Ezekiel 40:2

In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south. IN THE VISIONS OF GOD - divinely-sent visions. AND SET ME UPON A VERY HIGH MOUNTAIN - Moriah, very high as compared with the plains of Babylon, still more so as to its moral elevation (, "an high mountain, and eminent;" , "the mountain of the height of Israel"). BY WHICH WAS AS THE FRAME OF A CITY ON THE SOUTH. Ezekiel, coming from the north, is set down at (as the Hebrew for "upon" may be translated) mount Moriah, and sees the city-like frame of the temple stretching southward. In 'God brings him there' - i:e.,...

Verse Ezekiel 40:2. _SET ME UPON A VERY HIGH MOUNTAIN_] Mount _Moriah_, the mount on which Solomon's temple was built, 2 Chronicles 3:1....

BY WHICH - Better as in the margin. (compare Ezekiel 43:12). AS THE FRAME OF A CITY - It is not “a city” which is seen, but a building (the temple and its courts) like a city in its construction, surrounded by massive walls. ON THE SOUTH - southward, i. e., on the southern slope, just as the temple actually stood on Mount Moriah. The temple was at the northeast corner of the city - part of the western portion of the city being more to the north, but no part directly north of the temple....

EXPOSITION The magnificent temple-vision, as it is usually styled, a description of which forms the closing section of this book (Ezekiel 40-48.), was the last extended" word" communicated to the prophet, and was given him in the five and twentieth year of the Captivity, _i.e. _about B.C. 575. Two years later he received a brief revelation concerning Egypt, which, in compiling his volume, he incorporated with the other prophecies relating to the same subject (Ezekiel 29:17). Of the present oracle as a whole the significance will be best understood when its several parts have been examined in detail. Meanwhile it may suffice to note that it manifestly connects itself with the promise in Ezekiel 37:27,...

IN THE VISIONS OF GOD BROUGHT HE ME INTO THE LAND OF ISRAEL,.... Or by the spirit of prophecy, as the Targum again; that is, being under the impressions of the Spirit of God, it appeared to him, in a visionary way, as if he was really brought out of Chaldea, and set in the land of Israel; see Ezekiel 8:3, as John was carried away in the spirit to see the New Jerusalem, Revelation 21:10: AND SET ME UPON A VERY HIGH MOUNTAIN; as John also was, that he might have a view of this large city and temple, which were to fill the whole world: thus Christ was taken up to an exceeding high mountain, to be shown the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, Matthew 4:8, it is needless to inquire what this mounta

Chapter s 40-48. The final nine Chapter s of this book form the climax of the great prophecies of Ezekiel; they belong to the most difficult in the entire prophetic Word. Once more the hand of the Lord rests upon the seer and in the visions of God he is brought into the land of Israel. In the very beginning of this grand finale we learn therefore that the visions concern the land of Israel. Let us remember, that after the fall of Jerusalem had been announced to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 33:21), his prophetic utterances and visions concern the future when Israel is to be regathered and restored to the land. The previous two Chapter s dealt with the last invasion of the land of Israel and the complete overthrow of Gog and its hordes. The vision contained in this last section follows after Israel's final deliverance. So much is clear as to the time when the prophecies of these eight Chapter s will b...

EZEKIEL 40-48. THE TEMPLE. Ezekiel 40:1. It is worthy of note that the sketch starts with the old familiar phrases the hand of Yahweh was upon me and in the visions of God (_cf._ Ezekiel 1:1). These phrases point to an ecstatic experience. It is highly improbable, though we need not say inconceivable, that the details of the sketch were flashed upon his inward eye in a trance. Doubtless for years his mind had been dwelling long and lovingly upon it; but there is nothing improbable in assuming that, in some sublime ecstasy, the vision rose before him as a whole, with all its parts compactly built together. It came to him on New Year's Day, when his heart would readily fill with hope and with thoughts of new beginnings. He seemed to be transported to the hill on which Jerusalem stood, only it seeme

VISIONS OF GOD. Compare Ezekiel 1:1; Ezekiel 8:3; Ezekiel 43:3. GOD. Hebrew. _Elohim._ App-4. THE LAND OF ISRAEL. One of the three occurrences in Ezekiel with _'erete_ instead of _'admath_. See notes on Ezekiel 27:17. and compare note on Ezekiel 11:17. UPON. VERY HIGH MOUNTAIN. Compare Ezekiel 17:22; Ezekiel 17:23.

Ezekiel 40:1-27. The outer gateway and court In the 25th year of Jehoiachin's captivity, which was the 14th year after the fall of the city (b.c. 572), the prophet fell into a prophetic trance (Ezekiel 40:1); he seemed transported to the land of Israel and set down upon a high mountain, on which was a great building (Ezekiel 40:2). At the gate of the building there stood a man with a line of flax in his hand and a measuring reed (Ezekiel 40:3). The prophet is commanded closely to observe all that is shewn him, and to declare it to the house of Israel....

SET ME UPON A VERY HIGH MOUNTAIN— The expression points out mount Moriah, whereon the temple was built. It is here called _a very high mountain,_ because it represents the seat of the Christian church foretold by the prophets, that _it should be established upon the top of the mountains._ We are to remember that all this passed in vision. Houbigant renders the last clause of this verse, _In which there were on the opposite side as the buildings of a city._...