Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
Ezekiel Chapter 40
Overview
Eze 40:1, The time, manner, and end of the vision of the city and temple; Eze 40:6, The description of the east gate of the outer court; Eze 40:20, of the north gate; Eze 40:24, of the south gate; Eze 40:27, of the south gate of the inner court; Eze 40:32, of the east gate; Eze 40:35, and of the north gate; Eze 40:39, Eight tables; Eze 40:44, The chambers; Eze 40:48, The porch of the house.
and he: Eze 40:19, Eze 40:23, Eze 40:47
he brought: As the outward court inclosed the inner, the prophet was led from the south gate of the outward court to the south gate of the inner, which was opposite it, and so into the inner court itself.
according: Eze 40:32, Eze 40:35
the little: The entrance into the inner court seems to have been through a portico, exactly like that at each gate of the outward court; but the ascent was by eight steps, instead of seven. Eze 40:7, Eze 40:10,Eze 40:12; Ch1 28:11, Ch1 28:12; Ch2 31:11; Neh 13:5, Neh 13:9; Jer 35:2-4, Jer 36:10
and there: Eze 40:16, Eze 40:22, Eze 40:25
the arches: These are supposed to have been built over the spaces which separated the little chambers, or porters' lodges.
five and: Eze 40:21, Eze 40:25, Eze 40:29, Eze 40:33, Eze 40:36
five cubits: Instead of five cubits, it seems evident, from the parallel places, that we should read twenty-five. the word êsrim appears to have been lost out of the text.
broad: Heb. breadth
and palm: Eze 40:26, Eze 40:34
eight: Eze 40:22, Eze 40:26, Eze 40:34, Eze 40:37
into the: Eze 40:28-31, Eze 40:35
it was: Eze 40:21, Eze 40:25, Eze 40:36
palm trees: That is, probably, the capital of each pillar was ornamented with sculpture, representing leaves or branches of the palm tree.
eight steps: Eze 40:6, Eze 40:22, Eze 40:26, Eze 40:31, Eze 40:34, Eze 40:37, Eze 40:49
to the: Eze 40:27, Eze 40:32, Eze 44:4, Eze 47:2
measured: The north gate, as well as the east, was built in the same manner, and of the same dimensions, as the south gate. See the parallel passages.
little: Eze 40:21, Eze 40:29, Eze 40:36
the posts: Eze 40:31, Eze 40:34
the utter court: That is, "the outer court," as the word utter primarily denotes.
the chambers: Eze 40:12, Eze 41:10,Eze 41:11; Kg1 6:8
where: This place, where the legs and entrails of the sacrifices, especially of the burnt offerings, were washed, was just within the portico of the north entrance to the inner court, or court of the priests. An allusion to this is most probably made by the inspired apostle when writing his Epistle to the Hebrews (Heb 10:22). "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." Lev 1:9, Lev 8:21; Heb 10:22
tables on that: Eze 41:22, Eze 44:16; Mal 1:7, Mal 1:12; Luk 22:30; Co1 10:16-21
the burnt: Lev 1:3-17
the sin: Lev 4:2, Lev 4:3, 13-35; Isa 53:5, Isa 53:10; Co2 5:21
the trespass: Lev 5:6-13, Lev 6:6, Lev 7:1, Lev 7:2
at the side: Two tables were on each side, as you come into the porch of the gate; and two on each side of the inner part of the gate that looked towards the altar; in all eight tables, on which they slew and cut up the victims. It does not appear that any such tables were used either in the tabernacle or temple; and this seems to intimate the introduction of a new and more spiritual dispensation. See the references.
as one goeth up: or, at the step, Eze 40:35
within: These were probably for hanging up the victims in order to flay them.
hooks: or, end-irons, or, the two hearth-stones
upon: Lev 1:6, Lev 1:8, Lev 8:20
the inner: Eze 40:23, Eze 40:27
chambers: Eze 40:7, Eze 40:10,Eze 40:29; Ch1 6:31, Ch1 6:32, Ch1 16:41-43, 25:1-31; Eph 5:19; Col 3:16
chamber: The word chamber probably here denotes a row of chambers, of which there seems to have been three. one for the singers; one for the priests who in their courses took charge of the sacred vessels and treasures; and one for the priests who attended on the altar and sacrifices.
whose: Eze 8:5
the keepers: Lev 8:35; Num 3:27, Num 3:28, Num 3:32, Num 3:38, Num 18:5; Ch1 6:49, Ch1 9:23; Ch2 13:11; Psa 134:1; Mal 2:4-7; Ti1 6:20; Rev 1:6
charge: or, ward, or, ordinance, and so Eze 40:46
the keepers: Eze 44:15; Lev 6:12, Lev 6:13; Num 18:5
these: Eze 43:19, Eze 44:15, Eze 48:11; Kg1 2:35
which come: Lev 10:3; Num 16:5, Num 16:40; Eph 2:13
court: This was the inner court, or court of the priests, which was of the same dimensions with each division of the outer court; and the altar stood directly before the porch of the temple.
an hundred cubits long: Eze 40:19, Eze 40:23, Eze 40:27
the porch: The length of the porch was twenty cubits, the same as the breadth of the temple, and the breadth eleven cubits, that is, one cubit more than in Solomon's temple. Two bivalve, or folding doors, each leaf of them being three cubits wide, seem to have formed the entrance; which, with five cubits, perhaps of brick or stone work, one each side, called "the post of the porch," amount to sixteen cubits; and the other four cubits may be supposed to have been the distance from these posts to the outside walls of the temple. Kg1 6:3; Ch2 3:4
The steps: This was a flight of steps which led from the inner court into the temple. Eze 40:31, Eze 40:34, Eze 40:37
pillars: Kg1 7:15-21; Ch2 3:17; Jer 52:17-23; Rev 3:12
In the five: On Tuesday, April 20. Eze 1:2, Eze 8:1, Eze 29:17, Eze 32:1, Eze 32:17
after: Eze 33:21; 2Kings 25:1-30; Jer. 39:1-18, 52:1-34
selfsame: Exo 12:41
hand: Eze 1:3, Eze 3:14, Eze 3:22, Eze 11:24, Eze 37:1; Rev 1:10
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. Eze 1:1, Eze 8:3; Dan 7:1, Dan 7:7; Act 2:17, Act 16:9; Co2 12:1-7
a very: Eze 17:22, Eze 17:23; Isa 2:2, Isa 2:3; Dan 2:34, Dan 2:35; Mic 4:1; Rev 21:10
by: or, upon
as the: Eze 48:30-35; Gal 4:26; Rev 21:10-23
on the south: Isa 48:2, Isa 14:13
whose: Eze 1:7, Eze 1:27; Dan 10:5, Dan 10:6; Rev 1:15
with: Eze 47:3; Isa 8:20, Isa 28:17; Zac 2:1, Zac 2:2; Rev 11:1, Rev 21:15
behold: Eze 2:7, Eze 2:8, Eze 3:17, Eze 43:10, Eze 44:5; Mat 10:27, Mat 13:9, Mat 13:51, Mat 13:52
declare: Isa 21:10; Jer 26:2; Act 20:27; Co1 11:23
a wall: Eze 42:20; Psa 125:2; Isa 26:1, Isa 60:18; Zac 2:5; Rev 21:12
by: Deu 3:11
so he: Eze 42:20
unto: Eze 40:20, Eze 8:16, Eze 11:1, Eze 43:1, Eze 44:1, Eze 46:1, Eze 46:12; Ch1 9:18, Ch1 9:24; Neh 3:29; Jer 19:2
which looketh: Heb. whose face was the way
threshold: Eze 10:18, Eze 43:8, Eze 46:2, Eze 47:1; Psa 84:10 *marg.
Eze 42:5; Kg1 6:5-10; Ch1 9:26, Ch1 23:28; Ch2 3:9, Ch2 31:11; Ezr 8:29; Jer 35:4
the posts: Eze 45:19
the little: Eze 40:7
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," (Deu 3:11), was about 18 inches; but the cubit used by the angel was, as we learn from Eze 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," (Eze 40:5), must have been about 10+ feet
space: Heb. limit, or bound, Eze 40:12
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 (Eze 40:7); the spaces before the rooms, or two cubits (Eze 40:12); and the breadth of the entrance, ten cubits (Eze 40:11); making all 24 cubits, leaving one cubit for the thickness of the walls. Eze 40:13
the court: Eze 8:7, Eze 42:1; Exo 27:9, Exo 35:17; Lev 6:16; Ch1 28:6; Psa 100:4; Isa 62:9
the face of the gate: This was the whole length of the porch, from the outward front (Eze 41:21, Eze 41:25), to the inner side which looks into the first court (Eze 40:17), including the thickness of the walls (Eze 40:6), chambers (Eze 40:7), and spaces between them. Eze 40:15
narrow: Heb. closed, Eze 41:16; Kg1 6:4; Co1 13:12
the little: Eze 40:7, Eze 40:12
arches: or, galleries, or porches, Eze 40:21, Eze 40:22, Eze 40:25, Eze 40:30, Eze 41:15, Eze 42:3; Joh 5:2
inward: or, within
palm trees: Kg1 6:29, Kg1 6:32, Kg1 6:35; Ch2 3:5; Psa 92:12; Rev 7:9
the outward: Eze 10:5, Eze 42:1, Eze 46:21; Rev 11:2
there were: Kg1 6:5; Ch1 9:26, Ch1 23:28; Ch2 31:11
unto the: Eze 40:23, Eze 40:27, Eze 46:1, Eze 46:2
without: or, from without
the gate: Eze 40:6
that looked: Heb. whose face was
the little: Eze 40:7, Eze 40:10-16, Eze 40:29, Eze 40:30,Eze 40:36, Eze 40:37
arches: or, galleries, or porches, Eze 40:16, Eze 40:26, Eze 40:30,Eze 40:34
after: Eze 40:8, Eze 40:10,Eze 40:13, Eze 40:15, Eze 40:25, Eze 40:29
palm trees: Eze 40:16, Eze 40:31, Eze 40:37; Kg1 6:29, Kg1 6:32, Kg1 6:35, Kg1 7:36; Ch2 3:5; Rev 7:9
and they: Eze 40:6, Eze 40:26, Eze 40:31, Eze 40:34, Eze 40:37, Eze 40:49; Heb 6:1
before them: Or, "suitable to them," that is, to the arches of the east gate. The north gate into the outward court, and every thing belonging to it, were exactly the same as the east gate.
the gate of: That is, the gate of the inner court was opposite, and exactly answered to the gate of the outward court, both on the north and east side; and between the gates of the outward and inner court was a space of an hundred cubits. Eze 40:19, Eze 40:27, Eze 40:28, Eze 40:44
and he: Exo 27:9-18, Exo 38:9-12
and behold: Eze 40:6, Eze 40:20,Eze 40:35, Eze 46:9
and he: Eze 40:21, Eze 40:28, Eze 40:29, Eze 40:33, Eze 40:35, Eze 40:36
according: That is, according to the measures of the eastern and northern gates. There does not appear to have been any gates on the west, though the courts seem to have extended to the western wall
windows: Eze 40:16, Eze 40:22, Eze 40:29; Joh 12:46; Co1 13:12; Pe2 1:19
the length: Eze 40:21, Eze 40:33
seven: Eze 40:6, Eze 40:22, Eze 40:29; Pe2 3:18
palm trees: Eze 40:16, Eze 40:22; Psa 92:12, Psa 92:13; Sol 7:7, Sol 7:8