Albert Barnes Commentary Ezekiel 46:19-24

"Then he brought me through the entry, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers for the priests, which looked toward the north: and, behold, there was a place on the hinder part westward. And he said unto me, This is the place where the priests shall boil the trespass-offering and the sin-offering, [and] where they shall bake the meal-offering; that they bring them not forth into the outer court, to sanctify the people. Then he brought me forth into the outer court, and caused me to pass by the four corners of the court; and, behold, in every corner of the court there was a court. In the four corners of the court there were courts inclosed, forty [cubits] long and thirty broad: these four in the corners were of one measure. And there was a wall round about in them, round about the four, and boiling-places were made under the walls round about. Then said he unto me, These are the boiling-houses, where the ministers of the house shall boil the sacrifice of the people." — Ezekiel 46:19-24 (ASV)

The careful provision made here to keep separate the offerings of priests and people was to prevent collision, just as the enactments (Ezekiel 46:16–18) were intended to secure their respective rights to prince and people.

(Ezekiel 46:19) At the side of the gate – This refers to the entrance to the inner court on the same side as the northern gate (Ezekiel 42:9).

(Ezekiel 46:20) See M Plan II.

Boil – It was unique to the Paschal lamb that it was to be eaten roasted. The flesh of the other sacrifices was to be sodden (or boiled) (1 Samuel 2:13; 2 Chronicles 24:14, margin). The meat-offering (flour and honey) was baked (Leviticus 2:4).

(Ezekiel 46:21) See K. Plan II.

(Ezekiel 46:22) courts joined – These were enclosed courts, entered by doors in the walls, which shut them out from the great court. The marginal rendering, “made with chimneys,” is based upon another interpretation of the word.

These four corners – Or, these four corner-courts were of one measure.