1The east gate assigned only to the prince. 4The people reproved for suffering strangers to pollute the sanctuary. 9Idolaters declared incapable of the priests' office. 15The sons of Zadok are accepted thereto. 17Ordinances for the priests.
1THEN he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut.
2Then said the LORD unto me; This gate 1shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered in by 2it, therefore it shall be shut.
1 That is, continue to be shut. See Jer. 27 on verse 22. Also in the sequel.
2 See Ezek. 43:2, 4.
3It is for the 3prince; the prince, he shall sit 4in it to eat 5bread before the LORD; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall 6go out 7by the way of the same.
3 Or, ruler, whereby (with some) we may here understand the high priest (see Jer. 35 on verse 4), typifying our Lord Christ, as the only High Priest, likewise Prince, Ruler and King (Ezek. 34:22, 23) of His church. Or (as others), the Lord Christ Himself, Who is the Lord of this spiritual house, and only suitable to approach unto God on our behalf, and to appear before His face (see Jer. 30 on verse 21), Who alone knows and reveals the Father, alone shuts and opens, the only Gait and Door of heaven, Who alone has opened and prepared for us the way and entrance into the sanctuary, and is set as King at the right hand of the majesty of God, taking His joy and delight in His work of grace and spiritual building, whereunto this whole vision principally refers. Compare Mat. 3:17; 11:27; John 1:18; 3:13; 10:9; Heb. 6:19, 20; 8:1, 2; 9:8; 10:19, 20; Rev. 3:7; 5:5, etc. Likewise Isa. 53:11.
4 Other, by it.
5 That is, to take their repasts (as was done aforetime of the offerings) and consequently to converse familiarly before the face of the Lord. Compare Exod. 29:32; Lev. 8:31; 24:9, and further Gen. 31 on verse 54. These circumstances seem to put a difference between this prince and the prince of whom is spoken Ezekiel 45; 46. Yet both princes (the high priest and the king) may be considered as types, each in his own particular, and according to the nature of things, of the Lord Christ. See the previous annotation.
6 Some do refer this to Christ’s return unto judgment. Compare Acts 1:11; Heb. 9:28.
7 Or, his own way.
4¶Then brought he me the way of the north gate 8before the house: and I looked, and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD: and I 9fell upon my face.
8 Hebr. toward the face.
9 As Ezek. 43:3.
5And the LORD said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the LORD, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every 10going forth of the sanctuary.
10 Or, going out.
6And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O ye house of Israel, 11let it suffice you of all your abominations,
11 That is, ye have made too much of it, it has been too high and too gross; let it be sufficient, ye must keep from, etc. Compare Num. 16:3; 1 Kings 19:4, with the annotations. Also Ezek. 45:9. By this inserted reproof God would instruct His people anew (to whom the prophet was commanded to show this vision) and acquaint them with their abominable sins, for which He had forsaken the former temple, city and land, to the end that by true repentance and faith they might seek to have fellowship with this new undeserved work of grace, which God would effect and bring to pass by the Messiah, and was typified by this vision.
7In that ye have brought into my sanctuary 12strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and 13uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to 14pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my 15bread, the 16fat and the blood, and 17they have broken my covenant because of all 18your abominations.
12 Hebr. children or sons of a stranger or foreigner, that is, such as were no Israelites, nor were in covenant with God, nor were members of His people. See 2 Sam. 22:45 with the annotation. Also verse 9. Or, such as were not of the family of the priests, as Lev. 22:10 (see the annotation there), and moreover were wicked, as follows.
13 Some take these to be two sorts of unsound ministers of the sanctuary, some being Israelites, but wicked; others foreigners, and not Israelites, utterly estranged from God and His people. Others understand here such as had neither any true godliness within, nor any show or appearance of outward godliness, being wicked both in heart and life. See Deut. 10:16; Jer. 4:4; 9:25, 26, with the annotations.
14 By their unworthiness, idolatries, superstitions, and human traditions. Compare 2 Kings 23:5; 2 Chron. 34:5; Ezek. 43:7, 8, with the annotations.
15 That is, meat. Understand those things that were offered. See Lev. 3 on verse 11; Lev. 21:8; Num. 28:2; Mal. 1:12.
16 Compare verse 15; Lev. 3:16, 17; but they had offered these by unlawful and wicked priests.
17 The strange priests, doing contrary to all Mine ordinances, and so breaking and disannulling the covenant of the priesthood.
18 Over and above the other abominations which ye have committed yourselves. Other, for, because of, in regard of, etc.
8And ye have not kept the 19charge of mine 20holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for 21yourselves.
19 Compare Ezek. 40:45 with the annotation.
20 Hebr. of my holinesses.
21 Whom ye have chosen yourselves, without and against My command.
9 ¶ 22Thus saith the Lord GOD; 23No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel.
22 Here now follow the laws concerning reformation in ecclesiastical ministries, showing who are suitable for them and who are not. Compare the apostolic commands, especially in the epistles to Timothy and Titus; likewise Revelation 2 and 3, etc.
23 Hebr. every child or son of a stranger … shall not, etc. That is, none of them; none who is unsound in regard of faith, or doctrine, and life.
1024And the 25Levites that are gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their 26idols; they shall even bear their 27iniquity.
24 Or, Yea also, even, etc.
25 Hereby some understand the priests, who were of the Levites, descended from Ithamar and Abiathar, from verse 13 and the opposition in verse 15, and Ezek. 40:46; 43:19. See 1 Kings 2 on verse 27. This is a representation of the discipline which ought to be exercised in the church of God against all such ministers of God’s house, who, departing from the true service of God and religion, are become unfaithful to God and His church, when they come to repent thereof. Compare 2 Kings 23:9 with the annotation there.
26 See Lev. 26 on verse 30.
27 That is, the punishment of their iniquity. See Lev. 5 on verse 1.
11Yet they shall be 28ministers in my sanctuary, having charge at the gates of the house, and ministering to the house: they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister unto them.
28 Be in meaner and lower places of service than they previously served (that is, they shall be degraded). See 1 Chron. 23:28, 29. Likewise verse 14; Num. 3:7, 8.
12Because they ministered unto 29them before their idols, and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity; therefore have I lifted up mine 30hand against them, saith the Lord GOD, and they shall bear their iniquity.
29 Unto the people.
30 That is, I have sworn. See Gen. 14 on verse 22.
13And they shall not come near unto me, to do the office of a priest unto me, nor to come near to any of my 31holy things, in the 32most holy place: but they shall bear their shame, and their 33abominations which they have committed.
31 Hebr. holinesses.
32 Or, in the most holy things. Hebr. holinesses of holinesses.
33 That is, the punishment of that, as verse 10.
14But I will make them keepers of the 34charge of the house, for all the service thereof, and for all that shall be done therein.
34 Compare verse 11; Ezek. 40:45 with the annotation.
15¶But the 35priests the Levites, the 36sons of Zadok, that kept the 37charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD:
35 Other, the Priests and the Levites. Compare Ezek. 40:45, 46 with the annotation.
36 That is, the posterity of Zadok, who descended from Aaron by Eleazar and Phinehas (to whom an everlasting priesthood was promised, Num. 25:13), and was made high priest in Abiathar’s stead. See 1 Kings 2:27, 35 with the annotations. Zadok signifies as much as to be righteous, or a justified man. These children of Zadok are here set forth as a pattern of all lawful, worthy and suitable ministers of the church of Christ (the King of righteousness and High Priest after the order or manner of Melchizedek), who are here placed, honored and blessed by God in their ministry.
37 To have performed their office faithfully and constantly, or have continued pure and in the faith and in the true worship of God.
16They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my 38table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep 39my charge.
38 See Ezek. 41 on verse 22.
39 See Lev. 8 on verse 35; Num. 3 on verse 7.
17¶And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with 40linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.
40 What is pure, bright, white, pleasant, not cumbersome, burdensome or inconvenient in the service, as is a woolen garment. See of the priestly garments Ezek. 42 on verse 14. Compare Mat. 17:2; 28:3; Rev. 4:4; 7:13.
18They shall have linen 41bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth 42sweat.
41 The Hebrew word has its name from adorning, and the covering of the head is taken for a sign of subjection and submission, 1 Cor. 11:10. As such the ornament of ministers is to submit and to be subject unto their Head Christ. Compare Exod. 28:40; 39:28.
42 Or, with sweat, that is, thus or with such girding or clothing that they would sweat; or, (as some) on the sweaty places of their body where a man sweats most commonly. Other, according to the sweat. Some hold this to be representation of the heedfulness and purity of the heart, which ought to be in the ministers of God’s church in the performing of their ministry.
19And when they go forth into the utter court, even into the utter court to the people, they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered, and lay them in the 43holy chambers, and they shall put on other garments; and they shall not 44sanctify the people with their garments.
43 Hebr. chambers of holiness. See Ezek. 42:14.
44 By touching of the holy garments, which were anointed with the holy oil and were only for the priests, who were consecrated for the service of God, which consecration was not to be communicated unto others. See Exod. 29:37; 30:29. Likewise Ezek. 46:20. Some take it as if God would thereby forbid His ministers to carry an hypocritical show of holiness before the congregation, and on the contrary would command them to be familiar with and among their brethren. Compare Mat. 6:5, 6, 16, 17, 18.
20Neither shall they 45shave their 46heads, nor suffer their locks to grow 47long; they shall 48only poll their heads.
45 Namely, with a razor, as some take it.
46 Not to shave quite bald, nor to let the hair grow long, but shorten, cut or shave it moderately, compare Lev. 21:5, signifying virtue, modesty and sobriety in outward conduct.
47 Hebr. suffer them to shoot out, shoot forth, that is, to permit them to grow long.
48 Hebr. polling they shall poll. Other, quite or every manner of way cut off, and then in the former shave. The Hebrew word is only found here.
21Neither shall 49any priest drink 50wine, when they enter into the inner court.
49 Hebr. every priest shall not, etc.; that is, none of them shall, etc.
50 That is, he shall execute his ministry with a sober, attentive, considered and a holy mind, and avoid all things that might hinder him in it. Compare Lev. 10:9; 1 Tim. 3:3; Titus 1:7. Likewise Mat. 24:48, 49, etc.
2251Neither shall they take for their wives a widow,a nor her that is put away: but they shall take maidens of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow that had a priest before.
51 Compare Lev. 21:13, etc. This ordinance intimates that God’s ministers should marry decently and in the Lord, avoiding what might in any way prejudice the honor and dignity of their ministry, or occasion a scandalous ordering of their family. Compare 1 Tim. 3:2, 4. Likewise 1 Cor. 7:39; 9:5.
a Lev. 21:13, 14.
23And they shall teach my people the 52difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.
52 Compare Lev. 10:10; Ezek. 22:26; Mal. 2:7; 1 Tim. 6:20; 2 Tim. 1:13; 2:15, 16; Titus 1:9; Rev. 2:2, 14, 15, 16, 20, etc.
24And in 53controversy they shall 54stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they 55shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine 56assemblies; and they shall hallow my 57sabbaths.
53 Compare Deut. 17:8, 9, etc.; 2 Chron. 19:10, 11. This points to the ecclesiastical judicature, or the judgments which ought to be kept in the house of God by ecclesiastical assemblies according to the Word of God, for the instructing of the conscience in matters of faith and life, removing and preventing scandals, and preserving peace and unity among brethren.
54 Or, abide by judgment, that is, steadfastly persevere in what is just and right, and agreeable to My Word. Compare 2 Kings 23 on verse 3, and the manner of speech used in Deut. 25:8.
55 Compare 1 Tim. 6:13, 14, etc.
56 Other, in or with all mine assemblies, that is, the one as well as the other, whatsoever is ordained by Me, they shall keep it, especially what concerns the congregations of believers, and the public worship of God in them.
57 See Exod. 20 on verse 8. Likewise Heb. 4:9, 10, 11.
25And 58they shall come at no dead person to defile themselves: but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that hath had no husband, they may defile themselves.
58 Hebr. he shall not, etc., that is, none of the priests. Compare Lev. 21:1, 2, 3, 4, etc. This ordinance commands such moderation in mourning, that the service of God be respected and the bond of nature and of the spirit be not despised among christians, and also the hope of eternal life be not obscured among them; with an acknowledgement of our frailty and infirmity in this, for which we are to petition pardon in and through Christ. Compare John 11:33, 35; Acts 9:39; 1 Thes. 4:13, etc.
26And after he 59is cleansed, they shall reckon unto him seven days.
59 The cleansing of the priest who was defiled by reason of a dead person. Compare Num. 6:9, etc.; 19:11, 12, etc.
27And in the day that he goeth into the sanctuary, unto the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he shall offer his sin offering, saith the Lord GOD.
2860And it shall be unto them for an inheritance: Ibam their inheritance: and ye shall give them no possession in Israel: I am their possession.
60 Compare these laws with Num. 18:8, 20, 24; Deut. 10:9; 12:12; 14:27; 18:1, 2; 26:12. By them a due maintenance is ordained by God for the ministers of the church. See Mat. 10:10; Luke 10:7; 1 Cor. 9:4, 6, 7, etc., and very plainly there in verses 13 and 14.
b Num. 18:20; Deut. 18:1.
29They shall eat the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; and every 61dedicated thing in Israel shall be theirs.
61 Hebr. ban. See Lev. 27 on verse 21.
30And thec62first of all the 63firstfruits of 64all things, and every 65oblation of all, of every sort of your oblations, shall be the priest's: ye shall also give unto the priest 66the first of your dough, that he may cause the 67blessing to rest in thine house.
c Exod. 13:2; 22:29, 30; Num. 18:11.
62 Hebr. the first, the chiefest of all the firstlings of all things. See Exod. 13:2; 22:29, 30; Num. 18:11.
63 Or, of that which comes forth first.
64 That is, of all manner of things; and so in the sequel.
65 Or, every heave offering, etc.
66 Compare Num. 15:20; Neh. 10:37, etc.
67 Compare Deut. 14:29, and see the contrary Ezek. 5:13.
31The priests shall not eat of any thing that is 68deadd of itself, or torn, whether it be fowl or beast.
68 Hebr. every carcase, etc., shall they (the priests) not, etc., that is, no carcass, nothing torn; compare Exod. 22:31; Lev. 22:4, 8; Ezek. 4:14; signifying that the ministers of the church ought to be faultless, and holy, not prone to destroying, anger, making prey, filthy lucre, etc. Compare Mat. 23:25; 1 Tim. 3:3; which also ought to be ordered to all believers (as spiritual priests), as this law was likewise given to all Israel, Exod. 22:31.
d Lev. 22:8.