This chapter continues and concludes the describing and
measuring of this mystical temple, which it is very hard to understand the
particular architecture of, and yet more hard to comprehend the mystical meaning
of. Here is, I. A description of the chambers that were about the courts, their
situation and structure (v. 1-13), and the uses for which they were designed
(v. 13, 14). II. A survey of the whole compass of ground which was taken up with
the house, and the courts belonging to it (v. 15-20).
The prophet has taken a very exact view of the temple and the
buildings belonging to it, and is now brought again into the outer court, to
observe the chambers that were in that square.
I. Here is a description of these chambers, which (as that which
went before) seems to us very perplexed and intricate, through our
unacquaintedness with the Hebrew language and the rules of architecture at that
time. We shall only observe, in general, 1. That about the temple, which was the
place of public worship, there were private chambers, to teach us that our
attendance upon God in solemn ordinances will not excuse us from the duties of
the closet. We must not only worship in the courts of God's house, but must,
both before and after our attendance there, enter into our chambers, enter into
our closets, and read and meditate, and pray to our Father in secret; and
a great deal of comfort the people of God have found in their communion with God
in solitude. 2. That these chambers were many; there were three stories
of them, and, though the higher stories were not so large as the lower, yet they
served as well for retirement, v. 5, 6. There were many, that there might be
conveniences for all such devout people as Anna the prophetess, who departed
not from the temple night or day, Lu. 2:37. In my Father's house are
many mansions. In his house on earth there are so; multitudes by faith have
taken lodgings in his sanctuary, and yet there is room. 3. That these
chambers, though they were private, yet were near the temple, within view of it,
within reach of it, to teach us to prefer public worship before private (the
Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob, and so
must we), and to refer our private worship to the public. Our religious
performances in our chambers must be to prepare us for the exercises of devotion
in public, and to further us in our improvement of them, as our opportunities
are. 4. That before these chambers there were walks of five yards broad
(v. 4), in which those that had lodgings in these chambers might meet for
conversation, might walk and talk together for their mutual edification, might
communicate their knowledge and experiences. For we are not to spend all our
time between the church and the chamber, though a great deal of time may be
spent to very good purpose in both. But man is made for society, and Christians
for the communion of saints; and the duties of that communion we must make
conscience of, and the privileges and pleasures of that communion we must take
the comfort of. It is promised to Joshua, who was high priest in the second
temple, that God will give him places to walk in among those that stand by,
Zec. 3:7.
II. Here is the use of these chambers appointed, v. 13, 14. 1.
They were for the priests that approach unto the Lord, that they may be
always near their business and may not be non-residents. Therefore they
are called holy chambers, because they were for use of those that
ministered in holy things during their ministration. Those that have public work
to do for God and the souls of men have need to be much in private, to fit
themselves for it. Ministers should spend much time in their chambers, in
reading, meditation, and prayer, that their profiting may appear; and
they ought to be provided with conveniences for this purpose. 2. There the
priests were to deposit the most holy things, those parts of the
offerings which fell to their share; and there they were to eat them,
they and their families, in a religious manner, for the place is holy;
and thus they must make a difference between those feasts upon the sacrifice and
other meals. 3. There (among other uses) they were to lay their vestments, which
God had appointed them to wear when they ministered at the altar, their linen
ephods, coats, girdles, and bonnets. We read of the providing of priests
garments after their return out of captivity, Neh. 7:70, 72. When they had ended
their service at the altar they must lay by those garments, to signify that the
use of them should continue only during that dispensation; but they must put
on other garments, such as other people wear, when they approached to
those things which were for the people, that is, to do that part of their
service which related to the people, to teach them the law and to answer their
enquiries. Their holy garments must be laid up, that they may be kept
clean and decent for the credit of their service.
We have attended the measuring of this mystical temple and are
now to see how far the holy ground on which we tread extends; and that also is
here measured, and found to take in a great compass. Observe, 1. What the
dimensions of it were. It extended each way 500 reeds (v. 16-19), each reed
above three yards and a half, so that it reached every way about an English
measured mile, which, the ground lying square, was above four miles round. Thus
large were the suburbs (as I may call them) of this mystical temple, signifying
the great extent of the church in gospel-times, when all nations should be
discipled and the kingdoms of the world made Christ's kingdoms. Room should be
made in God's courts for the numerous forces of the Gentiles that shall flow
into them, as was foretold, Isa. 49:18; 60:4. It is in part fulfilled already in
the accession of the Gentiles to the church; and we trust it shall have a more
full accomplishment when the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in and all
Israel shall be saved. 2. Why the dimensions of it were made thus large. It
was to make a separation, by putting a very large distance between the
sanctuary and the profane place; and therefore there was a
wall surrounding it, to keep off those that were unclean and to separate between
the previous and the vile. Note, A difference is to be put between common
and sacred things, between God's name and other names, between his day and
other days, his book and other books, his institutions and other observances;
and a distance is to be put between our worldly and religious actions, so as
still to go about the worship of God with a solemn pause.
Ezekiel 42 Bible Commentary
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary (complete)
This chapter continues and concludes the describing and measuring of this mystical temple, which it is very hard to understand the particular architecture of, and yet more hard to comprehend the mystical meaning of. Here is, I. A description of the chambers that were about the courts, their situation and structure (v. 1-13), and the uses for which they were designed (v. 13, 14). II. A survey of the whole compass of ground which was taken up with the house, and the courts belonging to it (v. 15-20).
Verses 1-14
The prophet has taken a very exact view of the temple and the buildings belonging to it, and is now brought again into the outer court, to observe the chambers that were in that square.
I. Here is a description of these chambers, which (as that which went before) seems to us very perplexed and intricate, through our unacquaintedness with the Hebrew language and the rules of architecture at that time. We shall only observe, in general, 1. That about the temple, which was the place of public worship, there were private chambers, to teach us that our attendance upon God in solemn ordinances will not excuse us from the duties of the closet. We must not only worship in the courts of God's house, but must, both before and after our attendance there, enter into our chambers, enter into our closets, and read and meditate, and pray to our Father in secret; and a great deal of comfort the people of God have found in their communion with God in solitude. 2. That these chambers were many; there were three stories of them, and, though the higher stories were not so large as the lower, yet they served as well for retirement, v. 5, 6. There were many, that there might be conveniences for all such devout people as Anna the prophetess, who departed not from the temple night or day, Lu. 2:37. In my Father's house are many mansions. In his house on earth there are so; multitudes by faith have taken lodgings in his sanctuary, and yet there is room. 3. That these chambers, though they were private, yet were near the temple, within view of it, within reach of it, to teach us to prefer public worship before private (the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob, and so must we), and to refer our private worship to the public. Our religious performances in our chambers must be to prepare us for the exercises of devotion in public, and to further us in our improvement of them, as our opportunities are. 4. That before these chambers there were walks of five yards broad (v. 4), in which those that had lodgings in these chambers might meet for conversation, might walk and talk together for their mutual edification, might communicate their knowledge and experiences. For we are not to spend all our time between the church and the chamber, though a great deal of time may be spent to very good purpose in both. But man is made for society, and Christians for the communion of saints; and the duties of that communion we must make conscience of, and the privileges and pleasures of that communion we must take the comfort of. It is promised to Joshua, who was high priest in the second temple, that God will give him places to walk in among those that stand by, Zec. 3:7.
II. Here is the use of these chambers appointed, v. 13, 14. 1. They were for the priests that approach unto the Lord, that they may be always near their business and may not be non-residents. Therefore they are called holy chambers, because they were for use of those that ministered in holy things during their ministration. Those that have public work to do for God and the souls of men have need to be much in private, to fit themselves for it. Ministers should spend much time in their chambers, in reading, meditation, and prayer, that their profiting may appear; and they ought to be provided with conveniences for this purpose. 2. There the priests were to deposit the most holy things, those parts of the offerings which fell to their share; and there they were to eat them, they and their families, in a religious manner, for the place is holy; and thus they must make a difference between those feasts upon the sacrifice and other meals. 3. There (among other uses) they were to lay their vestments, which God had appointed them to wear when they ministered at the altar, their linen ephods, coats, girdles, and bonnets. We read of the providing of priests garments after their return out of captivity, Neh. 7:70, 72. When they had ended their service at the altar they must lay by those garments, to signify that the use of them should continue only during that dispensation; but they must put on other garments, such as other people wear, when they approached to those things which were for the people, that is, to do that part of their service which related to the people, to teach them the law and to answer their enquiries. Their holy garments must be laid up, that they may be kept clean and decent for the credit of their service.
Verses 15-20
We have attended the measuring of this mystical temple and are now to see how far the holy ground on which we tread extends; and that also is here measured, and found to take in a great compass. Observe, 1. What the dimensions of it were. It extended each way 500 reeds (v. 16-19), each reed above three yards and a half, so that it reached every way about an English measured mile, which, the ground lying square, was above four miles round. Thus large were the suburbs (as I may call them) of this mystical temple, signifying the great extent of the church in gospel-times, when all nations should be discipled and the kingdoms of the world made Christ's kingdoms. Room should be made in God's courts for the numerous forces of the Gentiles that shall flow into them, as was foretold, Isa. 49:18; 60:4. It is in part fulfilled already in the accession of the Gentiles to the church; and we trust it shall have a more full accomplishment when the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in and all Israel shall be saved. 2. Why the dimensions of it were made thus large. It was to make a separation, by putting a very large distance between the sanctuary and the profane place; and therefore there was a wall surrounding it, to keep off those that were unclean and to separate between the previous and the vile. Note, A difference is to be put between common and sacred things, between God's name and other names, between his day and other days, his book and other books, his institutions and other observances; and a distance is to be put between our worldly and religious actions, so as still to go about the worship of God with a solemn pause.