Ezekiel 40:43

withinwere hooks The word rendered hooksoccurs in the sense of cattlepens (Psalms 68:14), a meaning precluded here by the dimension, a handbreadth. Such hooks fitted up "within," i.e. in the porch, might be used for hanging the carcases upon in order to flay them (Targ.). The meaning "hooks" is not certain. LXX. assumes that the stone tables are still referred to and points differently, reading lip or border for "hooks:" "and they shall have a border of hewn stone inwards round about of a span broad." Cf. Ezekiel 43:13; Ezekiel 43:17.

flesh of the offering Except in a clause of Ezekiel 20:28 (wanting in LXX.) the word "offering" is not used by Ezek. The present clause seems to say little. LXX. reads: "and over the tables above (they shall have) coverings, to protect them from the wet and from the heat" which has a suspicious resemblance to Isaiah 4:6.

The Ezekiel 40:38-43 are no doubt in some disorder. They suggest several questions not easily settled. Upon the whole it is improbable that slaughtering took place at more than one gate. The word "northwards" indeed (Ezekiel 40:40) seems decisive of this point. Either the N. gate is intended, or the N. side of the E. gate, no other gate having a N. side. There are several things in favour of the N. gate:

(1) In Ezekiel 40:35 the prophet was at the N. inner gate, and no intimation is given that he was transported to another gate in Ezekiel 40:38. (2) In the Law slaughtering is ordered to be performed on the N. side of the altar in the case of the burnt, sin and trespass offerings (Leviticus 1:11; Leviticus 4:24; Leviticus 4:29; Leviticus 4:33; Leviticus 6:25; Leviticus 7:2; Leviticus 14:13); no injunction is given in the case of the peace-offering (Ezekiel 3:2; Ezekiel 3:8; Ezekiel 3:13). It is probable that the prophet's legislation and that of the Levitical books will be in harmony. (3) In ch. Ezekiel 8:5 the "altar-gate" is certainly the N. gate. (4) The E. gate, both inner and outer, was to be kept shut except on sabbaths and new moons (Ezekiel 46:1), or on other occasions when the prince wished to offer a freewill offering (Ezekiel 46:12). In favour of the E. gate there is the supposed meaning of Ezekiel 40:40; but the rendering, "on the N. of one going up to the entry," is hardly tenable (Ezekiel 40:40). Ew. indeed for "gates" Ezekiel 40:38 would read "east gate" a purely arbitrary amendment. And altogether unhappy is his proposal to read for without(michuçah), Ezekiel 40:40, "runnel" (meruçah) the verb to "run" being never used of the running of water or fluids.