Ezekiel 45:1-17
When ... allot ... land .................. land <05307 0776> [shall divide by lot. Heb. cause the land to fall by lot.]
offer <07311> [ye shall offer.]
holy ........................... holy <06944> [an holy portion. Heb. holiness.]
length ........ miles <0753> [the length.]
That our translators rightly added the word reeds, is evident from the length and breadth of the sanctuary being exactly the same as before, (comp. ver. 2, with ch. 42:16-19.) Estimating the reed at 3« yards, this holy oblation would constitute a square of nearly fifty miles on every side. From the north side a portion of nearly twenty miles in width, and nearly fifty in length, was appointed for the priests; and in the midst of this portion, the area of the sanctuary, about a mile square, to be enclosed by a wall, (ver. 1, 2.) Next to this, on the south, was the Levites' portion, of the same dimensions as that of the priests', (ver. 5;) and south of this was the portion for the city, of the same length as those of the priests and Levites, but only half the width, (ver. 6.) These three formed the square of 25,000 reeds, or nearly fifty miles; and that set apart for the prince, the breadth of which is not mentioned, extended in length from north to south, along the east and west sides of the square. As Canaan would not admit of so large a portion for the sanctuary, etc., this was no doubt intended to intimate the large extent of the church in the glorious times predicted.
875 <02568 03967> [five hundred in length.]
open space <04054> [suburbs. or, void places.]
sanctuary <04720> [and in it.]
holy ..... land <06944 0776> [holy portion.]
approach <07131> [which.]
eight and a quarter miles <02568> [the five.]
minister <08334> [the ministers.]
place <0272> [for a possession.]
city <05892> [the city.]
princes <05387> [and my princes.]
In the predicted period, not only shall the ministers and worshippers of God be liberally provided for, but the princes will be both able and willing to defray the expenses of government, without oppressing their subjects, and will rule over them with equity and clemency, as the vicegerents of God; while the people will submit to them conscientiously, and live in peace, prosperity, and holiness. These things seem to be represented in language taken from the customs of the times in which the prophet wrote. Tithes are not mentioned in part of the vision, which shows that the ritual Mosaic law will not be in force.
tribes <07626> [according.]
Enough <07227> [Let it.]
Put away <05493> [remove.]
do <06213> [execute.]
Put an end <07311> [take away.]
evictions <01646> [exactions. Heb. expulsions.]
dry .................... ephah <0374> [ephah.]
The {ephah} was a dry measure, and the {bath} a liquid measure, containing about seven gallons, four pints, or three pecks, three pints; and the {homer} about seventy-five gallons, five pints.
shekel ...... Sixty shekels <08255> [the shekel.]
shekel .... twenty ... Sixty shekels <06242 08255> [twenty shekels.]
That is, 20 + 25 + 15 = 60; for the {maneh} as a weight was equal to sixty shekels, though as a coin it was only equal to fifty, weighing about 2 lb. 6 oz.; and reckoning the shekel at 2s. 6d. being in value 6Å“. 5s.
one tenth <04643> [the tenth.]
sheep <07716> [lamb. or, kid. out of the fat.]
peace offering <08002> [peace offerings. or, thank offerings.]
atonement <03722> [to make.]
people <05971> [the people.]
offering <08641> [shall give this. Heb. shall be for. for. or, with.]
prince <05387> [the prince's.]
The prince is never mentioned in the ritual appointments of Moses, but here he is required to provide the oblations; and the variations in the Mosaic law, in the number of the several sacrifices, and the proportion of the meat offering to each, being ten times as much as the law prescribed, with several other circumstances, seem more like enacting a new law, than enforcing that of Moses. These variations may intimate a change in the external constitution of the church; and it is probable that they are to be understood emblematically.
festivals <02282> [in the feasts.]
provide <06213> [he shall prepare.]
peace offerings <08002> [peace offerings. or, thank offerings.]
