Ezekiel 43:17

And these are the measures of the altar after the cubits: The cubit is a cubit and an hand breadth; even the bottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about shall be a span: and this shall be the higher place of the altar. These are the measures of the altar - as to the altar of burnt offering, which was the appointed means of access to God. Verse 15. The altar - [HEBREW, har'eel ( H741 )] I:E., MOUNT OF GOD; DENOTING THE HIGH SECURITY TO BE IMPARTED BY IT TO THE RESTORED ISRAEL. IT WAS A HIGH PLACE, BUT A HIGH PLACE OF GOD (AS THE HEBREW FOR "ALTAR" MEANS), NOT OF IDOLS. _ From the altar_ - the Hebrew for "altar" is literally, 'the lion of God' [ 'ªri'eel ( H741)], Arieil (in...

Verse Ezekiel 43:17. _AND THE SETTLE_] The _ledge_ on which the priests walked round the altar, see Ezekiel 43:14. By these settles or ledges the altar was narrowed towards the top. "The ascent shall look toward the east;" this ascent was an inclined plane. But these _settles_, or more properly _ledges_, as Bp. _Newcome_ translates, may be thus computed. The altar itself was _ten_ feet high and _twenty_ broad; the same as that of Solomon, 2 Chronicles 4:1....

THE SETTLE - The “lower settle” (L), projecting beyond the “upper settle” (M) one cubit on every side. HIS STAIRS - Jewish tradition says that the approach to the altar was by an inclined plane, because to go up “by steps” was forbidden Exodus 20:26. The number “twelve” was symbolic of the twelve tribes, “four,” of the earth; “sixteen” is the square of “four,” and “fourteen” the double of “seven,” the number of the covenant, as being composed of “three,” the number of God, and of “four,” the number of the world. Thus we have in the altar a special instance of Hebrew symbolism....

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

AND THE SETTLE SHALL BE FOURTEEN CUBITS LONG AND FOURTEEN BROAD IN THE FOUR SQUARES THEREOF,.... Here Kimchi confesses his ignorance. Jarchi interprets it, the top of the altar, with the place of the horns, and of the feet of the priests, and was twenty eight cubits by twenty eight, the fourteen mentioned being to be measured from the middle z; and he seems to be right in making it to be the upper part of the altar, and not the lower settle, as some; the focus or hearth where the wood was laid, and the sacrifice burnt; and which had a projection of a cubit on each side, and so made the twelve cubits, the length and breadth of the altar, fourteen: AND THE BORDER ABOUT IT SHALL BE HALF A CUBIT; or the enclosure, as the Targum; the ledge about it, which went round the altar, to keep the fire or sacrifice from falling, or that the feet of the priests might not slip: the Jews expound it of t...

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)...

THE ALTAR. In a system of worship based upon sacrifice, the altar is of special importance: its dimensions (Ezekiel 43:13) and consecration (Ezekiel 43:18) are therefore elaborately described. Approached by steps (Ezekiel 43:17), it consisted of four square stones, each smaller in breadth but greater in height than the one below it, ranging from a base of 27 feet square and 1½ feet high, to the hearth at the top (on which the victim was laid) 18 feet square and 6 feet high thus preserving the proportion of two to three characteristic of the rooms of the Temple proper. Above the hearth were horns (Ezekiel 43:13). The altar

STAIRS. Steps were forbidden in Ex. Ezekiel 20:26, but may be permitted here....

The altar of burnt-offering in the inner court The altar was a large structure, built of stone, and rose in terraces, contracting by means of two inlets towards the top. It consisted: (1) of a basement, with a border or moulding on the top or edge of it. (2) Two cubits above this basement or socket, in which the altar proper stood, was the first inlet, a cubit broad, so that there ran a ledge of a cubit round about the altar on its four sides (Ezekiel 43:13). (3) Four cubits above this first inlet came the second inlet or contraction, also a cubit broad, so as to form in like manner a ledge of a cubit round about the altar (Ezekiel 43:14). (4) Then four cubits upwards from this ledge was the altar area or platform proper, the "hearth of God," having horns rising up at the four corners ...

AND HIS STAIRS—_ And its ascent. Ezekiel 43:21. He shall burn it_] It shall be burnt. REFLECTIONS.—1st, The temple was great and glorious, but infinitely greater the glory of the divine Inhabitant, who condescended there to take up his abode. 1. The same bright vision which had before been seen by the prophet, again appears from the east. It was the _glory of the God of Israel;_ like many waters his voice was heard far off, his gospel having spread into distant lands, _and the earth shined with his glory;_ his church, as the moon, reflecting the lustre that she has borrowed from him the Sun of righteousness. 2. This glory of God filled the house; and when the prophet in humble adoration had fallen prostrate on the earth, the Spirit took him up, and brought him to the inner court, to behold God's glory, and receive his instructions; and the man,