Ezekiel 46:8-18

8 "'When the prince enters, he will go through the entrance vestibule of the gate complex and leave the same way.
9 "'But when the people of the land come to worship God at the commanded feasts, those who enter through the north gate will exit from the south gate, and those who enter though the south gate will exit from the north gate. You don't exit the gate through which you enter, but through the opposite gate.
10 The prince is to be there, mingling with them, going in and out with them.
11 "'At the festivals and the commanded feasts, the appropriate grain offering is five and a half gallons, with a gallon of oil for the bull and ram and a handful of grain for each lamb.
12 "'When the prince brings a freewill offering to God, whether a burnt offering or a peace offering, the east gate is to be opened for him. He offers his burnt or peace offering the same as he does on the Sabbath. Then he leaves, and after he is out, the gate is shut.
13 "'Every morning you are to bring a yearling lamb unblemished for a burnt offering to God.
14 Also, every morning bring a grain offering of about a gallon of grain with a quart or so of oil to moisten it. Presenting this grain offering to God is standard procedure.
15 The lamb, the grain offering, and the oil for the burnt offering are a regular daily ritual.
16 "'A Message from God, the Master: If the prince deeds a gift from his inheritance to one of his sons, it stays in the family.
17 But if he deeds a gift from his inheritance to a servant, the servant keeps it only until the year of liberation (the Jubilee year). After that, it comes back to the prince. His inheritance is only for his sons. It stays in the family.
18 The prince must not take the inheritance from any of the people, dispossessing them of their land. He can give his sons only what he himself owns. None of my people are to be run off their land.'"

Ezekiel 46:8-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 46

This chapter treats of the shutting of the eastern gate of the inner court on working days, and opening it on sabbaths and new moons, for the prince and people to worship in, Eze 46:1-3, gives a further account of the sacrifices of both at these seasons, and of their different ways of going in and out, Eze 46:4-15, delivers some rules about the prince's disposing of his gifts to his sons and servants, Eze 46:16-18 and describes the places for the priest's baking and boiling the sacrifices, Eze 46:19-24.

Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.