Ezekiel 40:1-13
twenty-fifth <02568> [In the five.]
On Tuesday, April 20.
after <0310> [after.]
very <06106> [selfsame.]
hand <03027> [hand.]
visions <04759> [the visions.]
There can be little doubt, that the grand outlines of the description of the temple, in the following extraordinary vision, were taken from that of Solomon's, with all the additions made to it in after ages; and we may suppose that Zerubbabel and the other Jews had respect to it, as far as circumstances would permit, in rebuilding the temple after the captivity. There are, however, many circumstances which conclusively shew, that something infinitely superior to either the first or second temple was intended; and that the external description must be considered as a figure and emblem of spiritual blessings. Probably the more immediate accomplishment of the prophecy will be subsequent to the conversion and restoration of the Jews, the destruction of Gog and Magog, and the pouring out of the Spirit, mentioned at the close of the last chapter; but whether there will be any external forms analogous to these cannot be determined, though in some respects it seems improbable.
very <03966> [a very.]
structure <04011> [by. or, upon. as the.]
structure <04011> [frame.]
south <05045> [on the south.]
appearance ... like <04758> [whose.]
cord <06616> [with.]
watch ........... show ............. show ............ see <07200> [behold.]
Tell <05046> [declare.]
wall <02346> [a wall.]
feet <0520> [by.]
measured <04058> [so he.]
gate .............. gate <08179> [unto.]
facing <06440> [which looketh. Heb. whose face was the way. stairs.]
climbed ....... threshold <05592> [threshold.]
10½ feet <07070 0259> [one reed.]
jambs <0352> [the posts.]
alcoves <08372> [the little.]
three ........... three <07969> [they three.]
The entrance into the outer court seems to have been through a porch with doors at both ends; and on each side of this porch were three small chambers, or rooms, for the use of the porters, a reed square in size, with a passage of five cubits between them. The common cubit, termed the "cubit of a man," (De 3:11,) was about 18 inches; but the cubit used by the angel was, as we learn from ch. 43:13, "a cubit and a hand breadth," or about three inches more than the common cubit, that is 21 inches. Hence the measuring reed, which was "six cubits long, by the cubit and the hand breadth," (ver. 5,) must have been about 10« feet
barrier <01366> [space. Heb. limit, or bound.]
gateway <08179> [the gate.]
The whole arch of the east gate, measured from the southern extremity of one room to the northern extremity of the opposite room, was 25 cubits; including the dimensions of the two rooms, or twelve cubits, (ver. 7;) the spaces before the rooms, or two cubits, (ver. 12;) and the breadth of the entrance, ten cubits, (ver. 11;) making all 24 cubits, leaving one cubit for the thickness of the walls.
