Ezekiel 41:15

The "length" here is reckoned from N. to S.

whichwas behind it Rather: behind which it was. The building, while lying "over against" the "separate place," was behind it, i.e. to the W. of it. If this construction be not adopted the meaning is, which (building) was behind it (the separate place) an independent clause. The length of the building as it lay along the "separate place" N. to S. was 100 cubits, i.e. 90 (interior, Ezekiel 41:12) + 5 + 5 (side walls, Ezekiel 41:12) = 100, Fig. 3, rs. The term rendered "galleries" is of uncertain meaning. It occurs only Ezekiel 41:15-16 and Ezekiel 42:3; Ezekiel 42:5. If the reading be right here it can mean nothing else but walls, or something equivalent to walls and occupying the same space, according to Ezekiel 41:12. Syriac uses a term by which it also renders the "walls" of the altar, Ezekiel 41:22. The verse should end at the word cubits.

15 b seq. Description of the inside of the house, with its ornamentation

The details of measurement were exhausted in Ezekiel 41:15 a. The prophet proceeds now to describe the interior of the house in two particular points: (1) the woodwork with which the house in its walls, &c., was covered, 15 b16 a; and (2) the ornamentation of this woodwork, 16 b seq. The text is in some disorder, and the unknown term rendered "galleries" causes perplexity, though two general statements are plainly made, viz. that the whole interior of the house was covered with wood, and that this woodwork from floor to roof was ornamented in the holy place and in the holiest with cherubs and palms (in the porch perhaps with palms only). With no more changes than are absolutely necessary Ezekiel 41:15; Ezekiel 41:15; Ezekiel 41:15 amight read: "and the temple (i.e. holy place), and the inner house (holiest), and the porch of the court (more probably, and its outer porch), 16 and the thresholds, and the closed windows and the galleries round about the three of them, opposite the threshold (i.e. towards the interior) were veneered with wood (or, were polished wood) round about." This would state generally that the whole interior was wainscotted. But the jump from "thresholds" (A.V. door-posts) to "closed windows" in Ezekiel 41:16 is unnatural. It is probable that "thresholds" should be read with LXX. cieled(or, wainscotted). It is certainly probable that the roofing is described; the word read by LXX. (saphan) is always used of the roof-work in the description of Solomon's temple (1 Kings 6:7., unless Ezekiel 7:7 be an exception, a clause wanting in LXX.); and LXX. understood it so here (Ezekiel 41:20). Further the mention of the closed windows, which must have been toward the roof, in immediate connexion, is in favour of the roof-work. What the "galleries" were is obscure. LXX. either did not read the word or rendered it "narrow openings" (slit windows). A.V. "on their three stories" should be to the three of them (the holy place, holiest and porch, Ezekiel 41:15). Pointed thus the reading is: and the temple and the inner house(holiest) and the porch of the court(or, and its outer porch) were covered with a roof-work, and they three had their closed windows and their galleries round about.