, into one of the many, that were there.

Whether you take it for the Temple it self, or for that Building equal to the Temple, on the West part of the Temple, still this row of chambers faced the North part of it.

The South front of this Range of chambers lookt to the North front of the Temple, and its that side buildings, or to the North front of the separate place.

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

The Temple of one hundred cubits long, and of fifty broad was on the South prospect of these chambers, or, possibly, this North door did give entrance into buildings, that were one hundred cubits long, and fifty cubits broad.

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 .

The twenty cubits space of the Inner Court, or Court of the Temple faced the South front of this row of chambers their Southern lights look'd into this space, and to the North of the Temple.

Which was in the Priests Court, and on the North side of this building, into which pavement the North windows look'd.

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.

Either in height, or else in three ranks, as now placed, two Galleries on the sides, and a chamber in midst; or two rowes of chambers, and one long Gallery in the middle.

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

This row of chambers had on the South side, or inward a walk of Ten cubits broad, which lay between the wall, on which these chambers were built, and the twenty cubits space, possibly it might be some Cloister, running along the wall on the inside.

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, such ledges we see in many great Houses.

Every chamber door opened to the North, and so the Entrance into these chambers was thro' the Gallery, which look't to the Pavement of the outer Court.

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

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 pitcht, from the floor to the ceiling, the second lower pitcht then the first, yet of greater height, then the uppermost between the floor and ceiling.

Possibly, there might be over the uppermost chambers a flat roof on which as on a gallery, they might walk from one end to another, and therefore, that floor was much lower, then the middle or lowest according to rule of Architecture, which directs, that the upper rooms take not up so much in their height, as the lower, that the weight of the Timber be not too heavy for the walls.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] did eat of [illegible: 1 span]; [illegible: 1 word] and the [illegible: 1 span] of the [illegible: 1 word] the [illegible: 1 word].

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

Built high one over another.

So thick and strong, as those were, but of the slenderer and weaker make.

The highest room of the building

was laid at nearer distance, then the middlemost from the lowest, or then the roof of the lowest from the ground.

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.

Not of the chambers, but some wall at distance from them; perhaps some wall that might keep up a Terrass walk.

Therefore was Northward from the chambers.

The Court of the men, or of Israel, which is called utter with respect to this, wherein this building stood, as this was called utter, ver. 1. and 3. with respect to the Court, that was more inward.

Which evidently shews, that the wall of fifty cubits stood North from these chambers.

Answerable to the length of this building from East to West.

8 For the length of the chambers that were in the utter court was fifty cubits: and lo , before the temple were an hundred cubits.

See ver. 1. let. b. and ver. 7. let. z.

Some say the Angel, conducting the Prophet from these North chambers to the South, hath occasion given him to take notice of, and to measure a second time this space before the Temple; but what if the Angel, and the Prophet were now on the roof of this fifty cubits building, as they seem to be verse 5. measuring it, and thence the Angel might point to the hundred cubit space before the Temple, and bid the Prophet to mind it? The former most received suits best with the 11th. and 12th. verses.

This Verse gives us a reason, why the wall over against the chambers was but fifty cubits, it might not be more or less, because 'twas to hold exact symmetry with these buildings, which it confronted, possibly this verse may give some light to the second verse latter part.

9 And from under these chambers was the entry on the east-side, as one goeth into them from the utter court.

I suppose this Verse describes the entrance into the South Chambers, that it was on the East point, and that whoso would go into them, must go up the stairs (which probably were winding staires) at the East end of these buildings, whose front was toward the South.

Marginal references: Or, from the place.; Or, he that brought me.; Or, as he came.

10 The chambers were in the thickness of the wall of the court toward the east, over against the separate place , and over against the building .

Galleries also with them of this South building now measured.

Or the breadth of that wall of the Court, which was Eastward, and as an enclosure of the building.

Which was West from this building, whose length lay North and South, and its breadth East and West, what this separate place may be, vid. ver. 1. let. e.

Vid. ver. 1. let. f.

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 walk, as ver. 4.

Exactly uniform with the fabrick on the North-side.

Every window and door.

Framed in the same manner.

According to the number of the doors in the one, was the number of the other, all in all things exactly like.

12 And according to the doors of the chambers that were toward the south was a door in the head of the way, even the way directly before the wall toward the east, as one entreth into them.

This verse is a particular description of the door, and way, that, from the East end of this south building, did lead either under the buildings, or through some part of them toward the West point as before, such a way from the North buildings did lead to the South, no[illegible: 1 letter] do I think necessary to speak more of the words.

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.

The Measurer, Christ, Man in appearance at that time.

Vid. ver. 1. let. [illegible: 1 letter].

Set a part, consecrated to holy services and uses, as Vessels, Garments, and dayes may be holy.

And Levites too.

That were then in waiting, according to their courses for this approach is not only mentioned, as distinguisht from the distance the people were kept at, but as including the present actual approaches of the Priests, in their ministring before the Lord.

Together, as in a publick Refectory.

Things devoted to God, were these most holy, some parts whereof God gave to the Priests to live on.

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 here to be reserved, till they were to be used; And whether 'twere more or less that was allowed to the Priests out of the Offerings, here it was to be kept, till used.

See what this was, Lev. 2. to ver. 12. and 6.14, 15, 16

See what this, Lev. 6.26, 29, 30.

See Lev. 7.2, 3. &c.

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.

At the time of their service.

And Levites also, who assisted.

Come into the Court of the Temple, or inmost Court in their Priestly Garments to offer Sacrifice, or to do any other part of their office.

When they have done their office.

In their Priestly garments.

The Court of the Priests, not of the Temple.

The Court of the people.

In some one of the chambers of South or North Buildings, which is a wardrobe for them.

Lay up, either for other Priests, whose course came next, or for themselves against the next return of their course.

Expresly directed by God, Exod. 28.40, 41, 42, 43.

Consecrated, Ceremonially and Relatively Holy, for they are not capable of inherent Holiness.

When they go out of this Court into the outer, or outmost, they must put on common garments.

And so they may, as they have occasion, and see good.

Which common people may meddle with, which the Priests may in their ordinary garments intermeddle with, and not be guilty, but may not touch, while in the garments of their ministration.

15 Now when he had made an end of measuring the inner house , he brought me forth toward the gate, whose prospect is toward the east , and measured it round about .

The Holy of Holies, the Temple, and all the buildings, that were in it, and its inner Courts.

Quite out to the outmost Court, and Wall of it, which compassed all the rest of the Courts.

To the East gate of the outside Wall, mention'd chap. 40. verse 5. which see at let. i. and k.

i. e. The four squares of the wall for this, as the other walls, was square, not round, and therefore this round about is to be understood of measuring all four equilateral sides or parallels.

16 He measured the east side with the measuring reed , five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about.

The Angel, or Christ in the appearance of a man.

From the two opposite Angles of the inside North and South.

Which was of six cubits, and one hand, or three inches.

As verse 15. let. m. The four square was 500 reed, that is each wall was 125 reeds say some, yet this hath its difficulties, though I think it more likely then the conjecture of L. C. and for ought I see, the guess of Villa[illegible: 2 letters]. may be admitted, that the whole square was four times measured round about, from the East round, from the North round, &c. as this, the 17, 18, and 19 verses repeat it.

Marginal references: Heb. Wind.

19 He turned about to the west side, and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed.

Here is nothing new added, but what is in the 16th. verse. I observe that the 16 and 17 verses expresly mention the measuring round about, which why I should doubt was twice done▪ when 'tis related twice, as done from different points, I know not, and then it is easie, and likely enough, that the double relation of this measuring in the 18 and 19 verses, will be the relation of the same way of measuring from other points, which I suppose, is the ground of Villalpa[illegible: 3 letters]s opinion, and is far more agreeable to the Hebrew Text, and context, and account, and more agreeable to Divinity, then that of L. C.

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.

The whole wall.

Repeating the measure of the whole▪ according to the number of the sides.

The whole had such a wall, had each side been five hundred reeds, the Prophet must in propriety of speech have said, They, i. e. the sides, not it, i. e. the whole compass of the wall.

In such an equilateral square there is properly no length, for all sides are equal, but because in the Temple Structure there was length and breadth, therefore that latus, or side, which runs in strait line, parallel with the length of the Temple, is here taken for the length, the other, which was parallel to the breadth of the Temple, is the breadth of this Isopleuron, or equilateral square.

He speaks not here of the thickness, though sometime breadth and thickness are the same.

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

Not the Temple, this is not here meant, but we must remember here, that the Iewes accounted the whole Earth profane, i. e. common or unclean, compar'd with Canaan, and Canaan common, or less holy then Ierusalem, and every part nearer the Temple, the more Holy, and so here the outward Court was inclosed to distinguish it by its comparative Holiness, 'twas more holy then all without it.

Thus envelopt in clouds and darkness, thou hast good Reader, a conjecture at many things, which I need not blush to confess, are more above mine own comprehension, then above some others; The Mystical sense I refer to thy Thoughts.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]