Ezekiel 47:3

And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ancles. When the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ancles. Again he measured a thousand ... the waters were to the loins. Afterward ... it was a river that I could not pass over ... waters to swim in. Searching into the things of God, we find some easy to understand, as the water up to the ancles; others more difficult, which require a deeper search, as the waters up to the knees or loins; others beyond our reach, of which we can only adore the depth ( )....

Verse Ezekiel 47:3. _He measured a thousand cubits, - the waters were to_ _the ANKLES; a thousand more, - the waters were to the KNEES; a_ _thousand more, - they became a RIVER_ that could _not be forded. The_ _waters were risen_, and they _were waters to SWIM in_. I. This may be applied to the _gradual_ discoveries of the _plan_ of _salvation_, - 1. In the _patriarchal_ ages. 2. In the giving of the _law_. 3. In the _ministry_ of _John the Baptist_. And, 4. In the _full manifestation_ of _Christ_ by the communication of the _Holy_ _Ghost_. II. This vision may be applied also to the _growth_ of a _believer_ in the grace and knowledge of God. There is - 1. The _seed_ of the kingdom. 2. The _blade_ from that seed.

THE ANCLES - This may coincide with the step gained in the baptism of Cornelius Acts 10, and the opening of the Church to the Gentiles. The dispersion which had followed the martyrdom of Stephen Acts 11:19, had carried believers into various countries, and so paved the way for the foundation of Gentile Churches....

EXPOSITION As the first part of Ezekiel's vision (Ezekiel 40-43.) dealt with the temple, or "house," and the second (Ezekiel 44-47.) with the ritual, or "worship," so the third, which beans with the present chapter (Ezekiel 47:1; Ezekiel 48:1.), treats of the land, or "inheritance" setting forth first its relation to the temple (verses 1-12) and to outlying countries (verses 13-21), and secondly its division among the tribes, inclusive of the priests, Levites, sanctuary, prince, and city (Ezekiel 48:1), with a statement of the dimensions and gates of the last (verses 24-35). The opening section of the present chapter (verses 1-12) is by Kliefoth and others connected with the second part as a conclusio

AND WHEN THE MAN THAT HAD THE LINE IN HIS HAND,.... The same as in Ezekiel 40:3 and is no other than Christ, who appeared in a human form to the prophet; and who hitherto had only made use of the measuring reed in taking the dimensions of the house, and what appertained to it; but now he uses the line of flax he had in his hand, in measuring the waters as they ran; by which line is meant the Scriptures, the word of God, by which all doctrines are to be measured: this is the rule that both preachers and hearers are to go by; and, as by the direction of this person the waters flowed where he would have them, so the doctrines of the Gospel are preached by the order of Christ where he pleases; see Luke 24:47, and these move in a direct line, as those waters did; error is crooked, and has its windings and turnings; b

III. THE VISION CONCERNING THE LAND (47-48) CHAPTER 4 7 _ 1. The waters of healing from the temple (Ezekiel 47:1) _ 2. Borders of the land (Ezekiel 47:13) 3. Concerning the stranger in the land (Ezekiel 47:22)...

EZEKIEL 47, 48. THE HOLY LAND, ITS BEAUTY, BOUNDARIES, AND DIVISIONS. Now that the Temple and its worship, which are indispensable to the welfare of the land, have been described, Ezekiel directs his parting glance to the land itself, introducing his description with a beautiful and suggestive picture, particularly refreshing after the long stretch of minute ceremonial detail, of the life-giving stream that flowed from the heart of the sanctuary. The clearness and keenness with which the prophet's imagination is working, comes out in the frequent repetition of the word Behold. EZEKIEL 47:1. THE RIVER OF LIFE. From under the threshold of the Temple the prophet, led by his supernatural guide, is startled to see water trickling out and flowing past the altar eastwards, growing deeper and stronger as it flows, in the direction of the Dead Sea, into which it finally falls.

MAN. Hebrew 'ash. App-14. THE LINE. a measuring line, Hebrew. _kav_. Only here in Ezekiel. Not the same word as in Ezekiel 40:3, which is _pathil_. CUBITS. See App-51, (1). THE WATERS, &c.. waters [reaching] to the ankle, No Art. Hebrew "of the ankles". Genitive of Relation. App-17....

The river issuing from the temple. The prophet saw a stream issuing from beneath the threshold of the house, which pursued its way eastward, passing the altar on the south side and emerging into the open on the right hand of the outer east gate. A thousand cubits from the gate the waters were ankle deep, but speedily they became a river so deep that it could be crossed only by swimming (Ezekiel 47:3). A luxuriant nature attended the course of the stream; trees grew on every side, ever green and with unfailing fruit, the leaves of which possessed a healing virtue (Ezekiel 47:7_; Ezekiel 47:12_). The desert place to the east became transformed, and the bitter waters of the Dead Sea into which the river flowed were made sweet,

AND WHEN THE MAN—WENT FORTH— The gradual rise of the waters denotes the large effusion of the Spirit, which was very remarkable at the first publication of the gospel, and its wonderful increase from small beginnings; as well as some future and large effusion of that Spirit, when God shall be pleased to pour it forth upon the Jews for their conversion. The supplies of grace are often represented under the metaphor of a river, and streams watering a dry and thirsty soil, and cleansing and making fruitful the ground where they pass. Many of the ideas in this chapter are taken from the terrestrial paradise; see Ezekiel 47:7; Ezekiel 47:12 which ideas are also carried to the celestial paradise by St. John. Revelation 22....