Ezekiel 46:9

Verse Ezekiel 46:9. _HE THAT ENTERETH IN BY THE WAY OF THE NORTH, C._] As the _north_ and the _south_ gates were opposite to each other, he that came in at the north must go out at the south he that came in at the south must go out at the north. No person was to come in at the _east_ gate, because there was no gate at the _west_; and the people were not permitted to _turn round_ and go out at the same place by which they came in; for this was like turning their backs on God, and the decorum and reverence with which public worship was to be conducted would not admit of this. Besides, returning by the same way must have occasioned a great deal of confusion, where so many people must have jostled each other, in their meetings in different parts of this space....

The whole body of the people gathered together in the outer court, and from thence bodies went in turn into the inner court to worship, and then again out into the outer court....

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 WHEN THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND SHALL COME BEFORE THE LORD IN THE SOLEMN FEASTS,.... To worship the Lord, to pray and praise; to honour the Lord, and keep the solemn feast of love, the Lord's supper: HE THAT ENTERETH IN BY THE WAY OF THE NORTH GATE TO WORSHIP SHALL GO OUT BY THE WAY OF THE SOUTH GATE; AND HE THAT ENTERETH IN BY THE WAY OF THE SOUTH GATE SHALL GO FORTH BY THE WAY OF THE NORTH GATE; that so such as were coming in, and going out, might not meet, and stop and hinder one another in going out and coming in: no mention is made of entering in by the east gate, which was only for the prince, Ezekiel 44:1, and there was no entering in, or going out, on the west: HE SHALL NOT RETURN BY THE WAY OF THE GATE HE CAME IN, BUT SHALL GO FORTH OVER AGAINST IT; signifying, that those that come to the house of God to worship, and join in commun

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)...

THE SABBATH, NEW MOON, AND OTHER FESTIVALS. On the Sabbath day, seven animals, besides meal and oil, were to be offered; on the new moon the offering was the same, with the addition of a bullock. The prince, who might not enter into the sacred inner court, watched the sacrifice being offered from his place at the threshold of its eastern gate (Ezekiel 46:1). To prevent confusion the worshippers were obliged to leave the outer court by the opposite gate from that by which they had entered (Ezekiel 46:8 f.). It was the prince's duty to provide for the daily burnt offering. When, in addition to this, he made a free-will offering, the eastern gate of the inner court was opened for him, as on the Sabbath and new moon (Ezekiel

SOLEMN FEASTS. appointed times,...

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

HE THAT ENTERETH IN BY THE WAY OF THE NORTH GATE, &C.— Some are of opinion, that these words imply the reason why the people were not to come in at the _east_ gate; because, there being no passage or thoroughfare out of the temple westward, if they had entered in at the east gate, they must have returned back the same way they came in; which would have been turning their backs as it were upon the place of God's residence. Dr. Spencer mentions this as a rule in the Talmud, "That they who come within the holy mount, should enter in by the way of the right hand, and go out by the left; understanding by the right hand the northern part of the temple, and by the left hand the southern:" and he is of opinion, that God designed to take away that superstitious distinction between the several gates of the temple, by commanding that every one should go out the opposite way to that by which he came...

_4. The entrance and exit of worshipers (46:8-10_) TRANSLATION (8) And when the prince shall enter, he shall go in by the way of the porch of the gate, and he shall go forth by the way thereof. (9) But when the people of the land shall come before the LORD in the appointed feasts, he that enters by the way of the north gate to worship shall go forth by the way of the south gate; and he that enters by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate: he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth straight before him. (10) Arid the prince, when they go in, shall go in the midst of them; and when they go forth, they shall go forth together. COMMENTS On the sabbath and new moon the prince was allowed to enter by the porch of the east gateway and leave by the same way (Ezekiel 46:8). But in the appointed