Ezekiel 40:5

And behold a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man's hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and an hand breadth: so he measured the breadth of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed. BY THE CUBIT AND AN HAND-BREADTH. Measures were mostly taken from the human body. The greater cubit, the length from the elbow to the end of the middle finger, a little more than two feet: exceeding the ordinary cubit (from the elbow to the wrist) by an hand-breadth - i:e., twenty-one inches in all. Compare , "The cubit is a cubit and an hand-breadth," with . The palm was the full breadth of the hand, three and a half inches. THE BREADTH OF THE BUILDING - i:e., the boundary wall. The imperfections in th...

Verse Ezekiel 40:5. _A MEASURING REED OF SIX CUBITS_ LONG] The Hebrew cubit is supposed to be about _twenty and a half_ inches; and a palm, about _three_ inches more; the length of the rod about _ten_ feet _six_ inches. _THE BREADTH-ONE REED; AND THE HEIGHT, ONE REED._] As this _wall_ was as _broad_ as it was _high_, it must have been a kind of _parapet_, which was carried, of the same dimensions, all round the temple. See AAAA in the plan. Ezekiel 48:35...

The boundary wall of the temple-courts. See Plan II. A WALL ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE - The wall enclosing the courts in which were the entrance gates. BY THE CUBIT AND AN HAND BREADTH - The Jews first used a cubit of fifteen inches, applying it principally to the vessels and furniture of the temple; next a cubit of eighteen inches (“a hand-breadth” longer than the former cubit); and lastly, after the captivity, the Babylonian cubit of twenty-one inches (a “hand-breadth” more). In the temple measurements they used only the cubit of eighteen inches; hence, the “cubit and hand-breadth” is the cubit of eighteen inches....

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 BEHOLD, A WALL ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE ROUND ABOUT,.... The first thing that presents itself to the view of the prophet, after the sight of the architect or chief builder, is a wall encompassing this strange and wondrous building; which was like the frame of a city, as before observed: this wall was five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad; see Ezekiel 42:20, now this wall was both for separation and protection; that it was for separation is certain from Ezekiel 42:20, it was to separate between the sanctuary land the profane place; that is, between the church and the world: the people of God were always a distinct and separate people; they were so from eternity, are so in time, and will be so to all eternity; they were distinguished from others by the everlasting love, of God; by his ete

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...

He is first struck by a thick wall encircling the Temple. Steps led up to the eastern gateway which pierced the wall, and on each side of which were three guard-rooms....

BEHOLD. Figure of speech _Asteriamos_. App-6, ON THE: or, went on. THE HOUSE: i.e. the Temple. CUBITS. See App-51., HE MEASURED. In Blithe measurements the unit is one-seventh longer than Solomon's Temple, pointing to the eighth, the day of God. Seven speaks of completion. Eight speaks of. new beginning (see App-10). In "the day of God" all things will be new. BUILDING: i.e. the wall and its contents....

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....

BY THE CUBIT, AND AN HAND-BREADTH— Each cubit containing a cubit and an hand-breadth, called the great cubit, chap. Ezekiel 41:8 and supposed equal to half a yard. According to Michaelis, the Hebrew measures are: 1. The finger's breadth. 2. Four fingers, or hand-breadth. 3. Ell; the smaller of five hand-breadths, the larger of six. 4. Rod, of six ells. He also allows the Rabbinical account, that a finger is equal to the length of six barley grains. See chap. Ezekiel 43:13. _OF THE BUILDING_— Of the outer wall, which was three yards high and three yards broad. This wall surrounded a part which corresponded to the court of the Gentiles, and served as a security against the precipices of the mount on which the temple stood....