Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 46:2
And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of [that] gate without, and shall stand by the post of the gate, and the priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate: then he shall go forth; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening.
2. porch of that gate without ] porch of the gate without. It is difficult to decide whether “without” describes porch or gate. If porch, then the porch of the inner gate is meant, which lay “without,” i.e. towards the outer court (Eze 40:31; Eze 40:34; Eze 40:37). If “without” refers to gate, then the porch of the outer gate is meant. In the latter case the prince would cross the outer court from the porch of the outer gate and enter the inner gate, cf. Eze 44:3. Neither is it certain whether the “posts” and “threshold” are those at the outer end of the inner gate, or those at the end opening into the inner court. The technical “threshold” lay at the inner end, inasmuch as the inner gate was the outer gate reversed (Eze 40:6). It is possible that the prince was allowed to enter the inner gateway and advance to the inner end of it so as to have a full view of the operations of the priests at the altar, without, however, being permitted to set his foot in the inner court. In this case “porch” would be that of the inner gate (as A.V.).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
In the time of Solomon, priest, king, and people each took his due part in the temple-service. Of the later kings some forsook Yahweh for false gods, some encroached upon the prerogative of the priest. Now all should be set right. The prince occupies a position analogous to that of Solomon 2Ch 6:12-13, standing in front of the porch of the eastern gate of the inner court, and at the head of his people to lead their worship, while the priests are sacrificing before him.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
The prince must come in at the gate which is between the court of the Jews and the court of the priests, which is here called the
gate without, or the outer gate of that court, and so go up to the gate within, which leads into the inmost court, and rose by ten, or twelve, or fifteen stairs, say some. While this solemn service was acting to make atonement for the prince, or to offer sacrifices of peace.offerings for himself, he is directed
to stand before the Lord; in other cases he might sit: the greatest should revere that God whose mercy they need and seek.
By the post; one of the inward posts, where he might best see the sacrifice offered up, but may not go into the court; none might go in but such as were, by Gods appointment, to minister before him.
The priests shall prepare: Eze 46:22-24, it is said the prince shall prepare; here the priests must prepare; but these places speak of different preparations: the prince prepared by buying, or bringing of his own the best for sacrifice; the priest prepared by receiving, bringing the sacrifice to the altar, slaying and disposing of all things according to the rule. The householder prepares, so doth his cook prepare the feast, so that each prepares what is proper to him; and so it is here, the prince prepares, but doth not sacrifice, the priest prepares, but doth not buy, or bring the sacrifices.
He shall worship; he shall bow (as the Hebrew) himself: it is a praying posture, Exo 12:27, in which duty the prince, as all others, are to attend on God, while the expiatory sacrifice is offering, while their reconciliation is to be made; and in which posture the prince is to be all the while the priest is offering, 2Ch 29:29.
At the threshold: here he took his standing in the beginning of the service, here he is when it is finished; at the inner threshold of the gate, where his eye might see enough; if his understanding were enlightened with knowledge of these mysteries, he need not approach nearer to God than his faith could now carry him while at the threshold.
Then he shall go forth; not stay to gaze or talk; but as he came to worship, so having worshipped he must return. Until the evening; till all the sacrifices were offered, and the offerers reconciled; now each offerer was to bring his offering to this gate, and there give it to the priest, and there lay his hands oil the head of the sacrifice, Lev 1:3,4.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. The prince is to go throughthe east gate without (open on the Sabbath only, to mark its peculiarsanctity) to the entrance of the gate of the inner court; he is to gono further, but “stand by the post” (compare 1Ki 8:14;1Ki 8:22, Solomon standing beforethe altar of the Lord in the presence of the congregation; also2Ki 11:14; 2Ki 23:3,”by a pillar”: the customary place), the court withinbelonging exclusively to the priests. There, as representative of thepeople, in a peculiarly near relation to God, he is to present hisofferings to Jehovah, while at a greater distance, the people are tostand worshipping at the outer gate of the same entrance. Theofferings on Sabbaths are larger than those of the Mosaic law, toimply that the worship of God is to be conducted by the prince andpeople in a more munificent spirit of self-sacrificing liberalitythan formerly.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate without,…. That is, by the way of the porch of the eastern gate, even the outermost gate of the porch; for, as every gate had a porch, so every porch had two gates, one at one end, and the other at the other; now this was the outermost gate of the porch, which looked to the outward court, and not that which led into the inner:
and shall stand by the post of the gate; this denotes the presence of Christ, the Prince with his people waiting at Wisdom’s gate, and watching at the posts of her door. The allusion seems to be to the king’s pillar in the temple, where he used to stand, 2Ch 23:13. Some understand this of Christ’s incarnation, of his entrance into the world, and his standing before his Father, and praying for his people, as he did in the garden, and a little before his death, as recorded
Joh 17:1.
and the priests shall prepare his burnt offerings, and his peace offerings; that is, shall offer them. The meaning is, that the ministers shall preach Christ and him crucified, who, by his sacrifice, has made atonement for sin, and peace for his people; though some interpret this of the concern the priests had in the crucifixion and death of Christ:
and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate; of the other gate that led into the inner court, and where he could see all that was done in it: or bow i; which it is observed he did, when he fell prostrate in the garden, and when he expired on the cross, and was at the threshold of the gate of heaven launching into eternity: worship and adoration, or bowing, be ascribed to Christ as man; see Joh 4:22:
then shall he go forth; out of this world to his Father, and be seen no more, until the restitution of all things; though this and the preceding may be understood of Christ’s mystical worshipping; or of his people, who are one with him; and of their departure from public worship, when it is over:
but the gate shall not be shut until the evening; of the sabbath, or new moon; or the evening of the world, the second coming of Christ; the Gospel ministry and ordinances will continue till then, and no longer; and this is owing to his powerful and prevalent intercession in heaven, whither he is gone then the door will be shut, and not before,
Mt 25:10.
i “incurvaverit se”, Junius Tremellius, Polanus “incurvato se”, Piscator.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(2) Stand by the post of the gate.The prince shall enter the sanctuary by the east gate of the outer court, pass through that court to the inner gate, and worship at the threshold of the gate immediately adjoining the inner court, while the priests make ready his sacrifices. But he is not to enter the inner court, or to assume any priestly functions. Afterwards he is to go forth by the same way (Eze. 46:8, and Eze. 44:3), and the gate stands open until evening, though no one else is to enter thereby.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Eze 46:2. The prince shall enter, &c. It is observable, that Ezekiel never calls this future ruler of the Jews a king; whereby alone those interpreters are condemned who have explained that of Zerubbabel, which was foretold by the other prophets of the king, the son of David, hereafter to reign; when they would have that said of Zerubbabel, which the prophets had foretold of the Messiah. Houbigant.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Eze 46:2 And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of [that] gate without, and shall stand by the post of the gate, and the priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate: then he shall go forth; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening.
Ver. 2. And shall stand by the post of the gate. ] Waiting at the posts of the gates of wisdom. Pro 8:34 Constantine the Great stood up constantly at the time of God’s public worship for honour sake. So did our Edward VI.
Then he shall go forth.
But the gate shall not be shut until the evening.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
his: i.e. the prince, who offers for the nation. See notes above, on Eze 45:16, Eze 45:17, Eze 45:20, Eze 45:22.
burnt offering. App-43.
peace offerings. App-43.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the porch: Joh 10:1-3
by the post: Eze 46:8, Eze 44:3, 2Ch 23:13, 2Ch 34:31
the priests: Col 1:28
prepare: Or, “offer,” as the word asah frequently denotes. The whole of this seems to intimate the constant, reverential, and exemplary attendance of kings on the pure ordinances of religion, in the approaching flourishing days of the church.
he shall worship: 1Ki 8:22, 1Ki 8:23, 1Ch 17:16, 1Ch 29:10-12, 2Ch 6:13, 2Ch 29:29, Mat 26:39, Heb 5:7, Heb 5:8
but the gate: Eze 46:12
Reciprocal: Lev 19:5 – a sacrifice 1Ki 10:5 – cupbearers 2Ki 11:5 – the watch 2Ki 16:18 – the covert 1Ch 9:18 – the king’s 2Ch 9:4 – ascent 2Ch 23:5 – the king’s house Eze 40:6 – threshold Eze 40:19 – unto the
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 46:2. Sometimes the prince may be also the priest since the word has a general meaning. But both names are used in this place which leaves the first to mean a ruler or other outstanding man among the Jews. He will be required to make offerings for the Lord’s service and the priest will be the one to preside at the altar.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Eze 46:2-3. The prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate without The prince shall go through the outer gate of that court, and so pass to the inner gate, where he may see the whole service performed at the altar. And shall stand by the post of the gate That is, by the entrance of the gate, where there was a seat prepared for him: see note on Eze 44:2. And the priests shall prepare his burnt-offering Or, offer his burnt-offering, as the original word often signifies. And he shall worship at the threshold of the gate By bowing his head, bowing down his face to the ground, or falling down upon the ground, as the posture of divine worship is elsewhere described. But the gate shall not be shut until the evening Because the people were to pay their solemn worship in the same place, as is prescribed in the following verse. Likewise the people shall worship at the door of this gate Here the inner porch of the east gate is assigned for their station, who came to present themselves before the Lord upon the solemn festivals, and they were to come no further into the inner court.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
On these special days, the prince would lead the people in worship. He would enter the inner east gate complex and stand in its vestibule. Evidently he will not be able to enter the inner court because he will not be a priest (cf. Num 28:3-8), but he will be able to view the inner court and the altar from the doorway at the western end of the gate complex. The vestibule would be the site of his worship as he presented his burnt and peace offerings (symbolizing his personal dedication and his gratitude for God’s fellowship respectively). After he finished worshipping, he would depart from that gate into the outer court, but the gate would remain open until the evening.