Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 41:26
And [there were] narrow windows and palm trees on the one side and on the other side, on the sides of the porch, and [upon] the side chambers of the house, and thick planks.
26. For narrow windows, closed. The “sides” (lit. shoulders) are the side walls of the porch, but whether the walls on both sides of the entrance be meant, or the end-walls (N. and S.), cannot be decided. There should be a full stop at porch. The next statement is incomplete: and the side-chambers of the house and the landings.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And there were narrow windows,…. See Eze 41:16:
and palm trees on the one side and on the other side, on the sides of the porch; upon the posts that were on each side the porch, north and south; Eze 40:16:
and upon the side chambers of the house, and thick planks; that is, there were palm trees upon the side chambers, which were in number thirty, Eze 41:6 and upon the planks also; every part of this fabric within and without were ornamented.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(26) Windows and palm trees.These have already been mentioned in connection with the gateways (Eze. 40:16), and are now further described as in the side chambers of the temple. The last word, translated thick planks, is very obscure. If it be the plural of the word used in Eze. 41:25, it would mean that the mouldings in front of the porches were also carved with palm trees.
It is to be observed that in these outer parts of the Temple only palm trees were used in the ornamentation, the cherubim being reserved for the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.
The description of the Temple proper is now finished, and it is noticeable how very little is said of its interior furniture and arrangements. There is no mention at all of that profuse overlaying with gold so characteristic of Solomons Temple; nothing is said of the candlestick, or the table of show-bread; even the ark itself, that climax of Israels symbolic worship, is not mentioned. The prophet seems to be looking forward to the time described by his contemporary, Jeremiah, when these outward symbols should be forgotten in the higher spiritual presence of the Lord: They shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD; neither shall it come to mind. . . . At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD, and all the nations shall be gathered unto it (Jer. 3:16-17).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Eze 41:26. And thick planks And upon the thick planks. Houbigant. That is to say, palm-trees, &c. were carved upon them.
REFLECTIONS.1st, The prophet is at last brought to the temple; for they who faithfully and perseveringly commit themselves to the divine guidance shall be brought to his eternal presence in the better temple above.
The door was vastly wide; the gospel opening a great door, and effectual to the faithful.
The chambers in the sides of the temple increased a cubit in breadth each story, which was taken out of the thickness of the wall. The higher we build for glory, the more enlarged will our hearts be with faith, and love, and heavenly-mindedness.
2nd, The temple itself was adorned with cherubims and palm-trees, alternately: but being carved on the wall, only two of the cherubs’ faces appeared. Every priest who looked thereon might learn what his duty required of him, to join the wisdom of the man to the courage of the lion; and he stood between two palm-trees, the ensigns of triumph, assured of victory over the powers of wickedness;the character of every faithful minister of the gospel.
The altar here was of wood; and no mention is made of the gold wherewith it was overlaid in the other temples: perhaps to intimate, that no more material fire or incense would be made use of, but the more grateful fire of love, and incense of prayer and praise. And it is called a table, the great sacrifice being once offered, we have only now to fear thereupon, and eat that flesh and drink that blood which give immortal life to the soul.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
REFLECTIONS
BLESSED Lord of thy Temple! how can I read this Chapter, and follow the Prophet’s steps whom thou art leading by the hand through the several apartments of thine house, without immediately connecting with the subject the very endearing characters and offices in which thou hast condescended to reveal thyself. Do I not behold thee, O thou unequalled pattern of excelling humbleness, as the gate and door to thy temple, thy fold? Didst thou not at thy Father’s call come up before all worlds, as the whole source of thy people’s salvation? And art thou not the one and only way of access, in grace here, and glory to all eternity? Can any enter, but by thee? And hast thou not promised that all that come to thee, thou wilt in no wise cast out? Oh! precious Jesus! stand, Lord, I beseech thee widely open, as those wide spreading doors the Prophet saw, that thy people may come like the troops of Teman, and fly as clouds, and as doves to their windows! Yea, precious Lord! as thy gracious invitations, and promises, and proclamations of mercy, are going forth to the East, and to the West, and to the North, and to the South; oh, dispose the souls of poor perishing sinners, to come to thy large, and wide spreading doors, and find access in and through thee, by one Spirit to the Father. Surely those blessed gates and ordinances to thee, like the gates of the New Jerusalem above, are never shut day nor night; for Jesus stands ready to receive all that come to God by him, and all that do come, thou hast graciously said, thou wilt in no wise cast out; Oh! Lord! make thy people willing in the day of thy power. Amen.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Eze 41:26 And [there were] narrow windows and palm trees on the one side and on the other side, on the sides of the porch, and [upon] the side chambers of the house, and thick planks.
Ver. 26. And thick planks, ] i.e., The heads or ends of thick beams or joists, supporting the rafters. We see what use there is of architecture, among other arts, in expounding Scripture. Vilalpandus saith he bestowed two and twenty years’ study upon this fabric of the temple here described.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Eze 41:16, Eze 40:16
Reciprocal: 1Ki 6:2 – the house 1Ki 6:4 – windows of narrow lights 1Ki 7:4 – windows 1Ki 7:36 – graved cherubims 1Ch 23:28 – for the service
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 41:26. The narrow urindows were the same kind of latticed or perforated spaces that we have observed, because there was no transparent material in use at that time. The thick planks is from a different original from that in the preceding verse, and means some boards suitable for a protective covering or projection over the windows.