Ezekiel 43
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13-27. As to the altar of burnt offering, which was the appointed means of access to God.
15. altar--Hebrew, Harel, that is, "mount of God"; denoting the high security to be imparted by it to the restored Israel. It was a high place, but a high place of God, not of idols.
from the altar--literally, "the lion of God," Ariel (in Isaiah 29:1 , "Ariel" is applied to Jerusalem). MENOCHIUS supposes that on it four animals were carved; the lion perhaps was the uppermost, whence the horns were made to issue. GESENIUS regards the two words as expressing the "hearth" or fireplace of the altar.
16. square in the four squares--square on the four sides of its squares [FAIRBAIRN].
17. settle--ledge [FAIRBAIRN].
stairs--rather, "the ascent," as "steps" up to God's altar were forbidden in Exodus 20:26 .
18-27. The sacrifices here are not mere commemorative, but propitiatory ones. The expressions, "blood" ( Ezekiel 43:18 ), and "for a sin offering ( Ezekiel 43:19 Ezekiel 43:21 Ezekiel 43:22 ), prove this. In the literal sense they can only apply to the second temple. Under the Christian dispensation they would directly oppose the doctrine taught in Hebrews 10:1-18 , namely, that Christ has by one offering for ever atoned for sin. However, it is possible that they might exist with a retrospective reference to Christ's sufferings, as the Levitical sacrifices had a prospective reference to them; not propitiatory in themselves, but memorials to keep up the remembrance of His propitiatory sufferings, which form the foundation of His kingdom, lest they should be lost sight of in the glory of that kingdom [DE BURGH]. The particularity of the directions make it unlikely that they are to be understood in a merely vague spiritual sense.
20. cleanse--literally, "make expiation for."
21. burn it . . . without the sanctuary--( Hebrews 13:11 ).
26. Seven days--referring to the original directions of Moses for seven days' purification services of the altar ( Exodus 29:37 ).
consecrate themselves--literally, "fill their hands," namely, with offerings; referring to the mode of consecrating a priest ( Exodus 29:24 Exodus 29:35 ).
27. I will accept you--( Ezekiel 20:40 Ezekiel 20:41 , Romans 12:1 , 1 Peter 2:5 ).