Ezekiel 40:3

And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate. BEHOLD, THERE WAS A MAN. The Old Testament manifestations of heavenly beings as men prepared men's minds for the coming incarnation. WHOSE APPEARANCE WAS LIKE THE APPEARANCE OF BRASS - resplendent. WITH A LINE OF FLAX IN HIS HAND - used for longer measurements (, "Behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand "). REED - used in measuring houses (). It marked the straightness of the walls....

Verse Ezekiel 40:3. _A MAN, WHOSE APPEARANCE_ WAS _LIKE - BRASS_] Like _bright_ _polished brass_, which strongly reflected the rays of light. Probably he had what we would term a _nimbus_ or _glory_ round his head. This was either an _angel_; or, as some think, a personal appearance of our blessed Lord....

THE APPEARANCE OF BRASS - Brightly shining. A LINE OF FLAX - For measuring the ground plan. A MEASURING REED - For the walls (compare Jeremiah 31:38). To measure implied a separation for sacred purposes. The measurements are: (1) exact, to show that the promise is certain; (2) equal, to denote harmony; (3) vast, to mark majesty and grandeur....

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,...

AND HE BROUGHT ME THITHER,.... Being brought into the land of Israel in vision, and to a high mountain in it, by which were as the frame of a city; he was from thence brought to the city or temple itself, which looked like one: AND, BEHOLD, a note of attention and admiration: THERE WAS A MAN; one in human form; not a created angel, but the Messiah, the builder and owner of the city and temple, whom it was proper the prophet should first have a view of; and by whom he was to be made acquainted with the several parts and dimensions of those buildings: he is called a "man", not that he was a mere man, but the eternal God; or otherwise he would not have been fit to be the architect or builder of such a fabric; nor as yet was he really man, but is so called, because it was determined he should, and it was agreed by him that he would become man, and it was foretold as a certain thing; and be...

A MAN The theophanies. (Daniel 8:15); (Daniel 10:6); (Daniel 10:10); (Daniel 10:18); (Genesis 12:7); (Revelation 1:9)....

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

BEHOLD, Figure of speech _Asteriamos_. App-6. MAN. Hebrew tsh. App-14. REED. See App-51....

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....