Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 40:7
And [every] little chamber [was] one reed long, and one reed broad; and between the little chambers [were] five cubits; and the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate within [was] one reed.
7. The guardrooms. Fig. 1 bb.
every little chamber was] And the guardroom was sing used collectively. These chambers were used as sentry-boxes or guard-rooms (1Ki 14:28), where the temple officers were stationed to preserve order and keep the house. Of these guardrooms there were three on each side of the gateway ( Eze 40:10). They were without doors towards the gateway inside, being merely protected on that side by a barrier or fence ( Eze 40:12), this allowing the keepers full view of the gateway. They were provided with windows ( Eze 40:16), and possibly at the back with doors leading into the outer court (cf. Eze 40:13). The measurements 6 cubits long and broad refer to the inner area.
between the little chambers ] Between the guardrooms was five cubits. Between two guardrooms a wall-front of five cubits faced the gateway. Of these wall-fronts there were only two, because the guardrooms were but three. Fig. 1, gh, ik.
threshold of the gate ] Beyond the three guardrooms and the two intervening wall-fronts there was another space called a threshold, of the same dimensions as the first ( Eze 40:6), leading into the large apartment called the porch ( Eze 40:9). Fig. 1, c.
porch of the gate within ] Or, toward the inside R.V., toward the house, though the correction is hardly necessary in syntax (Eze 41:25). The sense is the same in either case: the porch, fig. 1, d, of the outer gate lay at the inner end of the building, looking into the court, while the porch of the inner gates lay at the outer end of the gate-building.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 7. And every little chamber was one reed] These were the chambers of the buildings which were within the inclosure of the temple round the court, and these chambers appear to have been numerous. See the map, which has been carefully copied from that of Calmet.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Along the wall of the porch were chambers, three on one side and three on the other, Eze 40:10, of equal dimensions, each one reed square.
Five cubits, a space of two yards and one half, between each chamber, either filled with some neat posts or pillars, or it may be quite void, and nothing in them.
Within; the inward threshold as well as outward were of the same measures, and curiously arched over head from side to side, and end to end, which was from east to west.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7. chamberThese chambers werefor the use of the Levites who watched at the temple gates;guard-chambers (2Ki 22:4;1Ch 9:26; 1Ch 9:27);also used for storing utensils and musical instruments.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And every little chamber was one reed long, and one reed broad,…. The length and breadth were equal, three yards and a half long and broad; a perfect square. There were several of these little chambers or apartments in this building, at each of the gates, and in other places after mentioned; of these chambers which were in the gates of the courts; as there were also others, according to Kimchi, on the wall of the mountain of the house; Lipman x says there is no mention made of them in the building of the second temple: these design not the hearts of particular believers, where Christ has a place, takes up his residence, and takes his rest; nor the many mansions in Christ’s Father’s house in heaven, where the saints shall dwell with him to all eternity; but each of the congregated churches of Christ. The fabric described in this and the following chapters intends the Gospel church state in general; and these little chambers the several particular churches which will be set up in all parts of the world, east, west, north, and south. These may be called “chambers”, partly for their secrecy, 2Ki 6:12 here the Lord’s hidden ones are, who, though well known to him, are unknown to the world; here the secrets of God’s heart, of his love, grace, and covenant, are made known to his people; here Christ, whose name is secret, and the mysteries of his grace, are revealed to babes, while they are hid from the wise and prudent; and besides, the affairs of Christ’s churches should be kept secret, and not published to the world: and partly for safety; see 1Ki 20:30, church fellowship, the word and ordinances, being the means of strengthening faith, and preserving from apostasy; salvation is as walls and bulwarks to them; and the roof of them, which is Christ, see Eze 40:13, secures from all inclemencies, from the wind, storms, and tempests of divine wrath; he having bore it, and delivered from it; and from the scorching heat of persecution, and from all afflictions, as well as from the temptations of Satan, so as to be hurt and destroyed by either of them: likewise they may be called chambers, because quiet resting places, as well as secret, safe, and sure ones, Isa 32:18, these are the resting places of God, who has desired them, and dwells in them; and of Jesus Christ, where his rest is glorious, and where he gives spiritual rest to his people; and especially these will be such to the saints in the latter day, and great shall be the abundance of it: as also because of that communion and fellowship herein enjoyed, both among themselves, and with Father, Son, and Spirit; see So 1:4, to which may be added, that here souls are begotten and born again to Christ; these are the chambers in which they are conceived and brought forth, So 3:4, and these may be said to be “little” chambers, in comparison of the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which includes all the elect of God, and redeemed of the Lamb, a number which no man can number; as that is called little in comparison of the whole world, that lies in wickedness; and besides, those that dwell in these chambers are little and contemptible in the eyes of the world, as they are low and mean in their own eyes; even each less than the least of all saints: now these little chambers or churches are represented of an equal measure, denoting that they will be exactly according to the pattern of God’s word; will have the same officers, the same doctrines and ordinances, and the same laws and rules; and will be of equal authority, not having one more power than another, or one over another; but entirely independent of each other: and being foursquare, as the New Jerusalem is said to be, Re 21:16, may denote the perfection of them; that they will now be brought entirely to answer the rule of the word; and also the firmness and stability of them:
and between the little chambers were five cubits; not a wall five cubits thick, as the Targum; and so Jarchi and Kimchi interpret it y; but a space of five cubits, or of two yards and a half, one foot and three inches; so that these chambers were not contiguous; but a space was left between, which made them more airy; and by which means they had more of the benefit of the light, and heat of the sun, and afforded commodious places to walk in; all which shows the churches of Christ to be separate, distinct, and independent communities; and yet may have a communication with each other; as well as they all share the advantage of the light and heat of Christ the sun of righteousness rising on them:
and the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate within was one reed: or three yards and a half; this gate within was that which lay westward, and was nearer the temple; between which and the outer gate before mentioned was a porch, on both sides of which were little chambers; and the threshold or thresholds (one being put for both) were of the same dimensions with those of the thresholds of the other; and so point to the same things.
x Tzarath Beth Hamikdash, sect. 4. fol. 2. 1. y So Lipman. Tzurath Beth Hamikdash, sect. 4. fol. 2. 1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Eze 40:7 And [every] little chamber [was] one reed long, and one reed broad; and between the little chambers [were] five cubits; and the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate within [was] one reed.
Ver. 7. And every little chamber. ] Or, Porter’s lodge.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
little. This word may well be omitted.
within. Revised Version = toward the house.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Eze 42:5, 1Ki 6:5-10, 1Ch 9:26, 1Ch 23:28, 2Ch 3:9, 2Ch 31:11, Ezr 8:29, Jer 35:4
Reciprocal: Jer 35:2 – into one Eze 40:6 – one reed Eze 40:10 – the little Eze 40:13 – the gate Eze 40:15 – the face of the gate Eze 40:16 – the little Eze 40:21 – the little Eze 40:29 – the little Eze 40:44 – chambers
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 40:7. Again the unity of measurements was observed, that they were each one reed. There was a space of 5 cubits (a little less than one length of the reed) between the chambers or rooms, but each of the rooms themselves was one reed. Here is an instance where the thing described was mathematically impossible (consult the KEY), for the rooms in a building could not each be the same in size as the whole structure. But such a thing would be possible were the measurements being cheeked by a law of principles and not of material proportions, The point is that God does not have a “double standard in his dealings with mankind.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Each guardroom in the gate complex was a square one rod long and one rod wide (or six cubits by six cubits, 10 feet by 10 feet, Eze 40:12). There were six guardrooms, three on each side of the hallway through the gate complex (Eze 40:10). A wall five cubits thick separated the guardrooms on the same sides of the hallway from each other. Beyond these guardrooms there was another threshold that led to a large vestibule room. This threshold was the same size as the one at the other end of the passage, six cubits (10 feet) deep and 10 cubits (about 16 feet 8 inches) wide.