Albert Barnes Commentary Ezekiel 46
Albert Barnes Commentary
Ezekiel 46
Albert Barnes Commentary
Ezekiel 46
"Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath day it shall be opened, and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened." — Ezekiel 46:1 (ASV)
The prophet beholds in vision people, priest, and prince uniting in most solemn worship before the throne of God. The character of the rites here described is symbolic.
"And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of the gate without, and shall stand by the post of the gate; and the priests shall prepare his burnt-offering and his peace-offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate: then he shall go forth; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening." — Ezekiel 46:2 (ASV)
In the time of Solomon, priest, king, and people each took his due part in the temple-service. Of the later kings some forsook Yahweh for false gods, some encroached upon the prerogative of the priest. Now all should be set right. The prince occupies a position analogous to that of Solomon (2 Chronicles 6:12–13), standing in front of the porch of the eastern gate of the inner court, and at the head of his people to lead their worship, while the priests are sacrificing before him.
"And the people of the land shall worship at the door of that gate before Jehovah on the sabbaths and on the new moons." — Ezekiel 46:3 (ASV)
At the door of this gate - In Herod's Temple the place for worshipping "before the Lord" was the court of Israel, west of the court of Women, separated from the inner court by a low parapet. In Ezekiel's the worshippers were admitted into the inner court itself. The upper pavement (E. Plan II) on either side of the eastern gate provided room for such worshippers.
"And the burnt-offering that the prince shall offer unto Jehovah shall be on the sabbath day six lambs without blemish and a ram without blemish;" — Ezekiel 46:4 (ASV)
The offerings prescribed here (Ezekiel 46:4–15) are generally in excess of those required by the Law, to indicate not only the greater devotion and magnificence under the new state of things, but also the willingness of king and people ready to give from their resources to the utmost of their means.
"and the meal-offering shall be an ephah for the ram, and the meal-offering for the lambs as he is able to give, and a hin of oil to an ephah." — Ezekiel 46:5 (ASV)
As he shall be able to give - Rather, “as he shall be willing to give.” So also in (Ezekiel 46:7).
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