Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 46:12
Now when the prince shall prepare a voluntary burnt offering or peace offerings voluntarily unto the LORD, [one] shall then open him the gate that looketh toward the east, and he shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, as he did on the sabbath day: then he shall go forth; and after his going forth [one] shall shut the gate.
12. Regulation when the prince presents a free-will offering. The east (inner) gate shall be opened for him on such occasions as on the sabbaths and new moons. Cf. Lev 7:16, Eze 33:28; Num 15:3; Num 29:39; Deu 12:6; Amo 4:5.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
In Eze 46:2,4-7, orders were given about those offerings which were required, which the prince must offer; in this, direction is given about those that are free-will offerings, which in all points must be prepared as the other were on the sabbath day, which see in the forementioned verses.
One shall shut the gate; one of the priests porters; as the gate was opened for this service only on such a day, so, the service performed, some priests porter shall shut it, for it must not stand open on ordinary days. days.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
12-15. Not only is he to performofficial acts of worship on holy days and feasts, but in”voluntary” offerings daily he is to show his individualzeal, surpassing all his people in liberality, and so setting them aprincely example.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Now when the prince shall prepare a voluntary burnt offering, or peace offerings voluntarily unto the Lord,…. That is, on week days, distinct from sabbath days, new moons, feasts, and solemnities, of which before; and seems to have respect to week day lectures, in distinction from the weekly and monthly stated times, for the ministry of the word and administration of the Lord’s supper; in which lectures the principal thing insisted on must be the atoning sacrifice of Christ, and peace and reconciliation made by his blood; for the Gospel, which is to be preached in season and out of season, is the ministry of reconciliation, or the word preaching peace by Jesus Christ; and which should at all times be held forth, to the faith of God’s people; which is meant by the preparation of these offerings: and being voluntary ones show not only that Christ’s sacrifice was a willing one, and offered without any reluctance, with all readiness and cheerfulness; but also that week day lectures are voluntary things, which men are not under necessary obligation to attend unto, either ministers or people, but is a matter of free choice, as their circumstances will admit; and yet are acceptable to God, and agreeable to the will of Christ, the Prince, said to prepare these free will offerings:
one shall then open him the gate that looketh toward the east: the place where he stood and worshipped on the sabbath day; on the evening of which it was shut, and remained so the six days of the week,
Eze 46:1 only when it was the prince’s pleasure to offer a sacrifice, or to have the word preached, it was opened by one of the porters of the gates; or there was an open exercise of the ministry of the word, by one of the preachers of it:
and he shall prepare his burnt offerings, and his peace offerings, as he did on the sabbath day; the same doctrine, respecting the sacrifice and satisfaction of Christ, must be delivered at such times, as on Lord’s days:
then he shall go forth; and after his going forth one shall shut the gate; on the sabbath day, or the Lord’s day, it was not to be shut till the evening, because that day is wholly to be devoted to the service of God; men are not to find their own ways, nor do their own work, nor seek their own pleasure; but on week days, when the lecture is over, the gate is shut immediately, and persons may return to their worldly business directly.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(12) A voluntary burnt offering.One case in which the prince might present a sacrifice is yet unprovided for. He might offer, like any of the people, a voluntary sacrifice at any time, either a burnt offering or a peace offering. In this case he is still to enter by the east gate; but the gate, instead of standing open until evening, as on the Sabbaths and new moons, is to be immediately shut as soon as he retires after the completion of the sacrifice.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Freewill Offerings Offered by the Prince ( Eze 46:12 ).
“And when the prince shall prepare a freewill offering, a whole burnt offering or peace offerings as a freewill offering to Yahweh, one shall open for him the gate that looks towards the east, and he shall prepare his whole burnt offering and his peace offerings, as he does on the sabbath day. Then he shall go out, and after he goes out one shall shut the gate.”
Provision is here made for freewill offerings over and above the prescribed offerings and sacrifices, to be offered by the prince at any time. These were expressions of gratitude and love. They may sometimes be offered on behalf of the people or sometimes be personal, no differentiation is made. But to offer such offerings specific access can be obtained through the inner east gate. The gate will be opened specifically for the purpose, so that he can sufficiently prepare it, and then closed immediately after he leaves. It is a kind of private access arrangement. The gate is not then left open for the public to see through, and worship before, after he has left, although they may presumably attend for the offering itself.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Eze 46:12 Now when the prince shall prepare a voluntary burnt offering or peace offerings voluntarily unto the LORD, [one] shall then open him the gate that looketh toward the east, and he shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, as he did on the sabbath day: then he shall go forth; and after his going forth [one] shall shut the gate.
Ver. 12. A voluntary burnt offering one shall then open him the gate, &c.] Here is warrant for our week day lectures, a voluntary service well accepted; provided that afterwards one shut the gate, and men return to their honest labours.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
one. Supply the Ellipsis, “[the gatekeeper] shall”.
he shall prepare, &c. It will be the prince’s duty to offer for the nation. See notes on Eze 45:16, Eze 45:17, Eze 45:20, Eze 45:22.
as = according as.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
a voluntary: Lev 1:3, Lev 23:38, Num 29:39, 1Ki 3:4, 1Ch 29:21, 2Ch 5:6, 2Ch 7:5-7, 2Ch 29:31, Ezr 1:4, Ezr 3:5, Ezr 6:17, Rom 12:1, Eph 5:2
open him: Eze 46:1, Eze 46:2, Eze 46:8, Eze 44:3
as he did: Eze 45:17
Reciprocal: Lev 7:16 – a voluntary Lev 19:5 – a sacrifice 2Ki 16:15 – the king’s burnt 2Ch 31:3 – the king’s Eze 40:6 – unto Eze 46:5 – the meat
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 46:12. The law made a distinction between freewill or voluntary offerings and those specifically required. (See Lev 22:23; Num 15:3.) But the distinction did not exempt the worshiper from all restrictions as may be seen in this verse.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Eze 46:12-14. Now when the prince shall prepare a voluntary offering The foregoing verses gave directions about the sacrifices the prince was enjoined to offer upon solemn days; this gives directions concerning his free-will, or voluntary offerings, concerning which see Lev 22:18; Lev 22:21. Upon these occasions the eastern gate was to be opened for the prince; but then, as soon as the service was over, and he was gone out, the gate was to be shut, because that gate was not to stand open, but only on the sabbath and festival days. Thou shalt daily prepare The LXX. read, He shall prepare, or make, a burnt-offering, &c., as also all the ancient versions, except the Chaldee. He shall prepare it every morning The daily evening sacrifice is generally supposed to be here implied, according to the prescription of the law, Num 28:3. The sixth part of an ephah, &c. In Num 28:5, the proportion required is the tenth part of an ephah, and the fourth part of a hin of oil. By a perpetual ordinance unto the Lord The law of the passover is called a perpetual ordinance, Exo 12:17; and likewise the ordinances about the first- fruits. Lev 23:14. The Hebrew word, , is used in each of these places; but it does not always denote perpetuity in a strict sense, but only a long period, or succession of time.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
When the prince brought a voluntary offering to the temple on other days, either a burnt or peace offering, the priests should open the east inner gate for him to use and close it after he departed from this gate complex.