Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 44:28
And it shall be unto them for an inheritance: I [am] their inheritance: and ye shall give them no possession in Israel: I [am] their possession.
28. it shall be inheritance ] This cannot refer to the sin-offering ( Eze 44:27), which was burnt entire outside the sanctuary. To translate: This shall be their inheritance (viz.) I am their inheritance, making the words “I am” &c. subject is too artificial. The balance of sentence seems to require, they shall have no inheritance, I am &c., corresponding to the second half of the verse. So Vulg., cf. Num 18:20; Deu 10:9; Deu 18:1-2; Jos 13:14 &c.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
28 31. The maintenance of the priest. He shall have no inheritance among the people: the Lord is his inheritance. He shall eat the meat-offering, the sin- and trespass-offering; everything put to the ban shall be his, and the best of all the first-fruits and of all the dues.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Eze 44:28
I am their inheritance.
God an inheritance
We possess God as the flower the sunlight; as a babe the mother. All His resources are placed at our disposal. The seed cast into the ground immediately begins to take from earth and air the nutriment of its life, and we have the same power of deriving from the infinite fulness of God all that shall make us pure and strong and gentle. Ours are the unsearchable riches of Christ; we are made full through the fulness which God the Father has been pleased to make dwell in Him. All the resources which have been placed at His disposal in His ascension and eternal reign are gifts which He holds for men. Alas for us that we fail to possess our possessions! (F. B. Meyer, B. A.)
God the portion of the people
Christ is all in all to His people. He is all their strength, wisdom, and righteousness. They are but the clouds irradiated by the sun, and bathed in its brightness. He is the light which flames in their grey mist and turns it to a glory. They are but the belt and cranks and wheels; He is the power. They are but the channel, muddy and dry; He is the flashing life which fills it and makes it a joy. They are the body; He is the Soul dwelling in every part to save it from corruption and give movement and warmth.
Thou art the organ, whose full breath is thunder;
I am the keys, beneath Thy fingers pressed.
(A. Maclaren, D. D.).
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 28. I am their inheritance] Those who affect to form their ecclesiastical matters on the model of the Jewish Church have with one consent left this out of the question. They will not live on the free-will offerings of the people; but must have vast revenues, and these secured to them by law. That every minister of God should be supported by the altar I grant; but I think, instead of that method of paying the parochial clergy which I see is so much objected to, and breeds so much dissension between the pastors and their flocks, it would be better, on these accounts, to assign them a portion of land adequate to their supply, or let the state maintain them as it does its other officers. In Israel God was their inheritance and their possession; but they had the breast and shoulder of all sin-offerings and trespass-offerings, and all dedicated things were theirs; and they had a portion of all the dough that was prepared for bread. These were considered as the Lord’s property, and these he gave to them; and this is always implied in the Lord’s being their inheritance and their possession. They had a plentiful support.
Hitherto tithes have been thought the best mode of paying the clergy, and providing for the poor of each parish; but these matters have undergone such alterations since the time of their institution, that some emendation of the system is at present absolutely necessary.
There should be a public acknowledgment of God in every nation, and this should be provided for by the state in a way the least burdensome to the people, that all may rejoice in the benefit. Happy the nations that have a Bible so correct, and a Liturgy so pure, as those in the British empire! In such cases, a religion established by the state is an unutterable blessing to the nation; only keep it to the Bible, and to the Liturgy, and all, under God, will be well; but when the sermon is against these, all is bad.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Sin-offering being mentioned immediately before, gives the occasion of repeating the provision made for the priests, for under this one all other offerings are couched; and if the Lord do so expressly require a defiled priest to bring his sin-offering, in which the ministering priests had their share, he would expect the same of all Israel, which would amount to a great sum.
For an inheritance, instead of lands and cities.
I am their inheritance; God is the inheritance of all his people, but especially of his priests; and so what is given to God, by him is assigned to his officers.
Ye shall give them no possession, as the rest of the tribes had.
I am their possession; the peculiar blessing of God on them, and their share in his offerings, was a very rich possession.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
28. I am their inheritance(Num 18:20; Deu 10:9;Deu 18:1; Jos 13:14;Jos 13:32).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And it shall be unto them for an inheritance,…. Either the sin offering, or the priesthood, and the perquisites belonging to it: or,
they shall have an inheritance r; but what shall it be? God himself:
I am their inheritance; the Lord is the portion and inheritance of his people, who are made priests unto him, whether in a private or public capacity; they are heirs of God, he is their portion in the land of the living, and forever: God in all his perfections is theirs; and though incommunicable, they have the use and advantage of them, so far as they are capable and stand in need of them; as his eternity, immutability, omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, grace, mercy, goodness, truth, and faithfulness: he is theirs in all his persons; God the Father is their covenant God and Father; the Son of God is their Head and Husband, their Saviour and Redeemer, Mediator and Peacemaker, their Prophet, Priest, and King; his blood, righteousness, sacrifice, and faithfulness, theirs, and even all that he is and has: the Spirit of God is their convincer and enlightener, their quickener and sanctifier; their Comforter, and the Spirit of adoption to them, the seal and earnest of their future glory; and God under every character is theirs, as the God of nature and providence, and as the God of all grace; and this is an inheritance rich and large, a soul satisfying portion, an inconceivable and an inexhaustible one.
And ye shall give them no possession in Israel; so the priests and Levites had none under the law, but were provided for in another way,
Nu 18:20, the Lord’s people and priests, under the Gospel dispensation, for the most part are the poor of this world, who have no share in the possessions of it; their good things are not here, but in the world to come, and in God himself: “I am their possession”; the Lord is enjoyed by them now; his love is shed abroad in their hearts; they have fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ, and communion with the Holy Ghost; and which is infinitely better than all the possessions of this world; and besides, provision is made for their outward maintenance, as follows:
r “habebunt etiam hereditarium aliquid”, Tigurine version.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
4. The provision for the Zadokite priests (44:2831)
TRANSLATION
(28) And they shall have an inheritance: I am their inheritance; and you shall give them no possession in Israel; I am their possession. (29) They shall eat the meal-offering, and the sin-offering, and the trespass-offering; and every devoted thing in Israel shall be theirs. (30) And the first of all the first-fruits of every thing, and every oblation of every thing, of all your oblations, shall be for the priest: you shall also give unto the priests the first of your dough, to cause a blessing to rest on your house. (31) The priests shall not eat of any thing that dies of itself, or is torn, whether it be bird or beast.
COMMENTS
Whereas other tribes received their inheritance in land tracts, the priesthood itself was the inheritance of the Zadokites. Spiritual privilege is greater blessing than material possession. The priests received a portion of the meal-, sin-, and guilt-offerings for their daily maintenance. Every devoted thing (cherem) any property consecrated to God belonged to the priests (Eze. 44:29). The first fruits of the land a token portion of the crop belonged to them.[524] The heave-offering was the priests portion of first-born clean animals which were killed and sacrificed to God. The first cakes baked with the grain from the threshingfloor were also to be given to the priests (cf. Num. 15:20). Those who were faithful in presenting these offerings to the priests would receive a special blessing (Eze. 44:30; cf. Mal. 3:10). Appended to the list of that which priests could eat is a prohibition. No Israelite could eat any animal which died a natural death or which had been killed by wild beasts (cf. Exo. 22:30; Lev. 7:24; Deu. 14:21). It is not clear why the regulation is repeated here in connection with the priests (Eze. 44:31).
[524] Cf. Deu. 8:8 and Num. 18:13.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(28) I am their inheritance.This is a simple repetition of the frequent declarations in the law (Num. 18:20; Deu. 10:9; Deu. 18:2); the priests were to be supported by the tithes given to God, and by their portion of the offerings made to Him. These are here summarily mentioned in Eze. 44:28-29, and may be found more particularly described, as regards the priests share of the meat, sin, and trespass offerings, in Lev. 2:3; Lev. 6:25; Lev. 6:29; Lev. 7:6-7; the devoted field, Lev. 27:21; the first-fruits, Exo. 23:19; Exo. 34:26; Num. 18:13; Deu. 18:4; and for the special heave offerings, Num. 15:19-21; Num. 18:19. As it was not inconsistent with these provisions that the priests should also have assigned to them cities for residence, with their suburbs for pasturage, so these gifts are not now excluded by the fact that the priests should possess the oblation of land (Eze. 45:1-5), although their portion is thereby greatly increased.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
28. By a slight change read, with Toy, “They shall have no inheritance: I am their Inheritance.” This is a great utterance. (See Num 18:20; Deu 10:9; Deu 18:2; Jos 13:33.)
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“And they will have an inheritance (literally ‘it will be to them for an inheritance’). I am their inheritance. And you will give them no property holding in Israel. I am their property holding.”
The opening phrase would seem to mean that by their observance of all these things they would gain a special inheritance, an inheritance as the chosen of Yahweh and indeed the inheritance of Yahweh Himself. Yahweh would be all that they needed. Those who totally dedicate themselves to God will not lose their reward. The Lord will provide for them and they will gain a better one (compare Mat 19:29). Therefore they look for no earthly possessions. Would that modern preachers all recognised the same principles. It would prevent many obscene displays of wealth. There is nothing more dishonouring to God than a preacher displaying excessive wealth.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Eze 44:28. And it shall be unto them, &c. Houbigant very properly, after the Vulgate, reads, And they shall have no inheritance; agreeably to what follows.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
I pray the Reader not to overlook the abundant grace of our adorable Jesus in what is here said, that he is the inheritance, and he is the possession of his people. Twice it is repeated in one verse; as if the Lord would have the impression of it not to pass away from their minds. If the Reader observes, as I hope he doth observe, that when this is said, it is said in peculiar reference to the Lord’s priests; I cheerfully acquiesce in the same; but I beg the Reader no less to remember, that all God’s people are said to be a nation of priests to the Lord. And in Jesus Church, He hath made all his redeemed, both Kings and Priests, to God and the Father, by his blood. Pray turn to those sweet scriptures in confirmation. Exo 19:3-6 ; 1Pe 2:9 ; Rev 5:9-10Rev 5:9-10 ; Gal 3:27-29 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Eze 44:28 And it shall be unto them for an inheritance: I [am] their inheritance: and ye shall give them no possession in Israel: I [am] their possession.
Ver. 28. And it shall be, &c. ] This that followeth shall be their inheritance, Eze 44:29-31 and whatsoever they want more shall be made up in me.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Eze 44:28-31
28And it shall be with regard to an inheritance for them, that I am their inheritance; and you shall give them no possession in Israel I am their possession. 29They shall eat the grain offering, the sin offering and the guilt offering; and every devoted thing in Israel shall be theirs. 30The first of all the first fruits of every kind and every contribution of every kind, from all your contributions, shall be for the priests; you shall also give to the priest the first of your dough to cause a blessing to rest on your house. 31The priests shall not eat any bird or beast that has died a natural death or has been torn to pieces.
Eze 44:28 I am their inheritance The priests and Levites did not receive a part of the original land allotment (cf. Joshua 12-19), only special cities (cf. Joshua 20-21). They were to serve YHWH and trust Him for their provisions. He was their inheritance (cf. Num 18:20; Deu 10:9; Deu 18:1-2; Jos 13:14; Jos 13:33).
Eze 44:29 The regulations are first stated in Lev 5:14 to Lev 6:7; Lev 7:1-7.
SPECIAL TOPIC: SACRIFICIAL SYSTEMS OF THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST
Eze 44:30 the first of all This offering is described in Num 18:12; 2Ch 31:4-6; Neh 10:35-37. It was a tangible way of thanking God for the bountiful produce of the land. It symbolized His ownership of the land and His control of its fertility.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
I am their inheritance. Reference to Pentateuch (Num 18:20. Deu 10:9; Deu 18:1, Deu 18:2). App-92.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
I am their inheritance: Eze 45:4, Eze 48:9-11, Num 18:20, Deu 10:9, Deu 18:1, Deu 18:2, Jos 13:14, Jos 13:33, 1Pe 5:2-4
Reciprocal: Lev 6:26 – priest Eze 48:10 – for the priests
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Verse 28. Be unto them for an inheritance. The Levites were not given possessions of estates as were the other tribes, because they were to be employed in the services around the house of God. I am their inheritance means that instead of having land from which to obtain a living, they would be cared for by the Lord through the provisions of that service which He required of them. (See 1Co 9:13.)
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Eze 44:28-30. It shall be unto them for an inheritance, &c. Their ministry in my sanctuary, and the perquisites thereto belonging, shall be to them instead of lands and inheritances, of which they shall not have any share, as the other tribes have, (see the margins) excepting the portion allotted to them in the beginning of the following chapter. They shall eat the meat-offering, &c. They shall have their share of them, after the part dedicated to God has been consumed upon the altar. And every dedicated thing shall be theirs Whatsoever men dedicate to God, the use of it shall accrue to the priests; if it be a living creature, it shall be killed, and the priests shall have the benefit of it; if a piece of land, it shall belong to the priests: see the margin. And the first of all the first-fruits, &c. The word , translated first-fruits, signifies the first ripe, or best of the fruits, while they were growing in the field: see the margin. The latter word, , rendered oblation, denotes an offering out of the product of the ground after it was made fit for use; as out of the corn, after it was threshed and laid in heaps in the floor or granary; and so of oil and wine, after they were pressed and fitted to be used. Ye shall also give unto the priests the first of your dough The first dough that you bake of the new corn every year, in the same proportion as in other first-fruits. That he may cause a blessing to rest on thy house That the priest, whose office it is to bless the people in Gods name, may pray for and bless thee and thy family. Observe, reader, it is all in all to the comfort of any house to have the blessing of God upon it, and that blessing to rest in it; to dwell where we dwell, and to extend to those that shall come after us. And the way to have the blessing of God upon our estates is, to honour God with them, and to give him and his ministers, him and his poor, their share out of them. God blesses, he surely blesses, the habitation of those who are thus just, or righteous, Pro 3:33; and ministers, by instructing and praying for the families that are kind to them, should do their part toward causing Gods blessing to rest there.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Eze 44:28-31. The Priests. (Their revenues.)Certain offerings are to be the perquisites of the priests, alsoas they are the representatives of the Deitythe best of the first-fruits. Formerly the sin-offering and the guilt-offering had been paid to them in money (2Ki 12:16). The welfare of the people would depend upon their fidelity to the claims of the priests. The restrictions in Eze 44:31 had formerly applied to all the people (Exo 22:31). (In Eze 44:28 for an read no.)
Fuente: Peake’s Commentary on the Bible
These priests would receive no other inheritance in the land but the privilege of serving the Lord in the special ways that He permitted. The Lord would designate a portion of the land in which they would live (Eze 45:4; Eze 48:10-11), but this was not their inheritance. The perquisites of this inheritance would include the privilege of eating parts of the best grains and animals that the people brought to the Lord as sacrifices (cf. Deu 25:4; 1Co 9:9-12; 1Ti 5:18). Everything that the people would bring as offerings to the Lord would go to them. These were "devoted" (Heb. herem) things, things given that the offerer could not redeem (buy back; cf. Lev 27:21; Lev 27:28; Num 18:14).