Ezekiel 41

AFterward After the measuring of the Courts, &c. now the Prophet is brought to see the Temple it self measured. he brought me to the temple, and measured the posts The thickness of the walls (called posts here as also chap. 40.48.) on the North-side, and on the South-side of the gate., six cubits broad One whole reed in thickness. on the one side, and six cubits broad on the other side, which was the breadth of the tabernacle These walls in their thickness took up as much space, as the whole breadth of Moses his Tabernacle, Exod. 26.22. where eight boards, each one Cubit and half broad, make just the breadth of the Tabernacle 12 Cubits..

And the breadth of the door Or the Aperture, the open space, which let in light, as well as men; properly the door of the Porch, was, ten Between Post and Post, on which the folding doors did hang. cubits; and the sides The space from the edge of the Wall by the Posts to the side Wall inward, was on each side five Cubits, on the North-side so many, and on the South so many, which make the content between Wall and Wall, as the verse has it, twenty Cubits in breadth. of the door were five cubits on the one side, and five cubits on the other side: and he measured the length Of the Sanctuary from the Porch to the Partition between the Holy of Holies, and the inward Front of the Wall of the Sanctuary, was forty Cubits, unless we must take in the thickness of the Walls of both Sanctuary, and holy of holies, of which more may possibly be spoken. thereof, forty cubits; and the breadth twenty cubits.

Then went he inward From the Porch thro' the body of the Temple, to the Partition between the body of the Temple and the holy of holies, or the Oracle,, and measured the post Either the thickness of that Partition Wall, or of the Pylasters, which stood one on one side, and the other on the other side of the door of the door Or entrance out of the Temple into the Oracle., two cubits: and the door, six This door was six cubits high, say some, but, more likely, 'twas six cubits broad, and an upright Bar or Post on which the leafes did meet, and which was of one Cubits breadth, make out the seven Cubits mention'd in the last words of this verse. cubits; and the breadth of the door, seven cubits.

So he measured the length thereof Of the Oracle, or Holy of Holies., twenty cubits; and the breadth twenty It was an exact square, as was Solomons, 1 King. 6.20. cubits before Parallel with the breadth of the Temple. the temple. And he said The Prophet was commanded to hear, and now he shows us his attention. unto me, this is the most holy As having the tokens of Gods more especial presence, in that the Mercy-Seat and Propitiatory were there so called Num. 7.89. 'twas called also the Oracle, and 1 King. 6.16. the inner house, ver. 15, 17. place.

After he measured the wall Having left the Holy of Holies measured in the 3d. verse now he is come to take the measures of the outer Wall. of the house The Temple it self., six cubits Three yards thick was this Wall from the ground to the first story of the side chambers.; and the breadth of every side chamber Of the lowest floor; for there were three stories of these, and they differ'd in their breadth, as the Wall of the Temple, on which they rested abated of its thickness; for the middle Chambers were broader than the lowest by a Cubit, and highest as much broader than the middle., four cubits, round about On the North, South and West parts. the house on every side On each side of every one of these three gates. The East-gate, and buildings about that were not faced with such cings..

And the side-chambers were three, one over In three Stories high. another, and thirty in order How these thirty in a row were distributed, is not said, some guess twelve on the North side, as many on the South-side, and six on the West; but, as this may be, so possibly it may not be; but we are sure the whole number is Thirty in a row on each story, i. e. 3 times 30 or 90 in all.: And they entred into the wall Not the five, or six Cubit Wall, which was the Wall of the house, but another Wall of one Cubit thickness, on the top whereof was a rest, or ledge of one Cubit breadth, on which the ends of the Cedar beams were fastned. which was of the house for 'Tis said this was built for the side-chambers, either from the foundation the Wall was made so thick, that at 5 Cubits from the ground they might rebate or draw in the thickness of the ascending Wall one Cubit, or else this Cubit-thick Wall was after added: but this, as not probable, I reject. the side chambers round about, that they might That the beams of the Chambers might have good, and firm resting hold have hold, but they had not hold in the wall The ends of the Beams were not thrust into the main body of the Wall of the Temple, as we see beams laid into the body of the Walls of houses. But for each story a rebatement of one Cubit in the thickness of the Wall, so that six Cubits thick at the ground, up to the first floor, and five Cubits thick from that to the second floor, and four Cubits thick from the second to the third floor, so each floor rests on a ledge of one Cubit without the Wall, and each Story grows a Cubit broader than that is next lower. of the house.

And there was an enlarging Viz. of the side-chambers, so much of breadth added to the Chamber, as was taken from the thickness of the Wall; that is two cubits in the uppermost, and one Cubit in the middlemost, more than in the lowest Chambers. and a winding about Winding Stairs which enlarged as the Rooms did, and these run up between each two chambers, from the bottom to the top, so there were two doors at the head of each pair of Stairs, one door opening into one Chamber, and the other into the opposite Chamber; or else, you must make the chambers thorough fares, and suppose passages thro' all. still upward to the side chambers: for the winding These Stairs, as they rose in height, enlarged themselves too. about of the house went still upward round i. e. On all sides of the house, where these chambers were, which, as observed, was on three sides of the house. about the house: therefore the breadth of the house Of each Chamber. was still upward, and so increas'd Grew broader by one Cubit in every upper Room or Chamber. from the lowest chamber to the highest by the midst From 5 in the lowest to 6 in the middle, and to 7 in the highest Chamber..

I saw also the height of the house Of the Chambers, or the three stories of them, 'tis not the Temple. round about: the foundations The lowest chamber had properly a foundation laid on the Earth, but the floor of the middle, and highest story must be accounted here a foundation, so from the ground to the ceiling of the first room was 6 great Cubits, from the first Beams, Joices and Boards to the second, six great Cubits, and from the third floor to the roof of the Chamber, a like number, to which add we one Cubit for thickness of each of the three roofs or floors you have 21 Cubits for height, ten yards and half high. of the side-chambers were a full reed of six great Cubits.

The thickness of the wall which was for the side chamber without The outward Wall for these Chambers was five cubits in thickness, and was made of Stone, which added both beauty; and strength to the other part of the building, and served as Butteresses to the Temple-wall., was five cubits: and that That space, which was left without this wall about five Cubits broad, and served for a walk before the chambers, or for a passage from one chamber to another. which was left was the place of the side chambers that were within The Walk and Wall..

And between the chambers That on one side joined to the Temple, and were publick repositories for offerings, and tithes, &c. and those other chambers, which were built on the wall of this Inner Court, and were lodgings for the Priests, there was a void space, or Pavement in the open Air twenty Cubits broad, and these round about on all sides of the Court, and probably some Railes, or Ballisters, or low Wall round too before them enclosing this space. was the wideness of twenty cubits, round about the house on every side.

And the doors The doors of the lowest row opened into this void paved space. of the side chambers were toward the place that was left, one door Beside the particular doors to each chamber, there were two, one on the North, where was a fair Stair-case, which did lead up to every story, and above these to the top of the Temple. And so another like this on the South, excepting that this South Stair-case lead not up to the top of all, as that North Stair-case did. toward the north, and another door toward the South, and the breadth of the place that was left was five cubits round about.

Now the building This is a new building not yet mention'd, but now measured by it self. that was before Or over-against. the separate place Either the Temple with all the appendant Treasury Chambers, or the Oracle, which was in the West end of the Temple, and separate from the rest of the Temple. Or that 20 Cubit space, which was cut off from the Chambers, and the five cubits space before them by a breast Wall, as some think., at the end Of either Temple, Oracle, or foresaid space, toward the West. toward the west, was seventy cubits As men are not agreed about the Fabrick, and its dimensions here intended to be measured, so they are as little agreed how to compute the Measures, every one however makes out his account, whether the thing he measures be the right or mistaken. First, suppose the Temple and the West part of it from North to South, thus; 20 Cubits the Oracle, each side wall 6 cubits, breadth of Chambers on each side 4, the thickness of the out Walls of these chambers on both sides 5 Cubits each, a void space of 5 cubits compassing the whole, and then the low, or breast Wall that enclos'd this space 5 Cubits thick on each side making up the third 10, produce the 70 Cubits. But they that think of a distinct building on the West-end of the Temple, do also in their method make out the account. broad: and the wall of the building was five cubits This seems to countenance their opinion, who conceive a distinct building meant. thick round about, and the length thereof ninety These proportions are easily laid together, which will make up the total, and agree with the Temple thus; Temple and Oracle with their Walls 70 cubits, Porch eleven, and Chambers, and Walls nine Cubits. And who will have such a new structure here measur'd (which is more than was in the first Temple Fabrick) will make all correspond to their hypothesis, and you may more easily object against anothers, then demonstrate your own guesse. The best is, the errour is not great if a man do erre here. cubits.

So he measured the house The whole Temple, Oracle, Sanctuary and Porch with the Walls., an hundred cubits From East to West thus. Stairs of the East Porch, or the thickness of the Wall 6 Cubits; the passage through the Porch 11, Wall of the Temple within the Porch 6 Cubits, the Temple it self 40 Cubits, Partition Wall two Cubits, the Oracle 20 Cub. West Wall thick 6 Cub. the chambers at bottom of the West Wall 4 Cubits, and the outer Wall of the Chambers 5 Cubits. long; and the separate place See ver. 12. let. a., and the building On both the North and South-side of the Temple., with the walls thereof, an hundred cubits long Which is reckoned. The breadth of the Temple 20 Cubits, thickness of both Walls 12 Cubits, the bottom Chambers on both sides 8 Cubits, the outer Walls of these Chambers 5 Cubits a piece, the breadth of the place left out on each side 5, on both sides 10 (i. e. 5 each) and then the wideness between this on either side 20 Cubits..

Also the breadth of the face The whole Front of the house Eastward, the prospect of it being to the East. of the house, and of This explains the other, say some, The house is the separate place, or else, as others, That other building on the West end of the Temple, which was of equal dimensions with the Temple. the separate place, toward the east, an hundred cubits Measuring from the North point along by the Eastern front to the South point, or corner of the buildings or Wall. The admeasuring the particulars I forbear, but since this side runs equal with the length of the whole from East to West, we need not doubt 'tis a hundred Cubits..

And he measured the length of the building Possibly, that of the 12 and 13, or else the buildings of this Court next to the Temple, or else the West buildings behind the Oracle, or the buildings of the utter Court, of which in chap. 42.1, 3, 7, 8. over-against the separate See ver. 12. let.. place which was behind it The buildings, that were behind on the West side of that supposed range of buildings, or else behind the Temple., and the Galleries Either Chambers, or Porches, or Belconies, places supported by Pylasters, made for Beauty and Delight. thereof on the one side, and on the other side, an hundred cubits, with the inner Temple According to the measures of the Temple, and its appendant buildings., and the porches of the court t.

The door posts See chap. 40.48, 49. 'Tis likely, he means the door posts of every Gate, or Porch in every Court., and the narrow windows See chap. 40.16. let. g., and the Galleries See ver. 15. let. q. and ver. 5. let x round about on their three stories Vid. ver. 6, 7. Or parts, or buildings, Temple, separate place, and on the Court Walls., overagainst the door The singular for the plural number, the Doors, which were Ceiled with Wood, were measured, this Ceiling was with choicest Wood. ceiled with wood round about, and from the ground The height of these Windows were taken too. up to the windows, and the windows were covered; What are here recounted were all measured by the Angel, and with the same Reed, or Measure. Had lids, or Curtains to cover them, and Lettices too, say some.

To that above the door In the 15th. ver. the Prophet began his Catalogue, and continueth it through this verse, in which, in the Gross, he tells us all above the Doors, in every Porch, and Gate to the very Inner house, and all without, the Buildings about the Walls, were measured exactly though we have neither the particular account of what these were, either things or measures., even unto the inner house and without, and by all the wall round about within and without, by measure.

And it was made Beautified. with cherubims Generally taken for the Pourtraict of Angels, and framed to the beauty of young Men with Wings. Yet is the description of them very different in different places as the curious observe in Ezekiels Vision, chap. 1. Isaiahs Vision, chap. 6. Iohns Vision, Rev. 4. and in Solomons Temple. and palm trees A very beautiful, upright tree, from a strait well grown body, spreading its head with large boughs and branches, which were used on occasions of Joy, and were emblems of victory, Ioh. 12.13. and Rev. 7.9., so that a palm tree was between These were so engraven, that each Palm-tree was between two cherubs, and each cherub between two Palm-trees, and this ariseth from the different aspect, or numbring them. a cherub and a cherub: and every cherub had two faces Curiously wrought on the same head, somewhat like a Ianus Head, what these faces were the next verse tells us.; Now we are acquainted with the Ornaments, the beautiful carving, which in all parts mention'd, were to be seen.

So that the face of a man This one face, the other of a young Lion. Now as to the aspect 'twas thus, the cherub between two Palm-trees, looked towards both trees, towards the one a mans face, towards the other, a young Lions face looked. was toward the palm-tree on the one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm-tree on the other side: it was And thus it was through the whole house round about, and from bottom to top, as ver. 20. made through all the house round about.

From the ground unto above the door Some think 'tis the great East Gate, I think rather, here is an enallage, or change of Number, Door for Doors, and that every Porch was so beautifi'd, See chap. 1.16, 22, 26, 34. were cherubims, and palm-trees made, and on the wall These beautiful Sculptures were round about the walls of the Temple, and Oracle too, tho' not exprest here. of the temple.

The posts On each side of the Gate or Door, both of Temple and Oracle. of the temple were squared Not round as some other were, and as the Posts of the door of the Tabernacle were, but of exact square., and the face The form of the door, or gate of the Temple was square, i. e. not arched, as the gates of our Churches ordinarily are, but with flat beam, or upper Lintel laid on the top of the Posts, and so either made an aequilateral square, or an oblong square, of the sanctuary; the appearance of the one as the appearance As was the form of the gate of the Temple in its larger, so was the form of the gate of the Oracle in its lesser dimensions. of the other.

The altar Of Incense. of wood So the inward parts were made, and covered with Gold, Exod, 30.1.—11. 1. King 6.20, 22. and from this covering of Gold 'twas called the Golden Altar. was three cubits high One cubit higher, than that in the Tabernacle of Moses, Exod. 30.2., and the length thereof two As long again as Moses Altar of Incense in the Tabernacle. cubits: and the corners The Horns fram'd out of the four posts at each angle on top of the Altar. thereof, and the length thereof, and the walls The sides of this Altar, for it was made up on all sides, are here called the Walls thereof, made of wood, but covered with Gold. thereof were of wood, and he said unto me, This is the table Some say 'tis spoken of this Altar of Incense, others say, the Angel pointed him to the Tables of show-bread, and spake of that., that is before the LORD In the Temple, not in the Oracle, or Holy of Holies, this Incense altar was placed without the Oracle, as appears from the Priests offering Incense at it by courses, whereas none but the High-Priest, might enter into the Holy of Holies..

And the temple and the sanctuary had two Each had one door, so there were two doors, and they were folding doors, or two leaved doors. doors.

And the doors had two leaves apiece, two turning leaves, two leaves for the one door, and two leaves for the other door.

And there were made Carved. on them The doors of both Temple and Oracle., on the doors of the temple Including the Holy of Holies also., cherubims Vid. ver. 10. and palm-trees, like as were made upon the walls: and there were thick planks I suppose, these were boards of more, then ordinary thickness, which were fastned to the great Beams, whose ends came out beyond the wall of the Porch, and probably, were laid so, as to make a part of an arch over the entrance into the Gate, as we see over some houses, and as sometimes under the Belconies, and here also in these thicker planks, 'tis like, were some Ornaments. upon Or above the front of the Porch. the face of the porch without? On the Court side of the Porch, that part that look'd outward.

And there were narrow Vid. ver. 16. let. u. windows and palm-trees See ver. 18. let. f. on the one On the North, and on the South side, as you enter in from East toward the West, thus the sides of the Porch outward were garnished. side, and on the other side, on the sides of the porch, and upon the side chambers of Which were 30 in a row, and three stories high, vid. ver. 6. the house, and thick planks Alike carved and beautified, and alike strengthning, and defending the places where they were used..