The following commentary covers Chapters 45 and 46.
The
apportionment of the land: provision for the offerings
The portion of the priests
in the land is assigned them—close to that of the
sanctuary. The portion of the Levites was to adjoin that
of the priests, and then came the possession of the city
and its suburbs. That which remained of the breadth of
the land was for the Prince and for the inheritance of
His children, in order that the people should no longer
be oppressed. All the rest of the land was for the
people. Provision is also made for the daily offerings,
and for those of the Sabbath. The other appointed
offerings were to be made by the Prince.
The perfect
character of worship in the millennial day
Some details require one
or two remarks. The cleansing of the sanctuary commences
the year. It is no longer an atonement at the end of
seven months to take away the defilements that have been
accumulating. The year opens with an already accomplished
cleansing. Afterwards, in order that all may have
communion with the sufferings of the Paschal Lamb, an
offering is made on the seventh day of the month for
every one that erreth, and every one that is simple (v.
20). During the feast they offered seven bullocks instead
of two. The character of worship will be perfect. The
sense of Christ's acceptance as the burnt-offering will
be perfect in that day. The feast of Pentecost is
omitted—a circumstance of great significance, for
this feast characterises our present position. Not that
the Spirit will not be given in the world to come, when
Christ shall establish His kingdom. But this gift is not
that which, connecting us with a heavenly Christ and the
Father in Christ's absence, characterises that period as
it does the present time. For Christ will be present.
The position of
Israel: the worship of the Prince and people
We have observed that the
prophet sees everything in a point of view connected with
Israel. Thus the remembrance of redemption, the passover,
the basis of all, and the enjoyment of rest celebrated at
the feast of the tabernacles, will characterise the
position of Israel before God. The two feasts are
celebrated in the recognition of the full value of the
burnt offering presented to God. Another circumstance
which distinguishes the worship of this millennial day
is, that the two feasts which are types of that period
are marked out in the worship—the Sabbath, and the
new moon, rest and re-establishment, Israel appearing
anew in the world. The inner gate on the side of the east
was open on that day, and the Prince worshipped at the
very threshold of the gate and the people before the gate
(chap. 46). The other days it was shut. They stood thus
before Jehovah in the consciousness of the rest which God
had given to Israel and of His grace in again manifesting
His people in the light. Nevertheless it still remains
true that neither the people nor the Prince entered
within. Those who are the most blessed on the earth in
that day of blessing will never have that access into
God's presence which we have, by the Spirit, through the
veil. Pentecost belongs to, and links itself with, the
rending of the veil; and gives us to walk in all liberty
in the light, as God Himself is in the light, having
entered into the holy place by the new and living way
which He has consecrated for us, through the veil, that
is to say, His flesh.
The Prince entered by the
outer door on the side of the east, and he went out by
the same door. In the solemn feasts, the people went in
by the north gate and came out by the south gate, and the
Prince in their midst. When he went in alone, as a
voluntary worshipper, he entered and retired again by the
eastern gate. These ordinances, while giving remarkable
honour to the Prince, in connection with the glory of
God, who gave him his place among the people, equally
secured that which follows (v. 16-18) of the brotherly
and benevolent relations between him and the people of
God, and took away all opportunities of oppression.
Ezekiel 46 Bible Commentary
John Darby’s Synopsis
The apportionment of the land: provision for the offerings
The portion of the priests in the land is assigned them—close to that of the sanctuary. The portion of the Levites was to adjoin that of the priests, and then came the possession of the city and its suburbs. That which remained of the breadth of the land was for the Prince and for the inheritance of His children, in order that the people should no longer be oppressed. All the rest of the land was for the people. Provision is also made for the daily offerings, and for those of the Sabbath. The other appointed offerings were to be made by the Prince.
The perfect character of worship in the millennial day
Some details require one or two remarks. The cleansing of the sanctuary commences the year. It is no longer an atonement at the end of seven months to take away the defilements that have been accumulating. The year opens with an already accomplished cleansing. Afterwards, in order that all may have communion with the sufferings of the Paschal Lamb, an offering is made on the seventh day of the month for every one that erreth, and every one that is simple (v. 20). During the feast they offered seven bullocks instead of two. The character of worship will be perfect. The sense of Christ's acceptance as the burnt-offering will be perfect in that day. The feast of Pentecost is omitted—a circumstance of great significance, for this feast characterises our present position. Not that the Spirit will not be given in the world to come, when Christ shall establish His kingdom. But this gift is not that which, connecting us with a heavenly Christ and the Father in Christ's absence, characterises that period as it does the present time. For Christ will be present.
The position of Israel: the worship of the Prince and people
We have observed that the prophet sees everything in a point of view connected with Israel. Thus the remembrance of redemption, the passover, the basis of all, and the enjoyment of rest celebrated at the feast of the tabernacles, will characterise the position of Israel before God. The two feasts are celebrated in the recognition of the full value of the burnt offering presented to God. Another circumstance which distinguishes the worship of this millennial day is, that the two feasts which are types of that period are marked out in the worship—the Sabbath, and the new moon, rest and re-establishment, Israel appearing anew in the world. The inner gate on the side of the east was open on that day, and the Prince worshipped at the very threshold of the gate and the people before the gate (chap. 46). The other days it was shut. They stood thus before Jehovah in the consciousness of the rest which God had given to Israel and of His grace in again manifesting His people in the light. Nevertheless it still remains true that neither the people nor the Prince entered within. Those who are the most blessed on the earth in that day of blessing will never have that access into God's presence which we have, by the Spirit, through the veil. Pentecost belongs to, and links itself with, the rending of the veil; and gives us to walk in all liberty in the light, as God Himself is in the light, having entered into the holy place by the new and living way which He has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh.
The Prince entered by the outer door on the side of the east, and he went out by the same door. In the solemn feasts, the people went in by the north gate and came out by the south gate, and the Prince in their midst. When he went in alone, as a voluntary worshipper, he entered and retired again by the eastern gate. These ordinances, while giving remarkable honour to the Prince, in connection with the glory of God, who gave him his place among the people, equally secured that which follows (v. 16-18) of the brotherly and benevolent relations between him and the people of God, and took away all opportunities of oppression.