Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 46

1 THus saith the Lord GOD; the gate of the inward court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working dayes ; but on the sabbath it shall be opened , and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened.

'Twas the East-gate of the Court next to the Temple, or which did lead into the inmost Court, where the Altar of burnt-offering stood.

This explains that of chap. 44.2. let. d. f. g.

Or every day that is a working day.

On that holy rest the prospect into the Temple, and to the Altar shall be free.

The Priests should open it.

This one festival is named, but all the rest are included, this gate was to be shut onely on working dayes, therefore to be open on all holy dayes, which were dayes of holy Service to God.

2 And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate without , and shall stand by the post of the gate, and the priests shall prepare his burnt-offering and his peace-offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate; then he shall go forth ; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening .

He must come in at the gate, which is between the Court of the Iews, and the Court of the Priests, which is here called the Gate without, or the outer gate of that Court, and so go up to the gate within, which leads into the inmost Court, and rose by 10, or 12, or 15 stairs, say some.

While this solemn service was acting to make atonement for the Prince, or to offer Sacrifices of peace-offerings, for himself, he is directed to stand before the Lord, in other cases he might sit, the greatest should revere that God, whose mercy they need and seek.

One of the inward posts, where he might best see the Sacrifice offered up, but may not go into the Court, none might go in, but such as were, by Gods appointment, to minister before him.

Ver. 22, 23, 24. of the 45th. chap. 'tis said the Prince shall prepare, here the priests must prepare, but these places speak of different preparations, the prince prepared by buying, or bringing of his own the best for Sacrifice. The priest prepared by receiving, bringing the Sacrifice to the Altar, slaying and disposing of all things according to the rule. The Housholder prepares, so doth his Cook prepare the Feast, so that each prepare what is proper to them, and so 'tis here, the Prince prepares but doth not Sacrifice, the Priest prepares but doth not buy, or bring the Sacrifices.

He shall bow, (as Heb.) himself 'tis a praying posture, Exod. 12.27. in which duty the Prince, as all others are to attend on God, while the expiatory Sacrifice is offering, while their reconciliation is to be made, in which posture the Prince is to be all the while the Priest is offering, 2 Chron. 29.29.

Here he took his standing in the beginning of the service, here he is, when 'tis finisht at the inner Threshold of the gate, where his eye might see enough, if his understanding were enlightned with knowledge of these mysteries he need not approach nearer to God, then his Faith could now carry him while at the threshold.

Not stay to gaze, or talk, but as he came to Worship, so having worshipt, he must return

Till all the Sacrifices were offered, and the offerers reconciled, now each offerer was to bring his offering to this gate, and there give it to the Priest, and there lay his hands on the head of the Sacrifice, Lev. 1.3, 4.

3 Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD, in the sabbaths , and in the new moons .

And Heb. i. e. as the Prince had done, bringing, standing worshipping at the threshold of the gate, and departing when the Sacrifice was finisht, so must the people when they brought their Sacrifices, but one manner, one gate, one sacrifice, but one Saviour.

With due sense of Gods holy and glorious presence.

Both weekly and other holy dayes, which are called Sabbaths on good ground.

Which were solemn Feasts to the Jews in their generation, but these dayes priviledged them only to come thus near, who brought their particular offerings, for I suppose the people might not approach at pleasure to see the stated morning and evening oblation sacrificed, this would croud the gate, but at this time, they kept in their own Court.

4 And the burnt-offering that the prince shall offer unto the LORD in the sabbath day , shall be six Lambs without blemish , and a ram without blemish.

This is different from that chap. 42.13. as appears both from the kind of Sacrifice, and the occasion of it, or the time of each.

Or weekly Sabbath by Sabbath, this was three times as much as was required, Numb. 28.9.

Of the first year and Males, ver. 13th. and as the Hebrew implies.

Unblemisht Sacrifices were ever required, and so this Numb. 6.14. Lev. 1.3.

When 'twas more then a year old, the Jews accounted it a Ram.

5 And the meat-offering shall be an ephah for a ram, and the meat-offerings for the lambs, as he shall be able to give , and an hin of oyl to an ephah .

Three bushels of meal, for each Ram.

Rather as he shall see good, as much as he thinks fit in decency or in bounty.

One gallon and a pint, for a Hin did contain 12 logs, and each log contained three quarters of a pint, or thereabouts.

Which was three times 8 gallons, for each Ephah contained three bushels, see chap. 45.11. let. g. So then one gallon, and one pint of Oyl was required as proportion to three bushels of meal, in the meat-offering.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word] of his [illegible: 1 word].

6 And in the day of the new moon it shall be a young bullock without blemish , and six lambs, and a ram: they shall be without blemish.

Vid. chap. 45.22.

Vid. ver. 4. let. x.

See ver. 4. let. u.

In these verses nothing new occurs, but the appointing a Bullock with its meat-offering for the New Moon Sacrifice, of which also on other occasion already ver. 1.

7 And he shall prepare a meat-offering , an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram; and for the lambs according as his hand shall attain unto, and an hin of oyl to an ephah.

Vid. chap. 46, 24. let. g.

Vid. ver. 5. let. z.

Vid ver. 5. let. a.

Vid. ver. 5. let. b.

8 And when the prince shall enter , he shall go in by the way of the porch of that gate, and he shall go forth by the way thereof.

Into the gate of the Court next the Temple to offer his Sacrifice.

Go to the threshold, the inward threshold of the East-gate, that opens into the Court of the Temple.

None of the people might do so, onely the Prince, and the Priests, might go out the same way they came in.

9 ¶ But when the people of the land shall come before the LORD in the solemn feasts , he that entreth in by the way of the North-gate to worship shall go out by the way of the south-gate ; and he that entreth by the way of the southgate shall go forth by the way of the north-gate: he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth over against it.

All except the Prince, when they come to worship, must observe to go out at that door, that is overagainst the door, at which they came in.

Present themselves, and their Sacrifices.

The three great Annual Feasts, the New Moons, and the weekly Sabbaths.

The East-gate they might not enter at as already is observed, and what ever reason might be given besides, this passage in this verse gives one, they could not go right forward to go out at a west-gate; for the Temple, and the entrance into it stood in a strait line from every one of the east-gates from the outmost Court, so that if any should go strait forward, they would go into the Temple and Oracle, which was not to be. There were but two gates the people might enter at the South or North.

None might turn their back on the Temple, nor do that which lookt like a going away from God, which may give us somewhat the meaning of Ier. 2.27. and 32.33. their turning the back on God.

10 And the prince in the midst of them, when they go in, shall go in; and when they go forth, shall go forth .

The Prince and people must meet together at the same time, and when 'tis the time for offering the Morning or Evening Sacrifice, be ready to present their prayers to the Lord. And when they offer any particular oblations, on account whereof they go any whit nearer, then at other time, both Prince and people shall do it at the same time.

11 And in the feasts and in the solemnities, the meat-offering shall be an ephah to a bullock, and an ephah to a ram, and to the lambs, as he is able to give, and an hin of oyl to an ephah.

This verse is the same with the 5th. therefore see that, and with the 7th. which see.

12 Now when the prince shall prepare a voluntary burnt-offering or peace-offerings voluntarily unto the LORD, one shall then open him the gate that looketh toward the east, and he shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace-offerings as he did on the sabbath-day: then he shall go forth; and after his going forth, one shall shut the gate.

One of the priest porters, as the gate was opened for this service onely on such a day, so the service performed, some priests porter shall shut it, for it must not stand open on ordinary dayes.

In the 2, 4, 5, 6, 7. verses orders were given about those offerings, which were required, which the Prince must offer, in this, direction is given about those, that are Free-will-offerings, which in all points, must be prepared, as the other were on the Sabbath-day, which see in the forementioned verses.

13 Thou shalt daily prepare a burnt-offering unto the LORD of a lamb of the first year without blemish: and thou shalt prepare it every morning.

See verse 2. let. i.

See ver. 4. let. u.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 letter]xod. 29.38.; [illegible: 1 letter]eb. a sow of [illegible: 1 letter]ear.; [illegible: 1 letter]eb. morning [illegible: 1 word] morning.

14 And thou shalt prepare a meat-offering for it every morning, the sixth part of an ephah, and the third part of an hin of oyl, to temper with the fine flour; a meat-offering continually , by a perpetual ordinance, to the LORD.

See v. 7. let. g.

Half a bushel of fine Meal.

Three pints of Oyl, for a Hin held nine pints.

Morning by Morning.

To continue till the Messiah comes who will set up a more spiritual Worship.

15 Thus shall they prep[illegible: 3 letters] the lamb, and the meat-offering, and the oyl, every morning, for a continual burnt-offering.

This verse is a ratifying of all prescribed in the 13th. and 14th. verse. These three verses direct the daily Sacrifice, and because they mention onely the Morning Sacrifice, and one Lamb, some think that here less is required then in that Numb. 28.3, 4. but they forget that there is a parity of Reason for the evening Sacrifice and that this is included. They were to do in the Evening oblation as they did in the morning.

16 Thus saith the Lord GOD; if the Prince give a gift unto any of his sons, the inheritance thereof shall be his sons, it shall be their possession by inheritance.

Of houses or lands.

The right to those houses or lands shall descend to childrens children; the [illegible: 1 letter]ee simple shall be to the Posterity of that Son, to whom 'twas first given.

They shall enjoy it, possess it, as Heirs possess an inheritance.

17 But if he give a gift of his inheritance to one of his servants, then it shall be his to the year of liberty ; after, it shall return to the prince but his inheritance shall be his sons for them .

Of any part, or parcel of the Crown Land, or the Prince his inheritance.

Whether such servant be strictly taken, a servant or bondman, or in more large sense any of his servants in the Court, and in office about it.

The year of Iubilee, as Lev. 25.10, 13, 28.

Or his Heirs, if the Prince be dead.

This may be understood either of the Prince or the servant. Either thus, though the Land by gift go back to the Prince, or his Heirs, from the servant, yet what Lands this servant had of his own inheritance, shall descend to the Heirs of that servant, and be theirs: Or else thus, whatever lands of the Prince, by gift are given to servants, shall at the year of Iubilee revert to the sons of the Prince, who shall repossess them, forasmuch as they are lands of inheritance, and of right belong to the Heir.

And for theirs after them.

18 Moreover , the Prince shall not take of the peoples inheritance by oppression , to thrust them out of their possession; but he shall give his sons inheritance out of his own possession; that my people be not scattered every man from his possession.

Seize and escheat, as forfeited (like as Ahab dealt with Naboth, or David with Mephiboseth) to give to others, or keep for himself.

Whether fraudulent oppression, or by violent, whether under colour of Justice, or against all rules of Law.

That he may put in his own creatures, or children.

Provide for his own, out of that is his own.

That they may keep together in their own land.

Marginal references: Chap. 4[illegible: 1 letter].[illegible: 1 letter].

19 After, he brought me through the entry which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers of the priests which looked toward the north: and behold, there was a place on the two sides westward.

We left the Prophet, chap. 44.4. at the North Gate, and on the inside of it, now we find him going through a private way by the side of that Gate to the Holy Chambers appointed for the Priests.

Chap. 40. verse 45. and 46. let. r. s. t. u. and chap. 42. verse 13.14.

Rather on their sides Westward, that is on the West side of these chambers, which lookt toward the North, the 72. read it thus, behold, there was a place enclosed.

20 Then said he unto me, this is the place where the priests shall boil the trespass-offering, and the sin-offering, where they shall bake the meat-offering; that they bear them not out into the utter court , to sanctifie the people.

Those that were brought Sacrifices for sin, were in part for the Sacrificing Priest, and he was to eat thereof, but 'twas to be drest in the virge of holy ground, and so Kitchins, Boilers, Ovens, &c. Utensils were prepar'd to do it, and these Kitchins are here described,

The Priests, or the attending Levites.

Where the people were, and many times in great numbers, that this holy flesh must needs be very near many of them, if it were carried out.

See chap. 44. verse 19. let. ‖.

21 Then he brought me forth into the utter court, and caused me to pass by the four corners of the court; and behold, in every corner of the court there was a court .

Either the court of the people, or more likely the court of the Priests, or Levites, called here utter court, because it was more outward then the court of the Temple.

To go about the whole square of the court.

Where the side Walls did meet in right angles.

A smaller court made up on the outersides with the walls of the greater square, and on the inside made with two walls, the one forty cubits long, the other thirty cubits broad.

Marginal references: Heb. A court in a corner of a court, and a court in a corner of a court.

22 In the four corners of the court there were courts joined of fourty cubits long, and thirty broad: these four corners were of one measure .

All of equal capacity for length and breadth.

They were then an oblong Quadrangle.

Marginal references: Or, made with chimneys.; Heb. co[illegible: 1 letter]nered.

23 And there was a row of building round about in them , round about them four, and it was made with boiling places under the rows round about.

A range of building on the inside of the walls of the lesser Courts, or four ranges answerable to the four sides.

Added lest any should think, the buildings were on the outside of the walls of these Courts.

Four Courts in the four corners.

Places of stone raised on purpose, and framed for the more convenient boiling of that part of the Sacrifice, which was allowed to the Priest, or to the people, to eat before the Lord, and feast with.

These rowes of building were so framed, that the cauldrons and pots were placed under them, 'tis likely, they might be like Cloysters, over which was a roof to cover both the Priest, or Levite Cooks, and the Meats they dress▪ and they were either open as a Cloyster, or had windowes, out of which the smoke of the fire, or steam of the Meat passed.

24 Then said he unto me, these are the places of them that boil , where the ministers of the house shall boil the sacrifices of the people.

Appointed to do the Cooks work.

Either Levites, or else degraded Priests, of which chap. 44. ver. 9.10, 11, 12, 13, 14. which see.

The Temple of God.

Which they bring, particularly their Peace-offerings, of which the people were to have a portion, and to eat it before the Lord, which is the reason some think, these Courts, and Kitchins were in the corners of the Courts of the people, but I think, as the people bringing a Sacrifice were admitted into the Court, that was the Court of the Priests, and to the very Gates of the Court of the Temple, where they gave the Sacrifice to the Priest, saw him prepare, and offer it for them, so they might be admitted to feast on so solemn occasion in the Courts or Chambers, whither ordinarily they might not come; I cannot therefore determine these Kitchin Courts to have been in the Court of the people, 'tis more like they were in the Priests Courts.