Ezekiel 40:4

_AND THE MAN SAID UNTO ME, SON OF MAN, BEHOLD WITH THINE EYES, AND HEAR WITH THINE EARS, AND SET THINE HEART UPON ALL THAT I SHALL SHEW THEE; FOR TO THE INTENT THAT I MIGHT SHEW THEM UNTO THEE ART THOU BROUGHT HITHER: DECLARE ALL THAT THOU SEEST TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL._ NO JFB COMMENTARY ON THIS VERSE....

Verse Ezekiel 40:4. _DECLARE ALL THAT THOU SEEST TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL_] That they may know how to build the second temple, when they shall be restored from their captivity....

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 THE MAN SAID UNTO ME, SON OF MAN,.... The glorious and illustrious Person before described, who appeared in a human form, spoke to the prophet, calling him "the Son of man", a title often bestowed upon him in this prophecy; and here used to put him in mind of his original and decent, and of his meanness and unworthiness; thereby teaching him humility, which is necessary in order to receive instruction, and learn the knowledge of divine things: and also he might use this free and familiar way of speaking, both to express his philanthropy or good will to men, and to take off all terror from the mind of the prophet at his appearance; that he might more diligently attend to what he should see and hear, which he next advises him to: BEHOLD WITH THINE EYES, AND HEAR WITH THINE EARS; look with both eyes, and hear with both ears; that is, look wistfully, and hear attentively; for if persons...

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

SON OF MAN. See note on Ezekiel 2:1....

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 THINE HEART UPON— _Mark well,_ or _fix thy attention upon,_ &c....

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN GOD'S FUTURE TEMPLE 40:1-43:12 The Book of Ezekiel ends as it began, with a vision. In Chapter s 1-3 Ezekiel sees a vision illustrating how God had visited His people in Exile; these last Chapter s depict God dwelling in the midst of His people who have been re-established in their own land. Earlier in vision Ezekiel had seen the Temple of God profaned and he had seen the consequent departure of the divine Glory (Ezekiel 8:1 to Ezekiel 11:25). In these Chapter s God again dwells in the midst of His Temple (Ezekiel 43:5). Thus Chapter s 40-48 are not a superfluous appendix to the Book of Ezekiel, but rather the climax of his prophetic thought. From the vantage point of a high mountain (pro