Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 45

1 MOreover when ye shall divide by lot the land for inheritance ye shall offer an oblation unto the LORD, an holy portion of the land: the length shall be the length of five and twenty thousand reeds , and the breadth shall be ten thousand : this shall be holy in all the borders thereof round about.

Ye returned Iewes restor'd to your own land.

It was not on the return divided by lot, as 'twas by Ioshua, but lot, and inheritance are the same many times in the Scripture, and the expression alludes to the usual way of assigning inheritances.

Land of Canaan.

As 'tis fit God have his Portion first set out.

By it's Relation to God, and because dedicated to his service.

The Heb. doth not express either Reeds or cubits, our Translators supply Reeds, but the French reads it cubits (coudees.) Rochel edit. 1616. The Gr. keeps to the Heb. and adds not reed or cubit: could it be demonstrated which is here intended, we might proceed with greater clearness and certainty. 'Tis true Reeds are first mention'd, as the measure, but Cubits are also very often mention'd, as a known measure in measuring the Temple and Courts, as appears to any one that will read over these four Chapters, 40.41.42.43. beside the second verse expresly saith Cubits, and I am apt to think, that it hath relation as well to the 25000, ver. 1. as to the 500, ver. 2. I rather favour the Cubit Measure than the Reed, that so the whole content may not seem overgrown, for at Reed Measure this Portion contains at least 77 miles, and a little more in length; but at the Cubit Measure it amounts but to 12 miles and a half. This easily, the other hardly imaginable.

Reeds is at least 30 miles and a half, but Cubits amount to five miles in breadth, and this seems to me both likeliest to be intended, and easiest to be understood, however, since the first ver. mentions not the particular measure, I may as well borrow it from the second ver. as others fetch it from the 40 Chap. and I think, the third expresly limits us to the measure by Cubits, which see with Notes, let. o.

Set apart for holy uses, the whole circuit thereof.

Marginal references: Heb. cause the land to fall.; chap. 48.8.; Heb. Holiness.

2 Of this there shall be for the sanctuary five hundred in length , with five hundred in breadth square round about; and fifty cubits round about for the suburbs thereof.

Whole consecrate Portion of 25000 cubits long, or 12 miles and half, and 10000 broad, or 5 miles and little more.

For a platform for the Sanctuary, both House, and Courts.

Five hundred cubi[illegible: 1 letter]s square, which is about one fourth of a mile square.

Which amount to 29 yards, and half a foot. This bears some proportion to the content of that square, which is one quarter of a mile in each side, but 50 cubits Suburb to that square, that should be supposed to have sides each a mile, a half and half quarter long.

Place round about this the five hundred cubits square mountain of the house.

Marginal references: chap. 42.20.; Or, void spaces.

3 And of this measure shalt thou measure the length of five and twenty thousand, and the breadth of ten thousand: and in it shall be the sanctuary and the most holy place.

Or by or from this cubit measure, verse 2. shalt thou measure. So express that indeed I wonder a dispute can arise, and this justifies the French Version, which from this verse no doubt tooke the Co[illegible: 1 letter]dee, which they use in verse 1.

In the center or navel of this 25000, and 10000 shall the whole Sanctuary, Courts, Temple and Holy of Holies, or the oracle be built.

4 The holy portion of the land shall be for the priests the ministers of the sanctuary, which shall come near to minister unto the LORD, and it shall be a place for their houses , and an holy place for the sanctuary.

The whole content of 12 miles and half long, and five broad.

Sons of Zadok who minister to the Lord, and others with them, who though degraded from the Priestly honour, yet lived upon Priestly provision.

In which twenty three of twenty four Courses of Priests may dwell conveniently, while the 24 minister at the Temple, as by order they did.

And how much God did reserve to himself for his dwelling is expresly mentioned. Thus God makes himself and what is his, the inheritance and possession of the Priests his Servants, as he told them, chap. 44.28.

5 And the five and twenty thousand of length, and the ten thousand of breadth shall also the Levites, the ministers of the house have for themselves, for a possession, for twenty chambers.

As we render the words they are a little clouded, but as they are rendred in the French they are plainer, we read them, as if the verse spake of the same 25000 long, and 10000 broad, which the Priests have, but the French thus; there shall be other 25000 in length, and 10000 in breadth, which shall appertain to the Levites, who do the service of the house with twenty Chambers, so they have abroad in the Countrey equal share with the Priests, and in the outer Court or Courts about the house twenty chambers or rows of them in which to abide for their conveniencies, when in their Courses, they attend the Services they were to perform, as Porters, Singers, and Attendants on the Priests.

6 ¶ And ye shall appoint the possession of the city five thousand broad , and five and twenty thousand long over against the oblation of the holy portion: it shall be for the whole house of Israel.

Order and measure out.

Land to be a possession to the Citizens of Ierusalem, and to be the content of the City.

About two miles, and half broad, and 12 miles and half long measured by the cubit, as ver. 3. directs.

This must run along parallel in length with the holy portion, though but half its breadth.

As the chief, and capital City, to which the Tribes resort, it must be large enough to entertain them too; and was to be framed with twelve gates to twelve streets, for the twelve Tribes, as chap. 48. ver. 31.

7 And a portion shall be for the prince on the one side and on the other side of the oblation of the holy portion , and of the possession of the city, before the oblation of the holy portion, and before the possession of the city, from the west side westward, and from the east-side east-ward, and the length shall be over against one of the portions, from the west border unto the east border.

Though not said how much, 'tis like 'twas near fourfold to that of the City, Sanctuary or the Priests and Levites.

The King or supream Ruler.

One half of the Princes portion lay on the west side of those three already set out.

The other half lay on the east-side thereof, so the portion of City, Levites and Priests lay in the middle of it,

Of Priests and Levites and Sanctuary.

It lay parallel, as broad as these three were broad, and so run on both sides in its breadth from North to South, and had its length as the other from East to West, as in this Diagramma.

What called now over-against, or parallel, or by the side all along is called before three times together. So now you have an exact square of 25000 cubits laid out for God, the Levites and City, which appears thus in the breadth. 10000 For the Priests. 10000 For the Levites. 5000 For the City. And the length of each 25000, that is some 12 miles and half square. And the Princes Portion embracing or bounding all at each end as a guard and defence both of Church and State, of Religion and the Civil Rights, which may fairly be intimated by this assigning him his Portion on each end of the other three.

8 In the land shall be his possession in Israel; and my princes shall no more oppress my people; and the rest of the land shall they give to the house of Israel according to their tribes.

Either in that portion of Land set out for him, or as 'tis added, in Israel, i. e. in the Land of Israel.

Who own my favour in their advancement, and my Law in their Government. All Princes are in some sort Gods Princes, but all do not regard God, as Sovereign Lord of them, and their People, but God did raise up such at the return out of Babylon, who were and did recognize themselves, Gods Princes.

Both Ezekiel and other Prophets did reprove the injustices, cruelties, and oppressive methods of the Kings of Israel, and yet they took not off the yoke, but it shall be better after the days of Babylonish Captivity ended.

After God had his Portion, which was that the Priests and Levites had after the City and the Prince have theirs, the remainder is to be given to the Peeple.

The persons that are Officers appointed to divide the Land.

Two Tribes and Ten Tribes.

To the number of the Tribes, and their Right, we must be restored to them, or they compensated with an equal value.

Marginal references: chap. [illegible: 2 letters]

9 ¶ Thus saith the Lord GOD; let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence , and spoil , and execute judgment and justice , take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord GOD.

Princes are here in Gods name, and by advice from him, who made them Princes, counselled, exhorted, and commanded.

Be content, aim not at more, who gave no more can make this enough, and who will curse, and blast what you indirectly, and by sinful oppressive crafts wrest from others.

Put it far from your selves, do not you use it, and so discountenance in others, that neither common Subjects dare violate one another, nor your Officers violate any of them.

Either the same as violence, or effect of it violent courses, rob the oppressed and spoil them.

Judge righteously and then look the sentence be executed for terror to the unjust, and relief of the opprest.

This is added for emphasis, though the same thing.

Heavy Taxes and Impositions on Estates or Trade.

Whom I must, if you will not, Right.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 span].

10 Ye shall have just balances , and a just ephah and a just bathe.

Princes of Israel.

Though they were not Traders to use, yet they must have i. e. appoint, for to them as a priviledge, it appertains to appoint standards for measure among their subjects.

Or weights and scales, by which to measure what is to be sold by weight, one and the same to all, that none buy by a greater, and sell by a lesser. So Lev. 19.35▪ 36. Prov. 11.1. & 16.11. Mic 6.10, 11. so must the Prince remove oppressive cheating by divers weights.

To measure dry things, as Corn, Olives, Dates, &c.

This was a measure of liquid things, as Oyl, Wine or Water, and what each contained the next verse will acquaint us.

11 The Ephah and the bath shall be of one measure , that the bath may contain the tenth part of an homer , and the ephah the tenth part of an homer: the measure thereof shall be after the homer.

One shall contain as much as the other, the Ephah shall contain as many gallons of dry, as the Bath doth contain of liquid things.

Which is commonly said to be 30 bushels or near it. So that the Ephah will be some 3 bushels in dry things, and the Bath 64 pints, or 8 gallons in liquid things.

12 And the shekel shall be twenty Gerahs: twenty shekels, five and twenty shekels, fifteen shekels shall be your Maneh .

Having laid down the standard for weight, and measure in less valuable things, and that are sold for money, now the Standard is set down for the currant coin, which passed among them, and the valuation of which was part of the Prince his prerogative. The first mentioned in the text is the shekel, which saith the text contained twenty Gerahs, now every Gerah was one penny half penny English value, the shekel then was 2 s. 6 d. the twenty shekels was two pounds ten shillings, the 15 shekels was one pound 17 shillings and 6 pence, and twenty five was 3 l. 2 s. 6 d.

Some say 'tis one pound, and that the pound was either least, middle or greatest, according as there were more, or fewer shekels in it, the least or common pound was but 17 s. and 6 d. the next, which was the Royal was 50 s. and the greatest or pound of the Sanctuary, was sixty two shillings and six pence.

Marginal references: Exod. 30.13. [illegible: 1 letter]ev. 27.25. [illegible: 1 letter]um. 3.47.

13 This is the oblation that ye shall offer , the sixth part of an ephah of an homer of wheat, and ye shall give the sixth part of an ephah of an homer of barley.

In the daily service the morning and evening Sacrifice, there must be Wheat and Barley flower.

Sixtieth part of an homer, about one half bushel and one peck, and one quarter of a peck, and three pints, or near it, so some. Others abate the odde measures, and say the Ephah was about our half bushel as indeed it can be no more, if the Homer were 30 bushels, the Ephah a tenth part of the Homer, that is three bushels the sixth part of the Ephah amounts to four gallons, or half a bushel.

14 Concerning the ordinance of oyl , the bath of oyl, ye shall offer the tenth part of a bath out of the cor , which is an homer of ten baths, for ten baths are an homer.

Now forasmuch as Oyl was alwayes offered with the meat-offering, here is direction what quantity shall be used at each offering.

Which contained about 24 gallons or very near it.

So the quantity of Oyl by this account will be two gallons, three pints, and a little more.

Which is here said to be an Homer, these were two names of one, and the same measure, and described by the Baths it contained.

15 And one lamb out of the flock out of two hundred, out of the fat pastures of Israel; for a meat offering, and for a burnt-offering, and for peace-offerings, to make reconciliation for them, saith the Lord GOD.

This verse prescribes the proportion, that is to be observed in bringing the Lambs for daily Sacrifice, they were bound to choose out of the best Pastures of Israel the best, and fattest Lambs, one out of two hundred, so favourable was God to them in these Cattel, taking so few out of so many. And these Lambs were designed for to be offered with the Meat-offering, either in expiatory Sacrifices, or in Eucharistical Sacrifices, thus daily Sacrifices kept up their peace with God.

Marginal references: Or, kid.; Or, thank-of [illegible: 2 letters]rings.

16 All the people of the land shall give this oblation for the prince in Israel.

The plain and summary meaning of this verse is, that this daily Sacrifice should be, as for the people, and the Prince, so should it be provided by a common purse of Prince and People, all should contribute to this charge. Though some think the People were to give this, and the Prince to give a like share, and I know some think, that this Prince is the High-Priest, and that all the people, joyning, and contributing to this Sacrifice, are here bound to bring it to the High-Priest.

Marginal references: Heb. shall be [illegible: 1 word].; Or, with.

17 And it shall be the princes part to give burnt-offerings and meat-offerings and drink-offerings , in the feasts and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall prepare , the sin-offering and the meat-offering, and the burnt-offering, and the peace-offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel .

Beside the share he gives to the daily Sacrifice in the common charge, ver. 16. the Prince is bound also on solemnities to give Sacrifices out of his own.

See Lev. 1. where these are described.

See Lev. 2.1. &c.

Exod. 30.9. and Numb. 15.24. the Drink-offering was ever joyned with the Meat-offering, Num. 29.11, 16.19.22.

Which he doth particularly recount, as new Moons, &c. of all particularly to treat would be too long.

Here lieth the main deciding circumstance, whether the secular, or ecclesiastical Prince be here intended, some say this preparing is a sacerdotal act in order to offering, if so it must be the High Priest, but I think they mistake. This preparing is nothing more then on the Princes charge, and by his care to see, that there be such Beasts ready at hand as are required at such solemnities, and so 'tis the secular Prince.

See ver. 15.

All the People.

Marginal references: Or, thank-offerings.

18 Thus saith the Lord GOD; in the first moneth , in the first day of the moneth, thou shalt take a young bullock without blemish, and cleanse the sanctuary.

Of the year every New-years day, or the first New-years day after the Temple is built; a kind of Feast of Dedication, the former better agreeth with the following verses.

Proc[illegible: 3 letters]e, either bring out of his own flock, or buy with his Money, this the Prince must do.

Such the Law required bo[illegible: 1 letter]h for kind, and quality, in what Sacrifice, or on what occasion soever the sacrifice was offered

That by this offered according to the Law, the Temple might be cleansed.

Marginal references: Lev. 16.16.

19 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin-offering , and put it upon the posts of the house, and upon the four corners of the settle of the altar, and upon the posts of the gate of the inner court.

Had the 17th. and 18th. verse intended by Prince the High-Priest, there would have been no need of changing the phrase, or of mentioning the Priest, it would have been enough to have said and he shall, but in those verses, the bringing and preparing is not Priestly, but ascribed to the Prince as it would be to any other, who offers a Sacrifice to the Lord by the hand of the Priest.

Carry with him in some vessel or other, from the place where the bullock was slain.

Lev. 1.[illegible: 1 letter]. chap. 43.20. let. z.

Chap. 43.20. let. z. a.

The blood of the Sin-offering was to be put upon the posts of the Temple door, and on the posts of the gate of the Inner Court, or that next to the Temple.

20 And so thou shalt do the seventh day of the moneth for every one that erreth, and for him that is simple : so shall ye reconcile the house.

The Priest must offer the like Sacrifice for cleansing the errors of the people, and reconciling them.

About a week before the passeover.

For all the errors of all the house of Israel, in all that had erred through ignorance.

That is of weak intellectuals, half-witted, or a fool, as the word signifies, or for one that was seduced.

i. e. Cleanse, as ver. 18. which legally or ceremonially was defiled by those errors done in the City, or Courts of the house, whither these persons might come, for 'tis not the Temple it self, I suppose, that is here meant.

21 In the first moneth in the fourteenth day of the moneth, ye shall have the passeover , a feast of seven days , unleavened bread shall be eaten .

Nisan which is part of March and part of April with us.

As was appointed of old by Moses, Exod. 12. at large.

Have, and slay, for so Exod. 12.6.

The Lamb, which was to be eaten with thanksgiving for Gods sparing the Iewish Children, their first born, when he slew the chief of the strength of Egypt, and for bringing the whole house of Israel out of Egypt.

See the institution, Exod. 12.

Though here is an Ellipsis, yet the thing clearly speaks it self! through the whole Feast unleavened Bread was to be eaten under great penalty, Exod. 12.18, 19. These things no doubt concerned the returned Captives, though they have Mystical meaning also.

Marginal references: Lev. 23.5. Num. 9.3, & 28.16. Deut; 16.1.

22 And upon that day shall the prince prepare for himself and for all the people of the land, a bullock for a sin-offering.

Upon the fourteenth day, on which the pass-over was slain.

As before ver. 17. let, x. and ver. 18. let. b.

To expiate his own sins.

See ver. 17. where the same is found.

23 And seven dayes of the feast he shall prepare a burnt-offering to the LORD, seven bullocks, and seven rams without blemish, daily the seven dayes: and a kid of the goates daily for a sin-offering.

After the first dayes offering ver. 22. or else after the 15th. day was over, though first more likely. The Prince at his own charge, is to get ready day by day seven Bullocks, seven Rams perfect without blemish, as the Law required, and one Kid each day of the seven in all 49 Bullocks, as many Rams and seven Kids of the Goats. These the Priests were to offer to make atonement for the Prince, and his People.

24 And he shall prepare a meat offering of an Ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and an hin of oyl for an ephah .

The Prince.

For the Sacrifice was not entire without this, and the Text proportions this also.

For each Bullock one Ephah of fine flower, three Bushels, and one half with the seven Bullocks of the first day, and so for the Rams. That is seven Bushels every day for seven dayes together, according to the number of Rams, and Bullocks.

This was about one gallon and three quarters of a pint.

To each Ephah of Meal, so every of the seven there were 7 Bullocks, 7 Ephahs, and 7 Hins of Oyl. 7 Rams, 7 Ephahs, and 7 Hins of Oyl. 49 of each kind of the Beasts in the space of the seven days, and 98 Ephahs, and as many Hins with them; a great, and costly service.

25 In the seventh moneth , in the fifteenth day of the moneth, shall he do the like in the feast of the seven days, according to the sin-offering, according to the burnt-offering, and according to the meat-offering, and according to the oyl.

According to their Ecclesiastical account.

Tisri, which answers to part of our August and September.

On that day the Feast of Tabernacles began, and it continued seven dayes.

The Prince as before ver. 24.

In every respect for Sacrifices, and all that belonged to them.

As was required at the Passover, so at this Feast also, and therefore you are referred to the particulars of that Feast.

Marginal references: Lev. 23.34. Num. 29.12. Deut. 16.13.