Ezekiel 40

The New Temple

1 In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month in the fourteenth year after Jerusalem had been captured,[a] on that very day the Lord's hand was on me, and He brought me there.
2 In visions of God[b] He took me to the land of Israel and set me down on a very high mountain.[c] On its southern [slope] was a structure resembling a city.
3 He brought me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze,[d] with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand.[e] He was standing by the gate.
4 He spoke to me: "Son of man, look with your eyes, listen with your ears, and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for you have been brought here so that I might show [it] to you. Report everything you see to the house of Israel."[f]

The Wall and Outer Gates

5 Now there was a wall surrounding the outside of the temple.[g] The measuring rod in the man's hand was six units of 21 inches;[h] each unit was the standard length plus three inches.[i] He measured the thickness of the [wall] structure; it was about 10 feet,[j] and its height was the same.[k]
6 Then he came to the gate that faced east and climbed its steps. He measured the threshold of the gate; it was 10 feet deep-the first threshold was 10 feet deep.
7 Each recess was about 10 feet[l] long and 10 feet[m] deep, and there was [a space of] eight and three-quarter feet[n] between the recesses. The [inner] threshold of the gate on the temple side next to the gate's portico was about 10 feet.[o]
8 Next he measured the portico of the gate;
9 it[p] was 14 feet,[q] and its pilasters were three and a half feet.[r] The portico of the gate was on the temple side.
10 There were three recesses on each side of the east gate, each with the same measurements, and the pilasters on either side also had the same measurements.
11 Then he measured the width of the gate's entrance; it was 17 and a half feet,[s] while the width[t] of the gateway was 22 and three-quarter feet.[u]
12 There was a barrier of 21 inches[v] in front of the recesses on both sides, and the recesses on each side were 10 and a half feet[w] square.
13 Then he measured the gateway from the roof of one recess to the roof of the [opposite] one; the distance was 43 and three-quarter feet.[x] The openings of the recesses faced each other.
14 Next, he measured the pilasters-105 feet.[y] The gate extended around to the pilaster of the court.[z]
15 [The distance] from the front of the gate at the entrance to the front of the gate's portico on the inside was 87 and a half feet.[aa]
16 The recesses and their pilasters had beveled windows all around the inside of the gateway. The porticos also had windows all around on the inside. Each pilaster was decorated with palm trees.[ab]
17 Then he brought me into the outer court, and there were chambers and a paved surface laid out all around the court. Thirty chambers faced the pavement,
18 which flanked the gates and corresponded to the length of the gates; [this] was the lower pavement.
19 Then he measured the distance from the front of the lower gate to the exterior front of the inner court; it was 175 feet.[ac] [This] was the east; next the north [is described].
20 He measured the gate of the outer court facing north, [both] its length and width.
21 Its three recesses on each side, its pilasters, and its portico had the same measurements as the first gate: 87 and a half feet[ad] long and 43 and three-quarter feet[ae] wide.
22 Its windows, portico, and palm trees had the same measurements as those of the gate that faced east. Seven steps led up to the gate, and its portico was ahead of them.
23 The inner court had a gate facing the north gate, like the one on the east. He measured the distance from gate to gate; it was 175 feet.[af]
24 He brought me to the south side, and there was also a gate on the south. He measured its pilasters and portico; they had the same measurements as the others.
25 Both the gate and its portico had windows all around, like the other windows. It was 87 and a half feet[ag] long and 43 and three-quarter feet[ah] wide.
26 Its stairway had seven steps, and its portico was ahead of them. It had palm trees on its pilasters, one on each side.
27 The inner court had a gate on the south. He measured from gate to gate on the south; it was 175 feet.[ai]

The Inner Gates

28 Then he brought me to the inner court through the south gate. When he measured the south gate, it had the same measurements as the others.
29 Its recesses, pilasters, and portico had the same measurements as the others. Both it and its portico had windows all around. It was 87 and a half feet[aj] long and 43 and three-quarter feet[ak] wide.
30 (There were porticoes all around, 43 and three-quarter feet long and eight and three-quarter feet[al] wide.[am])
31 Its portico faced the outer court, and its pilasters were decorated with palm trees. Its stairway had eight steps.
32 Then he brought me to the inner court on the east side. When he measured the gate, it had the same measurements as the others.
33 Its recesses, pilasters, and portico had the same measurements as the others. Both it and its portico had windows all around. It was 87 and a half feet[an] long and 43 and three-quarter feet[ao] wide.
34 Its portico faced the outer court, and its pilasters were decorated with palm trees on each side. Its stairway had eight steps.
35 Then he brought me to the north gate. When he measured [it], it had the same measurements as the others,
36 [as did] its recesses, pilasters, and portico. It also had windows all around. It was 87 and a half feet[ap] long and 43 and three-quarter feet[aq] wide.
37 Its portico[ar] faced the outer court, and its pilasters were decorated with palm trees on each side. Its stairway had eight steps.

Rooms for Preparing Sacrifices

38 There was a chamber whose door [opened] into the portico of the gate.[as] The burnt offering was to be washed there.
39 Inside the portico of the gate there were two tables on each side, on which to slaughter the burnt offering, sin offering, and restitution offering.
40 Outside, as one approaches the entrance of the north gate, there were two tables on one side and two [more] tables on the other side of the gate's portico.
41 So there were four tables inside the gate and four outside, eight tables [in all] on which the slaughtering was to be done.
42 There were also four tables of cut stone for the burnt offering, [each] 31 and a half inches[at] long, 31 and a half inches wide, and 21 inches[au] high. The utensils used to slaughter the burnt offerings and [other] sacrifices were placed on them.
43 There were three-inch[av] hooks[aw] fastened all around the inside of the room, and the flesh of the offering was to be laid on the tables.

Rooms for Singers and Priests

44 Outside the inner gate, within the inner court, there were chambers for the singers:[ax] one[ay] beside the north gate, facing south, and another beside the south[az] gate, facing north.
45 Then the man said to me: "This chamber that faces south is for the priests who keep charge of the temple.
46 The chamber that faces north is for the priests who keep charge of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok,[ba] the ones from the sons of Levi who may approach the Lord to serve Him."[bb]
47 Next he measured the court. It was square, 175 feet[bc] long and 175 feet wide. The altar[bd] was in front of the temple.
48 Then he brought me to the portico of the temple and measured the pilasters of the portico; they were eight and three-quarter feet[be] [thick] on each side. The width of the gateway was 24 and a half feet,[bf] and the sidewalls of the gate were[bg] five and a quarter feet[bh] [wide] on each side.
49 The portico was 35 feet[bi] across and 21[bj] feet[bk] deep, and 10 steps led[bl] up to it. There were pillars by the pilasters, one on each side.

Ezekiel 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.

Footnotes 64

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.

Ezekiel 40 Commentaries

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