Yechezkel 40

1 0 In the five and twentieth year of our Golus, in the rosh hashanah [of Yovel (Jubilee)], in the tenth day of the month in the fourteenth year [573 B.C.E.] after the fall of the Ir [Yerushalayim] in the selfsame day the Yad Hashem was upon me, and brought me there.

2 In the marot Elohim (visions of G-d, Divine visions) He brought me to Eretz Yisroel, and set me upon a very high mountain, on which was a mivneh (structure) resembling an ir to the negev (south).

3 And He brought me there, and, hinei, there was an ish, whose appearance was like the appearance of nechoshet, with a cord of linen in his yad, and a keneh hamiddah (measuring rod); and he [the angelic being] stood in the sha’ar (i.e., the Eastern Gate; see further 43:1-5; 44:1-3; Hashem’s glory enters and exits here and Moshiach, see 44:3).

4 And the ish said unto me, Ben Adam, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine lev upon all that I shall show thee; for l’ma’an (to the intent, in order that) I might show them unto thee art thou brought here; declare all that thou seest to Bais Yisroel.

5 And, hinei, a chomah (wall) was on the outside of the Bais [Hamikdash] compound and was surrounding it, and in the yad of the ish was a keneh hamiddah of six long cubits, each a cubit and a handbreadth; so he [the angelic being] measured the thickness of the structure [of the chomah], one rod; and the wall’s height, one rod.

6 Then came he [the angelic being] unto the sha’ar (gateway) which faceth eastward, and went up the ma’alot (steps, stairs) thereof, and measured the saf (threshold) of the sha’ar, which was one rod deep;

7 And every ta (recess) was one rod wide, and one rod deep; and between the ta’im (rooms) were five cubits; and the saf (threshold) of the sha’ar next to the ulam of the sha’ar on the inside was one rod.

8 He [the angelic being] measured also the ulam of the sha’ar on the inside, one rod.

9 Then he measured the ulam of the sha’ar, eight cubits; and the jambs thereof, two cubits; and the ulam of the sha’ar was on the inside.

10 And the ta’im of the sha’ar eastward were shloshah on this side, and shloshah on that side; they three were of the same measurement; and the jambs had the same measurement on this side and on that side.

11 And he measured the width of the petach (opening) of the sha’ar, ten cubits; and the length of the sha’ar, thirteen cubits.

12 The boundary line also before the ta’ot (recesses) was one cubit on this side, one cubit on that side; and the ta were six cubits deep on this side, and six cubits on that side.

13 He [the angelic being] measured then the sha’ar from the ceiling of one ta to the ceiling of another; the width was five and twenty cubits; petach [opening of the recess] was opposite to petach.

14 He [the angelic being] made [measurement] of the ulam, threescore cubits, even unto the jamb of the khatzer at the sha’ar all around.

15 And from the front of the sha’ar, the outer side, unto the front of the interior ulam vestibule was fifty cubits.

16 And there were chalonot atumot (closed niches) for the ta’im, the sha’ar and for their side walls and these were interior of the sha’ar all around, and likewise the ulam vestibules: and chalonot were round about on the inside; and upon each jamb were timorim (palm trees).

17 Then he [the angelic being] brought me into the khatzer hakhitzonah (outer courtyard), and, hinei, there were leshakhot (chambers), and ritzpah (pavement) constructed for the khatzer (courtyard) all around; thirty leshakhot were along the ritzpah.

18 And the ritzpah was by the side of the she’arim running the length of the she’arim, the lower ritzpah.

19 Then he [the angelic being] measured the width from the forefront of the lower sha’ar unto the forefront of the khatzer hapenimi (inner courtyard) on its outside, a hundred cubits eastward and northward.

20 And the sha’ar of the khatzer hakhitzonah that looked toward the north, he measured the length thereof, and the width thereof.

21 And the ta’im thereof were shloshah on this side and shloshah on that side; and the jambs thereof and the ulam thereof were after the measure of the first sha’ar; the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the width five and twenty cubits.

22 And their chalonot, and their ulam vestibules, and their timorim, had the same measurements as the sha’ar that looketh toward the east; and they went up unto it by ma’alot sheva; and the ulam thereof were before them.

23 And the sha’ar of the khatzer hapenimi (inner courtyard) was facing toward the north, and toward the east; and he [the angelic being] measured from sha’ar to sha’ar a hundred cubits.

24 After that he [the angelic being] brought me toward the south, and, hinei, a sha’ar toward the south; and he measured the jambs thereof and the ulam vestibules thereof according to these measures.

25 And there were chalonim in it and in the ulam vestibule thereof round about, like those chalonot; the length was fifty cubits, and the width five and twenty cubits.

26 And there were ma’alot shivah (seven steps, stairs) to go up to it, and the ulam vestibule thereof were before them; and it had timorim, one on this side, and another on that side, upon the jambs thereof.

27 And there was a sha’ar in the khatzer hapenimi toward the south; and he [the angelic being] measured from sha’ar to sha’ar toward the south a hundred cubits.

28 And he [the angelic being] brought me to the khatzer hapenimi through the south sha’ar; and he [the angelic being] measured the south sha’ar according to these measures;

29 And the ta’im thereof, and the jambs thereof, and the ulam vestibule thereof, according to these measures; and there were chalonot in it and in the ulam vestibule thereof round about; it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits wide.

30 And the ulam vestibules round about were five and twenty cubits long, and five cubits wide.

31 And the ulam vestibules thereof were facing the khatzer hachatzonah (the outer courtyard); and timorim were upon the jambs thereof; and the going up to it had ma’alot shmoneh (eight steps, stairs).

32 And he [the angelic being] brought me into the khatzer hapenimi toward the east; and he measured the sha’ar according to these measures.

33 And the ta’im thereof, and the jambs thereof, and the ulam vestibule thereof, were according to these measures; and there were chalonot therein and in the ulam vestibule thereof round about; it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits wide.

34 And the ulam vestibule thereof was toward the khatzer hakhitzonah; and timorim were upon the jambs thereof, on this side, and on that side; and the going up to it had ma’alot shmoneh.

35 And he [the angelic being] brought me to the northern sha’ar, and measured it according to these measures:

36 The ta’im thereof, the jambs thereof, and the ulam vestibules thereof, and the chalonot to it round about; the length was fifty cubits, and the width five and twenty cubits.

37 And the jambs thereof were toward the khatzer hakhitzonah; and timorim were upon the jambs thereof, on this side, and on that side; and the going up to it had ma’alot shmoneh.

38 And the lishka and the entryways thereof were by the ulam vestibules of the she’arim, where they washed the olah (burnt offering).

39 And in the ulam of the sha’ar were two shulchanot (tables) on this side, and two shulchanot on that side, to slaughter thereon the olah and the chattat and the asham.

40 And at the side outside, as one goeth up to the petach hasha’ar hatzafonah, were two shulchanot; and on the other side, which was at the ulam of the sha’ar, were two shulchanot.

41 Four shulchanot were on this side, and four shulchanot on that side, by the side of the sha’ar; eight shulchanot, whereupon they slaughtered [shachat].

42 And the four shulchanot were of hewn stone for the olah (burnt offering), of a cubit and a half long, and a cubit and a half wide, and one cubit high; whereupon also they placed the kelim wherewith they slaughtered the olah (burnt offering) and the zevach.

43 And within were hooks, one handbreadth, set up inside all around; and upon the shulchanot was the basar of the korban.

44 And outside the sha’ar hapenimi were the lishkhot of the sharim (singers) in the khatzer hapenimi, which was at the side of the northern sha’ar; and their view was toward the south; one at the side of the eastern sha’ar having the view toward the north.

45 And he [the angelic being] said unto me, This lishka, whose view is toward the south, is for the Kohanim, the Shomrei Mishmeret HaBeis [HaMikdash].

46 And the lishka whose view is toward the north is for the Kohanim, the Shomrei Mishmeret HaMizbe’ach; these are the Bnei Tzadok among the Bnei Levi, which come near to Hashem to minister unto Him.

47 So he [the angelic being] measured the khatzer (court), a hundred cubits long, and a hundred cubits wide, foursquare; and the Mizbe’ach was before the Beis [HaMikdash].

48 And he [the angelic being] brought me to the Ulam of the Beis [HaMikdash], and measured each jamb of the Ulam, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side; and the width of the sha’ar was shalosh cubits on this side, and shalosh cubits on that side.

49 The length of the Ulam was twenty cubits, and the width eleven cubits, and he [the angelic being] brought me by the ma’alot whereby they went up to it; and there were ammudim (pillars) by the doorposts, one on this side, and another on that side.

Yechezkel 40 Commentary

Chapter 40

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, ( Psalms 74:12 ) , to be looked unto from all quarters.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 40

This and the eight following chapters contain a vision of a city and temple herein described, and are thought to be the most difficult part of the whole Bible. The Jews forbid the reading of it till a man is arrived to thirty years of age; and then he must expect to meet with things in it he does not understand, and which must be left until Elijah comes to explain them. Many Christian commentators have omitted the exposition of these chapters; and all acknowledge the difficulties in them. Something however may be got out of them, relating to the Gospel, and Gospel church state, which I am fully persuaded is intended by the city and temple; for that no material building can be designed is clear from this one observation; that not only the whole land of Israel would not be capable of having such a city as is here described built upon it, but even all Europe would not be sufficient; nor the whole world, according to the account of the dimensions which some give of it. The circumference of the city is said to be about eighteen thousand measures, Eze 48:35; but what they are is not certain. Luther makes them to be thirty six thousand German miles; and a German mile being three of ours, the circuit of this city must be above a hundred thousand English miles; and this is sufficient to set aside all hypotheses of a material building, either of city or temple, the one being in proportion to the other. The Jews dream of a third temple to be built, by their vainly expected Messiah; but nothing is more clear than that the true Messiah was to come into the second temple, and by that give it a greater glory than the former ever had; as is evident from Hag 2:6-9 and, according to Malachi, he was to come suddenly into his temple, which could be no other than the then present one, Mal 3:1, and into which Jesus came, and where he often appeared and taught, as well as entered into it with power and authority, as the Lord and proprietor of it; by which he appeared to be the true Messiah, as by many other characters; see \Lu 2:22,46 21:37 Mt 21:12,13\. There are some who think that Solomon's temple, as it was before it was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, and as it was rebuilt by Zerubbabel, is here described; and that partly to let the Jews know what a glory to their nation they lost by their sins; and partly that they might have a complete pattern for the rebuilding of it, as well as to comfort them under its present ruins; but there is no agreement between them. This temple was to be built at a distance from the city, several miles; according to some ten, others twenty, and by the best account twenty seven miles; see Eze 45:1-5, whereas Solomon's temple, and that built by Zerubbabel, were in the city of Jerusalem: nor from either of these flowed waters, which rose up to a river, on the bank of which were many trees for food and medicine, and whose waters were healing, and quickened wherever they came, as from this, Eze 47:1-12, nor do we ever read of the east gate of these temples always shut, as this, Eze 44:2, and besides, both these temples were profaned and destroyed; whereas this shall never be, but God will dwell in it forever, Eze 43:7, neither place, structure, nor worship, agree. Nor is this city here the same with the New Jerusalem John had a vision of; for though he borrows some of his expressions to describe it from hence; and in some things there is an appearance of agreement, as of the river of water of life, and the tree of life on both sides of the river, Re 22:1,2, yet the description agrees not, either with respect to its gates, or its compass; and though there was no temple in that John saw, as there was none in this, it being without the city; yet here is a temple in this vision, and the greatest part of it is taken up in the description of it. It remains that this must be understood mystically and figuratively of the Gospel church, which is often spoken of as a city and temple, Heb 12:22, Re 3:12 and which began to have its accomplishment in the first times of the Gospel, immediately after the death and resurrection of Christ; when his disciples had a commission to preach the Gospel to all nations; and who accordingly did, even before the destruction of Jerusalem, and of the material temple, so that Gospel churches were planted in all parts of the world; and especially this was the case, when the Roman empire, called the whole world, became Christian: though the further and greater accomplishment of this vision will be in the latter day; when the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea; when Jews and Gentiles will be converted, and Gospel churches be set up everywhere; so that the Gospel church state, or kingdom of Christ, signified by the great mountain in Da 2:35, and by this large city here, will fill the whole earth: and the rather this may be thought to be the design of this vision to represent it, as it follows the prophecies of the Jews' settlement in their own land; and of the destruction of Gog, or the Turk, attempting to dispossess them; of which in chapters 37-39. In this chapter are first an account of the vision in general, the time, manner, and place of it, Eze 40:1,2, a description of the person, the builder and owner of the house; and by whom the prophet is shown each of the parts and dimensions of it, whom he calls to him for that purpose, Eze 40:3,4, and then a particular account is given, which begins with the outward wall around the house, Eze 40:5, then the east gate, with its posts, porch, and chambers, and the outward court with its chambers, Eze 40:6-19, then the gate of the outward court to the north, with its chambers, and the gate of the inner court over against that, Eze 40:20-23, then the gate to the south, with its posts, arches, and chambers, Eze 40:24-31, then the inner court to the east, its gate, chambers, and arches, Eze 40:32-34, then the north gate, with its posts, chambers, and arches, Eze 40:35-38, in the porch of which are the tables, on which the sacrifices are slain, Eze 40:39-43, after which are described the chambers for the singers and the priests, Eze 40:44-46, then the inner court and altar in it; and the chapter is concluded with the dimensions of the porch of the house, Eze 40:48,49.