Ezekiel 44:1

__ Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut. _ No JFB commentary on this verse._...

CHAPTER XLIV _This chapter gives an account of the glory of God having_ _returned to the temple_, 14. _The Jews reproved for suffering idolatrous priests to pollute_ _it with their ministrations_, 5-8. _Ordinances respecting the conduct of the priests, and the_ _maintenance due to them_, 9-31. NOTES ON CHAP. XLIV Verse Ezekiel 44:1. _THE OUTWARD SANCTUARY_] In opposition to the temple itself, which was the inner sanctuary....

OUTWARD SANCTUARY - The court of the priests, as distinguished from the temple itself. This gate was reserved for the prince, to whom it was opened on certain days. Only a prince of the house of David might sit down in the priests’ court (compare Ezekiel 46:1)....

EXPOSITION The prophet, having finished his account of the temple, or place of worship, proceeds, in the second section of his vision (Ezekiel 44-46.), to set forth the culture, or ritual, to be performed in the temple; treating first of the several classes in the new community, and of their relation to the sanctuary (Ezekiel 44:1.); next of the regulations to be observed in the maintenance of worship (Ezekiel 45:1.); and, thirdly, of certain supplementary orders for the prince, the people, and the priests, when engaged in the solemnities of their religion (Ezekiel 46:1.). In particular, the present chapter deals (1) with the relation of the prince to the sanctuary ...

THEN HE BROUGHT ME BACK THE WAY OF THE GATE OF THE OUTWARD SANCTUARY,.... The prophet was brought by his divine guide, from the altar of burnt offerings, which stood before the house, where he had given him the dimensions of it, and the ordinances concerning it, to the temple or holy place, called the outward sanctuary, in distinction from the inward sanctuary, or holy of holies; and to one of the gates of it, which was a gate of the inner court: AND WHICH LOOKETH TOWARD THE EAST: the eastern gate, and was the same he had been at before, and therefore is said to be brought back the way of it; see Ezekiel 43:1: AND IT WAS SHUT; when he was there before, it was open; for he saw the glory of the Lord enter into the house by the way of it; but now it was shut, and for that reason, because he had entered into it; signifying, among other things, that he would

CHAPTER 44 _ 1. The outward eastern gate for the prince (Ezekiel 44:1) _ 2. The charge concerning the strangers and the rebellious tribes (Ezekiel 44:4) 3. The charge concerning the priests, the sons of Zadok (Ezekiel 44:15) 4. The inheritance of the priests (Ezekiel 44:28)...

EZEKIEL 44-46. THE TEMPLE OFFICERS AND FESTIVALS. Ezekiel 44:1. From the inner court where he had seen the Divine glory and heard the mysterious voice (435f.) the prophet was led back to the outer eastern gate; but as Yahweh had crossed its threshold on re-entering the Temple (_cf._ 1 Samuel 5:5) it was for ever after to remain shut. Only the prince_ i.e._ the king of the Messianic days was privileged to eat bread before Yahweh, _i.e._ to partake of the festal meal, in the vestibule....

THE GATE OF THE OUTWARD SANCTUARY. the outer gate of the sanctuary....

Ordinances regarding the Temple These ordinances define who shall minister in it, priests and Levites (ch. 44); the revenue of the priests, the Levites and the prince, with the duties devolving on the prince in upholding the ritual (Ezekiel 45:1-17); the special and daily services in the temple, and the special offerings of the prince (Ezekiel 45:18-25). Ch. 44 Those who shall minister in the Temple The passage contains these parts: (1) Ezekiel 44:1. An ordinance regarding the eastern gate: it shall be kept shut because by it the Lord entered into the house. (2) Ezekiel 44:4. Precepts regarding

B. The Ministers of Worship: The Priests 44:1-45:8 After briefly discussing the relationship of the prince to the sanctuary (Ezekiel 44:1-3), Ezekiel speaks of the qualifications of the temple ministers (Ezekiel 44:4-14), the regulations for the Zadokite priests (Ezekiel 44:15-27); the provision for the Zadokite priests (Ezekiel 44:28-31), and finally the allocation of land which was theirs (Ezekiel 45:1-8). _1. The prince and the sanctuary (44:1-3_) TRANSLATION (1) Then he brought me b