Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 40:49
The length of the porch [was] twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits; and [he brought me] by the steps whereby they went up to it: and [there were] pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side.
49. Here “length” is the larger dimension N. to S. (1Ki 6:3), Fig. 2, hh; and breadth the smaller E. to W.; Fig. 2, bc.
breadth eleven cubits ] twelve cubits, as LXX. The number eleven cannot be reconciled with the other measurements. The length of the house E. to W. was 100 cubits, i.e. 5 (wall, Eze 40:48) + 12 (porch, here) + 6 (wall of holy place, Eze 41:1) + 40 (holy place) + 2 (wall of holiest, Eze 41:3) + 20 (holiest, Eze 40:4) + 6 (wall, Eze 40:5) + 4 (annexe, Eze 40:5) + 5 (outer wall of annexe, Eze 40:9) = 100.
and by the steps whereby ] and by ten steps they went up to it; so LXX. Beside the posts stood two pillars, one on either side of the entrance. These would narrow in some measure the entrance of 14 cubits. These pillars correspond to the Jachin and Boaz of Solomon’s temple (1Ki 7:21).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Eze 40:49
And he brought me by the steps whereby they went up to it.
The steps of the sanctuary
There are no such steps as these to be found anywhere in the world. A step to honour, a step to riches, a step to worldly glory: these are everywhere, but what are these to the steps by which men do ascend to the house of the Lord! He, then, that entereth into the house of the Lord is an ascending man; as it is said of Moses, he went up into the mount of God. It is ascending to go into the house of God. The world believe not this; they think it is going downwards to go up to the house of God. The steps, then, by which men go up into the temple are, and ought to be, opposed to those which men take to their lusts and empty glories. Hence such steps are said not only to decline from God, but to take hold of the path to death and hell (Psa 44:18; Pro 2:18). (John Bunyan.)
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Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 49. By the steps] This was a flight of steps that led to the temple; there were eight steps in each flight. See YY in the plan. See Clarke on Eze 48:35.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Though learned men dispute the position of the length, whether from east to west, or from north to south, express word determines the dimensions of this length and breadth. The steps: eight, say some, others eleven, and some say ten, others say twelve; but most say eight.
There were pillars: so soon as he was come into the porch, he saw two pillars, that stood off from the side walls, not joined to them, as the posts were, much like Jachin and Boaz in Solomons temple.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
49. twenty . . . eleven cubitsinSolomon’s temple (1Ki 6:3)”twenty . . . ten cubits.” The breadth perhaps wasten and a half; 1Ki 6:3designates the number by the lesser next round number, “ten”;Ezekiel here, by the larger number, “eleven”[MENOCHIUS]. TheSeptuagint reads “twelve.”
he brought me by thestepsThey were ten in number [Septuagint].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The length of the porch was twenty cubits,…. From east to west; from the first gate of it to the last; which led directly into the house, or temple:
and the breadth eleven cubits; which may be thus accounted for; two cubits apiece being allowed for each post, and three for each leaf of the door that were hung upon them, and one for the upright post in the middle on which they shut; in all eleven:
and he brought me by the steps whereby they went up to it; as there was an ascent of seven steps to the several gates that led into the outward court; and another of eight steps, which led from that to the gates of the inner court; so there was an ascent from the inner court to the porch of the house, or temple; but how many steps there were is not said. The Septuagint and Arabic versions read ten steps; and the Vulgate Latin version eight steps. According to the Misnah w, there were twelve in the second temple; so say Jarchi and Kimchi, with whom Josephus x agrees. Cocceius thinks there could not be more than two, since the ground of the inward court and temple were continued; but as their number is not given, a determination cannot be made; only it may be observed, that the saints’ progress in the knowledge of Christ, and of divine things, and in faith and holiness, is gradual.
And there were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side; one on the north side, and the other on the south, somewhat like the two pillars of Jachin and Boaz, in Solomon’s temple; which some apply to the ordinances of the Gospel saints partake of at their entrance into the Gospel church; but rather they are an emblem of Christ, the supporter of his church, and of all those that aright enter into it; and who, through his grace and strength, become pillars there also, Re 3:12, he is their Jachin, who establishes them on himself, the sure foundation; and their Boaz, in whom their strength is, and from whom they have it to exercise grace, discharge duty, and persevere to the end.
w Middot, c. 2. sect. 3. x De Bello Jud. l. 5. c. 5. sect. 4.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
49. Eleven LXX., twelve.
The steps LXX., ten steps.
Pillars These pillars correspond to Boaz and Jachin of Solomon’s temple. Compare 1Ki 7:15-21; note illustration opposite, and frontispiece.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Eze 40:49. There were pillars Hereby seem to be meant the two great pillars of brass, whereof we have the dimensions and a description in the first book of Kings, chap. Eze 7:15, &c. and 2Ch 3:15.
REFLECTIONS.1st, The date of this prophesy is in the twenty-fifth year of the captivity of Jeconiah, in the tenth day of the beginning of the year, which was reckoned in two different ways: the civil year began at the autumnal equinox, and then this tenth day must have been the great day of atonement: the ecclesiastical year commenced from the vernal equinox, and then this day falls on the tenth of Nisan, answering to part of our March and April, when the paschal lamb was separated from the flock, in order to be slain on the fourteenth.
The scene is laid in the land of Judges; and in vision the prophet is set on a very high mountain; and there was, as it were, the frame of a city, full in his view. There appeared to him in the gate, a glorious personage, an angel deputed from God, or, as many suppose, the Lord Jesus Christ himself, the maker and builder of this city of God, his church.* His figure was bright and glittering as burnished brass, and in his hand he bore a measuring reed and line; and, addressing the prophet, bid him carefully behold, attentively hear, with fixed thoughtfulness weigh, and with fidelity deliver to the house of Israel, what was about to be revealed to him. Note. (1.) The ministers of God must themselves carefully read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the word of truth, that they may be enabled truly to declare it to others. (2.) We must be ourselves divinely taught by the Lord Jesus, before we can possibly teach others.
* See the Note prefixed to the Preliminary Remarks on this vision.
2nd, The measuring reed in the hand of the glorious Person before mentioned, was six cubits long, exceeding the common cubit by a hand’s breadth.
The outer wall is first measured, three yards and a half high, and of the same breadth. The church is a sacred inclosure, and safely protected by the power and love of him, who is as a wall of fire round about his people.
In this wall were three gates, at the east, the north, and south; typical, it may be, of Jesus the way to God, no man coming to the Father but by him. The ascent to the gates was by seven steps; intimating, that when we go to the temple, we should lift up our hearts to God. The little chambers adjoining to the gate, should teach all true worshippers, especially ministers, to seek no great things here below; and they were many, for in our Father’s house are many mansions. Each chamber had windows, for all believers enjoy the light of the divine word: the windows were narrow, the measure of our knowledge here below being at the best imperfect. The different courts may intimate the different estates of God’s people, some of whom maintain more intimate communion with him than others. The posts, with palm-trees engraven on them, represent the strength and flourishing condition of the saints of God, never overwhelmed by the heaviest afflictions, and triumphing over all their foes. The glittering pavement may teach us where all the glories of this present world should be put, even under our feet.
3rdly, The inner court here described appears exactly similar to the outer; for though some Christians are much more advanced than others, yet all bear the same image of Christ, differing only as brethren of several statures. By eight steps was the ascent into this court; the nearer we approach to God, the more shall we be raised above the world, and the things of it.
4thly, We have notice taken,
1. Of the tables, to slay and prepare the sacrifices for the altar. Before we draw near to God, we should prepare our offering, and not be rash with our lips, to utter any thing before God.
2. The chambers; some for the singers, others for the priests, who had the care of the house and the altar. They who serve at the temple, deserve a provision there.
3. The altar in the inner court represents the Lord Jesus; and as it stood in the centre against the three gates, all the worshippers in the most distant court could look to it: for him, in all our worship, we must ever keep in view, by whom alone we have access unto God.
4. Before the temple was a porch, with pillars, probably like Jachin and Boaz, intimating the stability and beauty of the Gospel church.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
REFLECTIONS
In following the Prophet in these visions of God, we have now much advantage from the gospel light which the after ages of the Church, through Grace, were blessed with; so that explaining Old Testament scripture, by the New Testament revelation, we are enabled to see more of the Lord’s gracious designs, than our fathers in the earlier dispensations could attain. Evidently, these solemn scriptures pointed to the day of gospel grace; and we cannot sufficiently bless God for the discovery he hath been pleased to make of himself, in, and by the Person, work, and grace, and salvation, of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yes! blessed Lord Jesus! whatever City, Church, or Temple, the Prophet saw, in thee we now in open glass behold the accomplishment of the whole. Thou art indeed the goodly Mountain of Lebanon! Thou, and thou alone, the foundation-stone Jehovah hath laid in Zion, on whom is built, both of Apostles and Prophets, that temple on which all rest, and in whom all are made secure, and eternally happy. Lord! hasten the glorious hour, when all thy Church, founded on thee, shall fill the earth, as the waters cover the sea, and all nations shall flow to it. Amen!
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Eze 40:49 The length of the porch [was] twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits; and [he brought me] by the steps whereby they went up to it: and [there were] pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side.
Ver. 49. The length of the porch was twenty cubits. ] After the cubit of the sanctuary, the weights and measures whereof were twice as large as those of the commonwealth, to show that God expects much more of those that serve him there than he doth of others.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
The steps: This was a flight of steps which led from the inner court into the temple. Eze 40:31, Eze 40:34, Eze 40:37
pillars: 1Ki 7:15-21, 2Ch 3:17, Jer 52:17-23, Rev 3:12
Reciprocal: 1Ki 7:21 – the porch 1Ch 28:11 – the porch Eze 40:22 – and they
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 40:49. This entry was a magnificent structure. It was 30 feet long and about 17 feet wide. Its floor was higher than the adjoining area and was reached by steps. In addition to the reinforcing posts there were pillars on each side of the entrance.