Ezekiel 40

IN the five and twentieth year of our captivity Of those that with Ieconiah, who is also called Iehojachin, were carried away into Captivity eleven years before Ierusalem was sackt, and burnt. And this falls in with the 3374th. year of the World, or near it; about 574. years before Christs Incarnation., in the beginning In the month Nisan. of the year, in the tenth The day that the Paschal Lamb was to be taken up in order to the Feast on the 10th. day, on which Israel went out of Egypt. day of the moneth, in the fourteenth Which appears thus, the City was smitten in the 11th, year of Ieconiahs Captivity, or 11th. year of Zedekiahs Reign, to which, if you adde fourteen, they amount to twenty five. year after the city was smitten Taken, plundered, and spoiled by the Babylonians., in the self-same This is very particularly noted, as of some weight. day the hand The spirit of prophesie, vid. chap. 1.3, let. d. and 3.14. let. x. and 8.1. let. g. of the LORD was upon me, and brought Not by local motion carrying his body, but in visional representation, showing the Prophet what he relates to us. me thither To Ierusalem, the place where it did stand, as appears in the next verse..

In the visions By this it appears 'twas not a corporeal transsumption of the Prophet, Vid. chap. 8.3. let. q. of GOD brought Vid. verse 1. let. h. he me into the land The Land of Canaan was in a scheme represented to him. of Israel, and set Placed him in the most convenient scituation for prospect. me upon a very high mountain 'Twere vain to enquire what mountain this was, since this is a vision, probably it was Mount Moriah here signified., by which was as The Pourtrait, and model of a City. the frame of a city on the south On the south of the Mountain, where the Prophet was set, and this was the scituation of Ierusalem, on whose North was Mount Sion, Psal. 48.2.. A goodly fair City, or by way of Eminence The City, or of that City, which 14th. year agon was burnt.

And he The Lord by his spirit, as ver. 1. let. h. brought me thither Ver. 1. let. i·, and behold, there was a man The same no doubt, which appeared to the Prophet, chap. 1.26. let. b. whose name is the branch, and who builds the Temple, Zech. 6.12, 13. whose appearance Whose fashion and colour was like burnished brass, So Revel. 1.15. much like to that chap. 1. ver. 27 let. c. and speaks glory and strength. was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax A plumb-line, a Masons line to discover the rectitude of the building or its defects. in his hand, and a measuring re d: and he stood in the gate Not the East-gate, but in the North-gate next toward the East..

And the man See Ver. 3. let. u. said unto me Ezekiel called here, as many other places, the Son of man. Vid., son of man, behold with thine eyes Diligently view, all accurateness is required here in looking into these things presented to the eye., and hear with thine ears Like care, and attention use also in hearing what-shall be spoken, these kind of phrases do bind us to greatest heedfulness., and set thine heart Ponder and weigh with thy self, meditate, and study on them, though here is a supernatural Revelation, yet he is required to act the utmost part of a man to know the things revealed. upon all Nothing is insignificant here, therefore all must be regarded. that I shall show thee: for to the intent This was the reason why thou wast brought hither, and why I am come to meet thee. that I might show them unto thee, art thou brought hither: declare Plainly tell them that they may discern, and tell all, conceal nothing. all that thou seest to the house of Israel.

And behold, a wall This was that outmost Wall, which did encompasse the whole ground, on which the Temple stood, and the Courts, that belonged to the Temple; a wall that encompassed the whole mount Sion, upon whose top the Temple stood. on the outside This passage clears, which wall it was, viz. the outermost of three, which the floor of the Temple, and the mount was encircled with. of the house House of God, the Temple, as ch. 10.4. and a Chr. 2.1, 5. round about: and in the mans hand The Prophet is called to see and hear, but the standard is not put into his hand; Christ, who is this man, has and keeps the Reed in his own hand, as the only fit person to take the measures of all. a measuring reed Or Cane, for this measuring Rod or Staffe was of those Canes growing in that Countrey, strait, long, and light, and which Architects did make use of. of six cubits long Each cubit consisting of 18 inches in our common account, and though there is much wrangling about the exact dimensions of this cubit, I will not intermeddle with the dispute, it was about one Roman foot, and half, which comes very near to our English foot and half, or Eighteen inches, or one half yard., by the cubit, and an hand breadth Added to each six Cubits, not as some have supposed to each cubit.: so he measured the breadth The thickness of the walls which were one Reed, and one hands breadth, or three yards, and there inches thick. of the building, one reed; and the height And the height equal, taking the measure, not from the bottom of the wall in the Valley on the outside, which was of different heighth, as the Valley was of different depth, but taking the measure from the Area, or floor on the inside of the wall, it was in the whole circuit of equal height, as here., one reed.

¶ Then When the Prophet had well observed the outer wall, and the measuring thereof. came he The man with the measuring reed, i. e. Christ. unto the gate which looketh toward the East Either of one of the inner walls, or of the Temple it self., and went up the stairs Till he was got up, he could not measure the threshold, which was laid at the top of the stairs, and these were ten, if the Measurer be supposed in the gate of the house, or eight if in the gate of the Court of the Priests, or seven if in the Court of Israel, and each stair half a cubit in height, too high at lowest for him to take the measure of the threshold, if he did not go up the stairs. thereof, and measured the treshold It is like he measured the lower threshold first, as next hand. of the gate, which was one reed broad; and the other threshold i. e. The upper threshold, or lintel of the gate, which was of equal dimensions with the lower, a reed broad, or three yards and three inches broad, o thick. of the gate, which was one reed broad.

And every little chamber Along the wall of the porch were chambers, three on one side, and three on the other, v. 10. of equal dimensions each one Reed square. was one reed long, and one reed broad: and between the little chambers were five cubits A space of two yards and one half between each chamber, either filled with some neat posts or pillars, or it may be quite void, and nothing in them.: and the threshold of the gate, by the porch of the gate within The inward threshold as well as outward, were of the same measures, and curiously arched over head from side to side, and end to end, which was from East to West., was one reed.

He measured also the porch The posts, which were joyned together at the top by an arch, and so made the Portico, say some. The open space under the Arch between the Posts, or the ally which leads from the gate into the more inward parts of the house, or to the inmost. So the French Version, puis apres il mesura d' une canne l' a ee qui menoit a la porte la plus en dedans. of the gate within, one reed.

Then measured he the porch This say some was another Porch, another gate distinct from that ver. 6th. But others more likely, refer this measuring to the same gate, but where as before the breadth, now the length is measured. of the gate, eight cubits; and the posts These were half columns, that from the floor to the heighth of the wall etted out, as if one half of the column were in the wall, and the other without, which was both for beauty and strength, and the protuberance of this half column was one cubit, the other taken up in the wall. thereof two cubits: and the porch of the gate was inward.

And the little chambers These chambers were for the Priests and Levites to lodge in during their ministration, according to their courses in the Temple where they kept watch continually night and day. of the gate eastward were three on this side, and three on that side; they three were of one measure: and the posts had one measure on this side and on that side. This is a repition of what the 7th. verse has already acquainted us with, I only observe, The whole was framed in very great harmony, and just proportions.

And he measured the breadth of the entry It is meant of the whole length of the entry, or walk through the Porch, which was so wide, and to which they ascended by stairs of a semi-circular form. of the gate, ten cubits; and the length The height is meant but 'tis called its length, either because heighth is an erected length. Or rather because thirteen cubits is the greater dimension, and this Interpreters agree in, 'tis the heigth of the gate here measured. of the gate, thirteen cubits.

The space The bound, limit, or railes, as some think, which were set up at a cubit distance from the front of these little chambers, and gave a beauty to them, or else the space of a cubit on the outside for convenient placing of benches for the Priests to sit on, while they observed who came in, and went out of the gate, also before the little chambers Vid. ver. 7. was one cubit on this side, and the space Between the railes, or ballisters, and the chambers on each side, North and South. was one cubit on that side: and the little chambers were six cubits There was no difference in the dimensions of these little chambers, they were all alike on each side. on this side, and six cubits on that side.

He measured then the gate from the roof From the extremity of one little chamber on the North-side of the gate, to the extremity of the opposite chamber on the South-side, and so one cubit, and half for the back wall of the one chamber, and as much for the back wall of the other chamber, with the length of the chambers, six cubits each and ten for the breadth of the gate, amounts to 25 cubits. of one little chamber to the roof of another: the breadth was five and twenty cubits, door Either so placed, that the door of the first chamber on the North-side, answered to the door of the first on the South-side, or some think, the doors of the Chambers were two in each chamber in the East, and West parts, and so exactly set, that the doors being all open, you had a clear prospect through all the Chambers to the Temple. against door.

He made Measured and thereby showed what kind of posts they should be. also posts, of threescore cubits If this might be interpreted by Cyrus Edict for building this fabrick 60 cubits high, it would be a clear confirmation of the divine mission of the Prophet, and the certainty of a future performance of the good he promised in Gods name, when it appears so evident, that he had so long before declared to what height the building should be raised by license from Cyrus. But more like 'tis, that it refers to the heighth of this gate built up two Stories above the Arch, and the Posts in their heigth are only mentioned, but imply all the rest of the building, over the East gate., even unto the post These high columns, or posts on the inner front of this gate were so disposed, that the last on each side was very near to the first Post, or Pillar of the Court on either side of the gate, and so the Posts, and buildings laid on those posts joyned on each side of this gate. of the court round about the gate.

And from the face of the gate of the entrance unto the face of the porch of the inner gate were fifty cubits. This verse seems to summe up all the dimensions at length this gate, its porch, and thickness of its walls, and so summe the cubits, 6 in the thickness of the outer wall, 18 in the three chambers, 20 in the spaces between the chambers, and 6 cubits in the thickness of the inner wall of the porch.

And there were narrow These lights were made through the thickness of the wall of the chambers, and the wall was sloped for that purpose, both within toward the chamber, and without toward the Cloister, this outward sloping gathering the light from without, and the inward sloping did disperse it over all the chamber, so they were windows narrowed inward, to the middle. windows to the little chambers The three on each side of the Porch., and to their posts The upper lintel of each door over which was a window to let in light from that side. within the gate round about, and likewise to the arches Windows under the arches between post, and post to give light to the five cubits space between chamber, and chamber.: and windows were round These were on both sides of the Porch within the gate exactly unlike. about inward: and upon each post were palm i. e. Engraven with curious art for beauty, and whose upper branches spreading themselves along under the arches seemed to bear up the arches. trees.

Then brought he me into the outward So called in regard of the more inward Court, between that where he was and the Temple it self, this Court here, called the outward Court, was at least the second, about the Temple, as you go through the first, and greatest Court, or floor encompassed with that wall of one reed high, and one thick, through the second which is the Court of the people, and which probably is this in our text. court, and lo, there were chambers Not only lodging rooms for the Priests, but also storehouses for Tithes and Offerings, these were Treasuries, and so rendered by some., and a pavement made for the court round 'Twas not laid as we see some Courts before great Houses with us, in a fair walk up from the gate to the door of the House, but the whole floor of this Court was thus paved. about: thirty That is fifteen on the Southside of the gate, and fifteen on the North-side, built over the pavement. chambers were upon the pavement. A very beautiful floor laid with cheker work, as some say of Marble, or of Porphyry, which is much richer.

And the pavement That mentioned verse 17. by the side That part which lay on each side of the gate, and from thence spread it self towards the chambers, leaving a space of pavement of equal breadth with the porch, or gate in the middle. of the gates, over against the length This length was measured fifty cubits ver. 15. from the outside of the first wall to the outside of the inmost wall of the gate and porch, from which, on a pavement somewhat raised, as in other stately walks, this went on to the next gate of the next Court. of the gates was the lower The side pavement was laid somewhat lower then this middle pavement, not only for state, but for the more convenient keeping it clean, so the middle pavement rose with a little convex surface, and the edges sunk with a little declivity. pavement.

Then he measured the breadth Of the whole ground between the inner front of one gate and porch, to the outer front of the next gate more inward to the Temple. from the forefront of the lower-gate Called so in respect to the next gate, which was on the higher ground, and into which the entrance was by stairs or steps. So the first of the fabrick was the lowest, the last was the highest, and the middle gates were the one higher then the other, as in all buildings, that stand upon such ascents,, unto the forefront To the outside front of the gate of the Priests Court, which was next to this gate now measured, that is from the west front of the lower to the east front of the upper gate. of the inner court without, and hundred cubits east-ward and north-ward And so was the space from the South front of the Court to the North front. So the Court was exactly square.. This Court from the west front of the lower gate, was one hundred cubits in length to the east front of the gate of the inner Court.

¶ And the gate Now is this measurer giving account of the north-gate of this outward Court, in which is a most exact harmony with the measures fashion and ornaments, of the east-gate, so that nothing needs be here repeated, who would know all particulars of this gate may find them in the east-gate. of the outward court that looked toward the north, he measured the length thereof and breadth thereof.

And the little chambers thereof were three on this side, and three on that side, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof were after the measure of the first Called verse 22. East-gate. gate, the length thereof was fifty See verse 15. let. cubits, and the breadth five and twenty See verse 13. let. p. cubits.

And their windows See verse 16. let. g., and their arches See verse 16. let. k., and their palm-trees Ibid. let. m., were after the measure of the gate that looketh towards the east: and they went up unto it by seven 'Tis not said what number of stairs they went up to the east-gate, but by this it appears they were seven steps in number, and 'tis said by some, the form was semi-circular. steps; and the arches thereof Of this Portico the curious vaulted roof. were before Within or more inward, then the steps or gate. them.

And the gate The North-gate of the inner court Or Court of the Priests. was over against the gate North gate of the outer Court, these were directly over right each other. toward the north, and toward 'Tis concise, but thus to be exprest fully. The east gate of the inner Court was directly overagainst the East gate of the outer Court, and equally distant from each other. the east: and he measured from gate to gate an hundred cubits.

¶ After that Having finisht the measuring of the east-gate, and showed the Prophet the sameness of the north-gates buildings, measures and ornaments, now he is informed of the South gate, and its exact symmetry with the other two, which consult in verse 5, 6.7, 8, 9, 10, 11. he brought me toward the south The south point of Heaven., and behold, a gate toward the south South part of the house.: and he measured the posts thereof and the arches Vide ver. 16. and 21, 22. thereof according to these measures.

And there were windows Vide ver. 16. let. g. in it, and in the arches thereof round about like those windows Which were in the east-gate, and already measured there.: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.

And there were seven See ver. 22. steps to go up to it The floor or square Court., and the arches thereof were before them Vid. ver. 22. let. n.: and it had palm-trees, one on this side, and another on that side On the right and on the left hand posts, each post had one palm-tree. upon the posts thereof.

And there was a gate in the inner court to ward the south: and he measured from gate to gate toward the south an hundred cubits. As before the East-Gate answered to East, and North, to North, so here one South Gate answers to the other in the confronting, or parallel walls, and in all points exactly uniform; to prevent repetition I refer you to the particular measures, &c. of the East gate.

And he brought From the South-gate of the outer Court through the porch, and over the 100 cubit pavement to the South-Gate of the inner Court, which is here described by its harmony with the other Gates, which were before measured, and to them are you referred least we needlessly repeat the same things. me to the inner Court by the south-gate: and he measured the south-gate according to these measures.

And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof according to these measures: and there were windows in it, and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty Vide verse 15. cubits long and five and twenty cubits broad See ver. 13. let. p..

And the arches Here as once before, as ver. 11. let. k. length is put for height. round about were five and twenty cubits long, and five cubits broad.

And the arches thereof were toward the utter court: and palm trees were upon the posts thereof: and the going up to it had eight steps. In this verse two things are mentioned, wherein this gate differed from the other, first in the Arches or Porch which stood not inward, but outward towards the outer Court, the reason whereof will appear in what follows. The next difference lieth in this, that the Ascent was by eight steps (more then the other, say some, and so make them fifteen) Now, if the Porch to this Gate built outward stood upon such ascent, 'twould be necessary the Pillars should be such as v. 30. expresseth them, 5 Cubits in the breadth of the Basis, and 25 Cubits high.

And he brought me into the inner court The Court of the Priests, which was next to the House or Temple it self. toward the East To the East gate of that Court, so he is brought from the South to the East Gate;: and he measured the gate according to these measures As the other, so this, exactly like to the first in all dimensions of length and breadth..

And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof were according to these measures: and there were windows therein, and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad. Compare the 33th. verse with the 6. verse, &c. to the 16th. where the form and dimensions are expresly set down.

And the arches thereof were toward the outward court: and palm trees were upon the posts thereof on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps. Vid. ver. 31. where this verse is explain'd.

And he brought me to the North gate From the East Gate, and taking the measures hereof, he passeth by order to the North Gate, where all is exactly conform'd to that in the South and East Gates., and measured it according to these measures.

The little chambers thereof, the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, and the windows to it round about; the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.

And the posts thereof were toward the utter court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps.

And the chambers Either the six, three on one side, and three on the other, as before in the Gates of the outer Court, or else Chambers built on purpose for the uses here specified, as some conjecture. and the entries The doors, as well as the Chambers, were by the Pillars probably adjoining to them. thereof were by the posts of the gates Though some have thought, the North Gate was that alone, where they washt the Burnt offering, yet others conceive 'twas done at the East Gate too, if not at the South also, and the plural number warrants us to look for an other Gate, beside the North, when 'tis said, these chambers were by the Posts of the Gates, Plural., where they washed God commanded, that the legs and entrails of this burnt offering should be washed, Lev. 1.13. now here they did that, and whether these chambers were built for this use only, or put to this, as to other holy uses, is not greatly material to enquire. the burnt-offering.

And in the porch Tho' the words seem so express, yet doubt is made whether any table were in the very porch it self, and think they would cumber the passage, but sure where only the Priests in course of Ministration entred, there would be no great croud; therefore I conceive, that these two pairs of Tables were set in the very porch of the Gate, which is the letter of the Text. of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, to slay thereon the burnt-offering, and the sin-offering, and the trespass-offering.

And at the side without On the right hand without, and probably in the open air, or else under the Cloister, that went Eastward, stood two, and on the left hand two, in like manner, for the same end, and use to slay the Sacrifices., as one goeth up to the entry of the North gate, were two tables; and on the other side, which was at the porch of the gate, were two tables.

Four tables were on this side Either within the Porch two, and without it two, on either side, or else, as some will, four without the Porch, and Gate in the Cloisters on the right and left hand of the gate., and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate; eight tables How ere placed, they were eight for number, and design'd for slaying the Sacrifice on., whereupon they slew their sacrifices.

And the four tables Each four Tables for the Prophet speaks of all Eight, but names them Four, because they were coupled so, one four on the one side, and the other four on the other side. were of hewen stone 'Tis not likely these were mean worthless stones, but either best marble, or else some stone better than marble, and they are exactly square, a Cubit and half every way. for the burnt-offering, of a cubit and an half long, and a cubit and an half broad, and one cubit high Here is nothing said of the thickness of these stone Tables, 'tis probable they were of a good thickness, which, added to the Cubit height, on which they were set, might raise them to convenient height for use.: whereupon also they laid the Instruments When they were brought out for present use, at other times, we know they were laid up in Chambers, and Cupboards prepar'd for that end. wherewith they slew the burnt offering and the sacrifice.

And within Within the House, Porch, or what ere the place be called, where these Tables stood. were hooks Learned conjectures here, as in many other places, perplex more than explain. Hooks, on which the laughtered Sacrifice might be hang'd, while they prepared it farther, were needful, and the word imports such Iron Hooks. an hand broad It is probable, that there might be two Hooks of Iron fastned to, or wrought out, where the pla e was so broad, and therefore called Hooks in the plural., fastned To Walls, no doubt, near these Tables. round about: and upon the tables They were careful to keep the holy Flesh from lying any where, that might look like common ground. It is like that the sacrifice was fastned to these Hooks, and rested on these stone Tables, while the Priests cut them into their pieces. was the flesh of the offering.

And without When he was got through the gate of the Inner Court. the inner gate were the chambers Several in a row. of the singers Where they lodged both their Instruments and themselves during the time of their attendance. in the inner court Next to the Temple., which was at the side of the north-gate; and their prospect was toward the south The back parts of these Lodgings were toward the Northwall of the Inner Court, and their Lights and Prospects to the South, and stood both on the North-east side, and on the North-west side.; one One row of Chambers. at the side of the East-gate This row in length was from East to West, and how ever this row butted, 'tis certain the position of their Lights was to the North, so these Chambers must have their back parts on some building, that run out from the East Gate into the body of the Court Westward., having the prospect toward the North.

And he Who appear'd with measuring Line and Reed, ver. 3. said unto me, this chamber This range of Chambers for this single number refers to the whole row, not to one particular Chamber. whose prospect is toward the South, is for the Priests The Sons of Aaron, yet, I think, not excluding others, who had charge under the Priests., the keepers While, according to their Courses, they had the charge of the House of God, and attended on the Service of it. of the charge of the house.

And the chamber See ver. 45. let. r. whose prospect is toward the North is for the Priests, the keepers See ver. 45. let. s. t, of the charge of the Altar To preserve the fire perpetually on the Altar, &c.. These are the sons of Zadok The High Priest, who was put in by Solomons depriving of Abiathar, in whose race the High-Priesthood continued, while Gods order was observed, his Sons especially among the Levites, had this charge, and in their turns took care of the Altar, which that they might the better do, they had those Chambers, whose prospect, I do suppose, was toward the Altar. among the Sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.

So he measured the court The Inner Court, or Court of the Priests, who, according to their several charges, had lodgings in it as, ver. 46., an hundred cubits long, and an hundred cubits broad, four square This Court was an exact aequilateral square.; and the Altar Here the place of the Altar is only mentioned, the measuring of it is chap. 4. from ver. 13. to ver. 18. this Altar was placed in the very Center of this square, in a direct line from the North, East, and South Gates, and might be seen from the lower Courts by those who stood there. that was before the house The Temple it self..

And he brought From the measuring the Building, and Court. me to the porch of the house That Porch which joined to the Temple, and was part of the house. and measured each The Post, or Wall on each side of the Gate. post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side The thickness, or space between the out-side of the Wall, and the in-side of the Wall was five Cubits on each side North and South, if we suppose the breadth of the Porch from North to South, and the length from East to West.: and the breadth The whole breadth was eleven Cubits, but the breadth of each leaf of this folding gate was three Cubits, and they met, or shut on an upright Post, set in the middle of the Gate space, and this one Cubit broad. And then each leaf hang'd on Posts two cubits thick, which amount to eleven Cubits. of the gate was three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side.

The length Tho' learned men dispute the position of the length, whether from East to West, or from North to South, express word determines the Dimensions of this length and breadth. of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits, and he brought me by the steps Eight say some, others eleven, and some say ten, others say twelve, but most say eight. whereby they went up to it: and there were pillars So soon as he was come into the Porch, he saw two Pillars, that stood off from the side Walls, not joined to them, as the posts were, much like Iachin and Boaz in Solomons Temple. by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side.