Ezekiel 45 Footnotes

45:1-8 The Hebrew text gives the dimensions in cubits of the sacred district and its neighboring tracts for the new city of Jerusalem and for the prince. The district allotted to the prince extends across the land to the west (the Mediterranean) and to the east border (the Jordan and Dead Sea) between the lands of six tribes to the north and six to the south (47:21-22). Ezekiel’s dimensions are rectangular and take no account of the actual topography of the land except for the boundaries (47:16-20).

45:9-12 This demand for honest balances and measures seems out of place amidst the priestly regulations, but it was a rebuke to the priests for use of dishonest scales for offerings brought to the temple. OT writers frequently mention the abuse of standards in the marketplace (Lv 19:35; Dt 25:13-16; Pr 11:1; Am 8:5; Mic 6:10-12). Just dealings precede acceptable worship, a point Jesus also made (Mt 5:21-26).