PRELIMINARY REMARKS ON CHAPTER S 40-48.* * The reader is left to form his own judgment on the temple seen in vision by Ezekiel, from the various interpretations that I have given in the Preliminary Remarks, the Critical Notes, and the Reflections. "VITRINGA has proved, in two volumes in Dutch, and... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE IT ALL BE SHUT— This is very ill pointed, and improperly separated from the third verse. It should be read thus, _Therefore it shall be shut for the prince._ Ezekiel 44:3. _The same prince shall fit in it,_ &c. See chap. Ezekiel 46:1 and Houbigant. The kings of Judah had a distinguished pl... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE ORDINANCES, &C.— _All the lineaments, and all the forms of the house of the Lord; and mark well, in the going forth of the temple, all those who depart from the sanctuary._ Houbigant.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN YE OFFER MY BREAD, &C.— "At the same time that ye offer sacrifices upon the altar, or that ye suffer heathens to offer at that altar, expressly against the law." By _bread_ may be understood the meat-offering made of flour: the _fat_ and _blood_ of every sacrifice were peculiarly appropriated t... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YE HAVE SET KEEPERS— _And you make those who minister in my sanctuary, your own ministers._ Houbigant.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LEVITES THAT ARE GONE AWAY, &C.— Many of these desisted from attending upon God's service, and fell into idolatry, first in the general apostacy of the ten tribes, afterwards under Ahaz and other wicked kings. These should be degraded from attending upon the higher offices belonging to the pries... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SHALL NOT— _For they shall not._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LEVITES— The whole passage, from Ezekiel 44:10 to Ezekiel 44:16., seems most naturally to refer to the period of time when the second temple was rebuilt.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WITHIN— _And within the house or temple._... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH ANY THING THAT CAUSETH SWEAT— _With any thing that is torn._ Houbigant.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL NOT SANCTIFY, &C.— By approaching them in these habits, by touching them when clad in their dress of ceremony; this would sanctify the people, and incapacitate them from discharging their ordinary occupations. The touching of holy things defiles those who touch them unworthily, and sancti... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER SHALL THEY SHAVE, &C.— The Jews understand this as an expression of mourning for the dead. The words in the original contain a general prohibition, including the times of mourning, as well as other seasons. St. Jerome supposes, that the Jewish priests were forbidden to shave their heads, in... [ Continue Reading ]
AND CAUSE THEM TO DISCERN— _And declare to them what is the difference._ Houbigant.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT SHALL BE UNTO THEM, &C.— Houbigant very properly, after the Vulgate, reads, _And they shall have no inheritance;_ agreeably to what follows.... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL ALSO GIVE—THE FIRST OF YOUR DOUGH— See Leviticus 2:4. REFLECTIONS.—1st, The prophet, following his heavenly guide, returns to the east gate; which, in honour of him whose glory entered the temple thereat, was kept shut ever after, only the prince was admitted to eat his part of the peace-o... [ Continue Reading ]