Ezekiel 46:17

Thus saith the Lord GOD; If the prince give a gift unto any of his sons, the inheritance thereof shall be his sons'; it shall be their possession by inheritance. IF THE PRINCE GIVE A GIFT UNTO ANY OF HIS SONS, THE INHERITANCE THEREOF SHALL BE HIS SONS' ... BUT IF HE GIVE A GIFT ... TO ONE OF HIS SERVANTS, THEN IT SHALL BE HIS TO THE YEAR OF LIBERTY; AFTER IT SHALL RETURN TO THE PRINCE. THE PRINCE'S POSSESSION IS TO BE INALIENABLE, AND ANY PORTION GIVEN TO A SERVANT IS TO REVERT TO HIS SONS AT THE YEAR OF JUBILEE, THAT HE MAY HAVE NO TEMPTATION TO SPOIL HIS PEOPLE OF THEIR INHERITANCE AS FORMERLY (CF. THE CASE OF AHAB AND NABOTH'S VINEYARD, 1 KINGS 21:1 _ .) The mention of the year of jubilee implies that there is something literal meant, besides the spiritual sense. The jubilee year was restored after the captivity. (Josephus' 'Antiquities,' 14: 10, 6; _ 1Ma 6:49...

Verse Ezekiel 46:17. _TO THE YEAR OF LIBERTY_] That is, to the year of _jubilee_, called the _year of liberty_, because there was then a general release. All servants had their liberty, and all alienated estates returned to their former owners....

The prince was robe provided with possessions of his own, in order to prevent exactions from his subjects; further enactments are added to prevent the alienation of the prince’s land. Any gifts made to his servants must revert to the prince in the “year of liberty,” or jubilee (see the marginal reference note)....

EXPOSITION This chapter fails into three divisions. The first (Ezekiel 46:1) gives supplementary directions for the prince and the people of the land when engaged in solemn acts of worship; the second (Ezekiel 46:16) furnishes the prince with instructions as to how he may dispose of his portion or inheritance; the third (Ezekiel 46:19) adds particulars about the sacrificial kitchens for the priests and for the people. EZEKIEL 46:1 The supplementary directions contained in these verses relate to the worship of the prince and the people on the sabbaths and the new moons ...

BUT IF HE GIVE A GIFT OF HIS INHERITANCE TO ONE OF HIS SERVANTS,.... Who are not his sons, but his hired servants, and who serve him in a mercenary way; such are unregenerate ministers of the word, who preach Christ in pretence, and not in reality, for by ends, to serve themselves, and not him, or to advance his glory; and all carnal professors, who have only an outside of religion, a form of godliness without the power of it: to these Christ gives gifts, the gifts of nature, wealth, and riches, to some, to whom he gives not grace; these are his left hand blessings, which are given to the men of the world, who have their portion in this life: to others external means, the word and ordinances, but not internal special grace; yea, to some, gifts for the ministry, so as to be able to prophesy or preach in his name, which are meant by the talents, and pounds in the parable; some of which wer...

CHAPTER 46 _ 1. The worship of the prince (Ezekiel 46:1) _ 2. Further instruction as to worship (Ezekiel 46:9) 3. Concerning the prince, his sons and his servants (Ezekiel 46:16) 4. A final description of places in the temple (Ezekiel 46:19)...

CROWN RIGHTS AND RESTRICTIONS. The prince was at liberty to gift part of his estate inalienably to his sons: but what was deeded to a courtier reverted to the crown on the year of release (_i.e._ the seventh year, _cf._ Jeremiah 34:14, or, less probably, the fiftieth year, _cf._ Leviticus 25:10). The prince was not at liberty to appropriate, under any pretext, any of the land of the common people, as Ahab had seized the vineyard of Naboth (1 Kings 21)....

THE YEAR OF LIBERTY. the year of jubilee. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 25:10). App-92. This shows that this prophecy will, and must yet, be literally fulfilled. Moreover, the jubilee occurred only twice in. century. BUT, &c.. truly, it is his own inheritance; as to his sons, to them it shall go....

Ezekiel 45:18 to Ezekiel 46:24. The offerings to be made at the feasts and other appointed seasons (1) Ezekiel 45:18-25. Offerings at the feasts. (2) Ezekiel 46:1-11. Offerings for the sabbaths and new moons. (3) Ezekiel 45:12. Voluntary offerings of the prince. (4) Ezekiel 45:13. The daily burnt-offering. (5) Ezekiel 45:16. Case

TO THE YEAR OF LIBERTY— That is, of _jubilee;_ called the year of _liberty,_ because it freed men's persons from the service of their masters, and their estates from any engagements by which the right of them was transferred from their owners. See Calmet, and Leviticus 25:10....