Ezekiel 43:12

THIS IS THE LAW OF THE HOUSE; UPON THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN THE WHOLE LIMIT THEREOF ROUND ABOUT SHALL BE MOST HOLY. BEHOLD, THIS IS THE LAW OF THE HOUSE. _ The whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy._ This superlative, "most holy," which had been used exclusively of the holy of holies ( ), WAS NOW TO CHARACTERIZE THE ENTIRE BUILDING. Behold, this is the law of the house. THIS ALL-PERVADING SANCTITY WAS TO BE "THE LAW OF THE (WHOLE) HOUSE," AS DISTINGUISHED FROM THE LEVITICAL LAW, WHICH CONFINED THE SPECIAL SANCTITY TO A SINGLE APARTMENT OF IT....

Verse Ezekiel 43:12. _THIS_ IS _THE LAW OF THE HOUSE_] From the top of the mountain on which it stands, to the bottom, _all round about_, all shall be holy; no buildings shall be erected in any part, nor place nor spot be appropriated to a common use; all shall be considered as being _most holy_....

See also Ezekiel 47:12. This is the law of the ordinance of the new sanctuary. After the consecration, God pronounces the “law” which is to govern the ordinances of the sanctuary (compare 1 Kings 8), first briefly repeating the general rule that the place must be kept holy to the Lord (compare Revelation 21:27), and then proceeding to specific ordinances commencing with the altar....

EXPOSITION The consecration of the new temple by the entrance into it of the glory of the God of Israel (Ezekiel 43:1), and a description of the altar with its dedication to the solemn ritual for which it was in future to be employed (Ezekiel 43:13), form the contents of the present chapter, and complete the prophet's picture of the future sanctuary of Israel. EZEKIEL 43:1 The consecration of the temple by the entrance into it of the glory of the God of Israel. EZEKIEL 43:1 AFTERWARD, etc. Having completed the survey of the temple precincts

THIS IS THE LAW OF THE HOUSE,.... Which follows, the more general one, which comprehends the rest: UPON THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN; denoting the exaltation and visibility of the church of Christ in the latter day, as well as its firmness and stability; see Isaiah 2:2: THE WHOLE LIMIT THEREOF ROUND ABOUT SHALL BE MOST HOLY; all belonging to it shall be as the most holy place in the temple, sacred to the Lord; laws, ordinances, doctrines, worship, members, ministers, all holy; nothing said or done, or have a place here, but what is holy; see Zechariah 14:20: THIS IS THE LAW OF THE HOUSE; the principal one, according to which are directed and governed....

II. THE TEMPLE WORSHIP (43-44) CHAPTER 43 _ 1. The return of the glory of the Lord and filling the house (Ezekiel 43:1) _ 2. The address to the nation (Ezekiel 43:10) 3. The dimensions of the altar (Ezekiel 43:13) 4. The offerings to be bought (Ezekiel 43:18)...

Ezekiel is then instructed to show his plan of the Temple to the people. The very sight of it is expected to inspire them with shame for their past; while, to preserve them from error in the days to come, further instructions are promised for the conduct of the service. Supreme sanctity is to attach to the entire summit of the Temple hill, no part of it being abandoned to any secular use whatever....

IS. Supply "will be". UPON, &c. Compare Ezekiel 40:2; Ezekiel 42:20; Psalms 93:5.Joel 3:17; Zechariah 14:20; Zechariah 14:21.Revelation 21:27. MOST HOLY. the holy of holies, HOLY. See note on Exodus 3:5. BEHOLD. Figure of speech Asterismos

The glory of Jehovah enters the house by the E. gate. The sound of his chariot was as the sound of many waters, and his glory lightened the earth (Ezekiel 43:1). The prophet hears one speaking to him from the house and saying that the defilements to which the house had been exposed through idolatries and the burial of kings near it shall henceforth cease (Ezekiel 43:6). The prophet is commanded to make known the fashion and ordinances of the house to the people (Ezekiel 43:10)....

THE WHOLE LIMIT—SHALL BE MOST HOLY— "From the beginning of its declivity to the very top, in all the circumference of the temple, there shall no more be erected any building; no burial shall be performed there, nor any garden or other thing made, which is applicable to the common use of men. It shall be entirely holy, sacred, separate from all other employment, but that of the worship of the Lord." We find in Josephus, Antiq. lib. 15: cap. 14 that this was very ill observed in future time. The Asmonaean princes built up close to the north side a tower, which became very famous toward the latter end of the Jewish republic, under the name of the Antonian tower. On the west side there were four gates, one of which led to the royal palace; though elsewhere he describes the mountain of the temple as surrounded with very high walls, from the foot to the summit, except on the east side. The Jew...