Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 42:13
Then said he unto me, The north chambers [and] the south chambers, which [are] before the separate place, they [be] holy chambers, where the priests that approach unto the LORD shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; for the place [is] holy.
13, 14. Uses to which the chambers were put.
These cells serve two purposes: the priests shall eat in them the most holy things; and they shall deposit there the sacred garments when they put them off to go into the outer court among the people. The “most holy things” were the portion of the meal-offering not consumed on the altar (Lev 2:3; Lev 2:10; Lev 7:9-11; Lev 10:12), and the flesh of the sin and trespass offerings, except the flesh of the sin-offering for the high-priest and congregation, which was burnt outside the sacred buildings (Lev 6:30; Lev 7:6).
before the separate place ] over against, as Eze 42:1 ; Eze 42:10, i.e. the longer wing on the N. and on the S. Nothing specially is said as to the uses of the shorter wing.
lay the most holy things] Naturally the meal-offering had to be baked before being eaten, and the flesh of the sacrifices boiled. Being most holy things they must be kept in a holy place.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
In Lev 10:13 it was prescribed that the priests should eat of the sacrifices in the holy place. This was originally before the altar in the inner court – now separate chambers are assigned, and these become the holy place for this purpose. Of the trespass-offering and meat-offering what was not consumed was eaten Lev 7:6, but the sin-offering was burned without the camp Eze 43:21. Probably the carcass was brought from the altar to the chamber before being carried out.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Then said he; the measurer, Christ, man in appearance at that time.
The separate place: see Eze 42:1.
Holy chambers; set apart, consecrated to holy services and uses, as vessels, garments, and days may be holy.
The priests, and Levites too,
that approach; that were then in waiting, according to their courses; for this approach is not only mentioned as distinguished from the distance the people were kept at, but as including the present actual approaches of the priests, in their ministering before the Lord.
Shall eat together, as in a public refectory.
The most holy things; things devoted to God were these most holy, some parts whereof God gave to the priests to live on. In some of these chambers the holy things that might be eat were laid up as in a storehouse, and those which were not for present use were here to be reserved till they were to be used; and whether it were more or less that was allowed to the priests out of the offerings, here it was to be kept till used.
The meat-offering: see what this was, Lev 2:1-12; 6:14-16.
The sin-offering: see what this, Lev 6:26,29,30.
The trespass-offering: see Lev 7:2,3, &c.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Then said he unto me,…. The divine Person that measured and described these chambers, and brought the prophet to take a view of them, said to him, as follows:
the north chambers, and the south chambers, which are before the separate place, they be holy chambers; these are the two rows of chambers before described, which were southward and northward to each other, though both in the northern part of the outward court; these were for holy persons to dwell in, and for holy things to be done in, as the churches of Christ are; they consist of holy persons, men called with a holy calling, and in them the holy word of God is preached, and holy ordinances administered:
where the priests that approach unto the Lord shall eat the most holy things; which is to be understood not of the ministers of the Gospel, for whom a proper maintenance is to be provided, and who should live of the Gospel they preach; but of all the saints, who are made priests to God by Christ; and who approach unto the Lord by him, in his name and righteousness, and by the faith of him, with true hearts, in a spiritual manner; and which is profitable to themselves, and acceptable to God; for whom spiritual provisions are made in his house: these have most holy things to eat of, the holy word of God, the law part of which is holy, just, and good; and the Gospel part is our most holy faith, which is food for faith, savoury and salutary, milk for babes, and meat for strong men; and which is found and eaten, and digested by them: also our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the most holy, and is the sum and substance of the word and ordinances, and the food of believers, the bread of life, the hidden manna, the Lamb of God, and fatted calf; whose flesh and blood are meat and drink indeed, and are eaten and fed upon by faith.
There shall they lay the most holy things; lay up the word of God in their minds and memories, and remember the love of God, his sufferings and death, and the benefits arising from them, particularly in the ordinance of the supper:
and the meat offering; the “minchah”, or bread offering, made of fine flour, typical of Christ, the bread of life:
and the sin, offering, and the trespass offering; both typical of Christ, made sin for his people; and who, by one sacrifice of himself, has made atonement for it, and an end of it; [See comments on Eze 40:39], these were called the most holy things, and were laid up in the sanctuary for the priests and their families to live upon, Le 6:17:
for the place is holy: the place of these chambers holy, as the temple itself, where these most holy things and holy persons were.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(13) Shall eat the most holy things.In the next clause it is said, There shall they lay the most holy things, both clauses referring to the priests portion of the sacrifices. We cannot think of their laying the uncooked flesh of the sacrifice in the same room where they ate (the cooking was done in another room west of this, Eze. 46:19-20); but the great size of this building166 ft. long and half as broadallowed of its division into several separate rooms. It is noticeable that there is no mention of the peace offerings, for it was not required in the law that they should be eaten in a holy place. For the others, see Lev. 6:16; Lev. 6:26; Lev. 7:6. The meat offering is the unbloody oblation usually accompanying the animal sacrifices.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
13, 14. In these holy chambers the priests were to eat the most holy things, the holiest which have not been burnt in sacrifice (Lev 2:3; Lev 2:10; Lev 6:16-18; Lev 6:29-30; Lev 7:9-11; Lev 10:12). There also they must leave their holy vestments (Lev 16:23) when they entered the inner court. All this signified the sacredness of the priestly service and the increasing holiness of the temple as they drew nearer to the central abode of Jehovah.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Use For The Many Chambers In The Inner Court ( Eze 42:13-14 ).
‘Then he said to me, “The north chambers and the south chambers which are before the separate place (the temple yard), they are the holy chambers, where the priests who are near to Yahweh will eat the most holy things. There will they lay the most holy things, even the meal offering, and the sin offering, and the guilt offering. For the place is holy. When the priests enter in (i.e. where they enter into a building in such circumstances) then they will not go out of the holy place into the outer court, but there shall they lay their garments in which they minister, for they are holy. And they shall put on other garments when they approach (literally ‘and shall approach’) that which pertains to the people.”
The heavenly visitant only spoke to Ezekiel four times in the whole sight seeing operation, otherwise he was too busy measuring while Ezekiel observed. The first was when he exhorted him to take note of all he saw and heard (Eze 40:4), the second was when he designated apartments for the priests and had to explain the revolutionary differences which now applied (Eze 40:45-46), the third was when he left the holy of holies having measured it, and said, “This is the most holy place” (Eze 41:4), and this is the fourth. It is a warning about the treatment of holy things.
Two things were especially in his mind, the treatment of the holy sacrifices and the treatment of the holy garments of the priests in which they performed their holy tasks. This is strictly an Old Testament attitude. To my mind there is no way in which this could apply once Jesus Christ had broken down the barrier between priest and lay believer, and had by the offering of Himself made null and void all other sacrifices.
It is no answer to this to say that Christian Jews continued sacrificing in the temple after the resurrection. At that time the significance of the cross had not fully come home to them, and they did it in ignorance. I do not think for one moment that they actually saw those sacrifices in a new light. They saw them in the same old way, although approaching with a different attitude. They had been brought up to them from birth. It was only later that it would become clearly apparent that they no longer applied, a process aided by the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, and letters and teaching like the letter to the Hebrews.
The holy chambers by the temple yard were firstly for the eating of holy things. When the priests partook of that part of the sacrifices which were allocated to them, in the case of sin and guilt offerings, they had to do it in a holy place.
Under Mosaic law priests could partake of the meal offerings (Lev 2:3; Lev 2:9-10; Lev 2:16). But they were not allowed to eat of the major sin and guilt offerings (those for priests and for the people as a whole – Lev 4:1-21). In that case parts of the animals had to be wholly consumed on the altar and any remains burned outside the camp (Lev 4:12; Lev 4:21). But they could eat of guilt and sin offerings for individuals, although these were ‘most holy’ and could only be eaten in ‘a holy place’. They could also eat of a meal offering made for the same purpose (Lev 5:11-13). That is why it is these offerings that are mentioned here. They can only be eaten in a holy place.
Other offerings were holy, but not ‘most holy’, and could therefore be consumed by the priests’ families, and in many cases by the people.
So it is quite clear that Ezekiel is here maintaining the distinctions laid down by the Law. But if all these had become mere ‘memorial’ offerings these distinctions would surely not have needed to be maintained. The significance of the sin and guilt offerings would have had to change completely. They would no longer be sin and guilt offerings in the sense described in Leviticus.
The second purpose of the chambers was in order that they might be used for storing holy things, such as the fleeces of the sacrificed animals, and the holy flesh and meal from the designated offerings yet to be eaten.
The third purpose was so that they could be used for storing the priestly garments in which the priests officiated. These were holy and must not leave the holy inner court (probably the temple yard – Eze 42:3, but perhaps the actual inner court). When the priests wished to leave this inner court to deal with common things they must wear different clothing, although they could leave it while officiating and slaying sacrifices.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
There is somewhat particularly striking in the account here given of the holy chambers, and the uses intended for them. In the Hebrew the expression is beautiful; they are the holinesses of holinesses: see Lev 2:3 . And what do we learn from hence, but that Jesus, our Great High Priest, is here set forth, our New Testament Altar, Sacrifice, and Sacrificer! I wish all true followers of the Lord Jesus would keep this in remembrance, for then we should hear no more of calling that place the Altar, which forms the communion rails at the table in churches. Alas! how senseless is it to give that title to a place which belongs only to the Lord Jesus, and to turn to it to say the Creed, as if the Lord Jesus was there, and there only! The mind of that man must be grossly ignorant who doth it. He whom John saw was in the midst of the golden candlesticks, to intimate his presence in the midst of his Churches and people, can be the only object of adoration. Rev 1:13 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Eze 42:13 Then said he unto me, The north chambers [and] the south chambers, which [are] before the separate place, they [be] holy chambers, where the priests that approach unto the LORD shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; for the place [is] holy.
Ver. 13. They be holy chambers. ] Or, Cells of the sanctuary, belonging to those that serve in the sanctuary. God appointeth his ministers their various stations, together with the bounds of their habitations,
Shall eat the most holy things.
And the meat offering and the sin offering,
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Eze 42:13-14
13Then he said to me, The north chambers and the south chambers, which are opposite the separate area, they are the holy chambers where the priests who are near to the LORD shall eat the most holy things. There they shall lay the most holy things, the grain offering, the sin offering and the guilt offering; for the place is holy. 14When the priests enter, then they shall not go out into the outer court from the sanctuary without laying there their garments in which they minister, for they are holy. They shall put on other garments; then they shall approach that which is for the people.
Eze 42:13 the priests who are near to the LORD This refers to Zadok’s line which exclusively offered sacrifices (cf. Eze 40:46). These priests were allowed to eat part of most sacrifices (cf. Lev 2:3; Lev 5:13; Lev 6:16; Lev 6:26; Lev 6:29; Lev 7:6; Lev 7:10; Lev 10:12-14). The sacrifices are described in Leviticus 1-7.
Eze 42:14 The priests’ garments (cf. Exo 39:1-43) that they wore when ministering at the altar must be left in the holy place. This corresponds to Aaron’s instruction in Lev 16:23.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
holy, See note on Exo 3:5.
holy chambers = the chambers of the holy place, where, &c. Ref, to Pentateuch (Lev 6:16, Lev 6:26, Lev 24:9). App-92,
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
meat offering = the gift offering. Hebrew. minchah. App-43, Reference to Pentateuch, (Lev 2:3, &c.) App-92,
sin offering. Hebrew. chattath. App-43.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Eze 42:13-14
The Holy Chambers – Eze 42:13-14
Then said he unto me, The north chambers and the south chambers, which are before the separate place, they are the holy chambers, where the priests that are near unto Jehovah shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meal-offering, and the sin-offering, and the trespass-offering; for the place is holy. When the priests enter in, then shall they not go out of the holy place into the outer court, but there they shall lay their garments wherein they minister; for they are holy: and they shall put on other garments, and shall approach to that which pertaineth to the people (Eze 42:13-14).
The Holy chambers of the Temple are described here. Holy chambers were to be the place where the priests eat of the sacrifices made.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
they be holy: Exo 29:31, Lev 6:14-16, Lev 6:26, Lev 7:6, Lev 10:13, Lev 10:14, Lev 10:17, Lev 24:9, Num 18:9
approach: Eze 40:46, Lev 10:3, Num 16:5, Num 16:40, Num 18:7, Deu 21:5
the most holy: Lev 2:3, Lev 2:10, Lev 6:14, Lev 6:17, Lev 6:25, Lev 6:29, Lev 7:1, Lev 7:6, Lev 10:13, Lev 10:17, Lev 14:13, Lev 21:22, Num 1:9, Num 1:10, Num 18:9, Num 18:10, Neh 13:5
Reciprocal: Lev 5:6 – trespass offering Num 15:9 – a meat 1Ch 23:28 – for the service Eze 41:12 – separate Eze 42:1 – chamber Eze 42:10 – over against Eze 44:19 – they shall put
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 42:13. Holy chambers furnishes the key to the particular purpose of these parts of the great structure. They are regarded as holy because of what was to take place in them namely, the ritualistic services of the Mosaic religion.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Eze 42:13-14. The north chambers, and the south chambers Namely, those described in the foregoing part of the chapter; they be holy chambers, where the priests shall eat the most holy things The show- bread, the remainder of the meat-offering, sin-offering, and trespass- offering, are expressly called the most holy things, Lev 6:14; Lev 6:17; Lev 24:9; and are distinguished from the holy things, such as the peace- offerings, first-fruits, and tithes, Lev 21:22. These were to be eaten within the precincts of the temple, by the direction of the Levitical law. There shall they lay the most holy things These rooms were likewise set apart for laying up the remainder of the sacrifices, till they were eaten by the priests and their families, Lev 10:13; Lev 22:13. When the priests enter therein Within the inner court; then shall they not go out of the holy place, &c., but there they shall lay their garments, &c. They shall not go into the court of the people, in their priestly vestments, but shall lay them up in some of these chambers. The priestly garments were only to be used in the time of their ministration, as appears from Exo 28:43. And shall put on other garments, and shall approach, &c. The words should rather be translated, and shall come into the court belonging to the people; the outer court, mentioned at the beginning of the verse.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Ezekiel’s guide informed him that the rooms to the north and south of the "separate area" were for the priests to use when they ate the sacrifices that people brought to the temple. Under the Mosaic Law, the priests obtained parts of the burnt, grain, peace, sin, and trespass (guilt) offerings (Leviticus 6-7). In the future, priests will receive parts of the grain, sin, and trespass offerings at least. The priests would deposit the offerings in these rooms. They were also dressing rooms for the priests since they could not go from the "separate area" or the inner court into the outer court without changing their clothes. In view of this statement, there must be access into each of these two buildings from the "separate area" as well as from the outer court.
"The burden of the present account is to show that the holiness of sacred space extends beyond the concentric design of the temple complex to the form of the auxiliary structures and the conduct of humans within those structures. Again the proportions of sacred space are more important than the appearance of the buildings." [Note: Block, The Book . . . 48, p. 568.]