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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 42:1-14

The prophet has taken a very exact view of the temple and the buildings belonging to it, and is now brought again into the outer court, to observe the chambers that were in that square. I. Here is a description of these chambers, which (as that which went before) seems to us very perplexed and intricate, through our unacquaintedness with the Hebrew language and the rules of architecture at that time. We shall only observe, in general, 1. That about the temple, which was the place of public... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 42:5

Now the upper chambers were shorter ,.... The chambers were in three stories, as in the following verse, one above another; the middlemost were shorter than the lowermost, and the upper shorter than either; just the reverse of the chambers in Ezekiel 41:7 , they were not so high from the floor to the ceiling, nor so broad from side to side. The reason follows: for the galleries were higher than these ; or, "ate out of these" F23 יוכלו מהנה Keri, יאכלו "comedebant ex ipsis",... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 42:6

For they were in three stories ,.... Not only the galleries or posts, but the chambers; they were one over another; there were the lowermost, middlemost, and uppermost; which, as before, may denote the difference in churches, and the different states, conditions, and characters of those that are in them; some being fathers, others young men, and others little children: or their different offices and relations; some being pastors, others deacons, and others private members: or their knowledge... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 42:4-14

Separation and society. What did those "chambers" mean, of which we read so much in this vision? Their immediate use, as intimated to the prophet, is given in the thirteenth and fourteenth verses. They were for the personal accommodation of the priests; that they might there, in a place which was nowise profane but thoroughly holy, eat that part of the sacrifices which fell to their share; and that they might there robe and unrobe, so as to serve in sacred vestments and mingle with the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 42:5

The rendering of the Revised Version sufficiently explains this otherwise obscure verse, "Now the upper chambers were shorter," or narrower, "for the galleries took away from these;" literally, did eat of them , " more than from the lower and the middlemest in the building." In other words, the chambers rose in terrace form, each of the upper stories receding from that below it, as was customary in Babylonian architecture. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 42:6

supplies the reason for this shortening of the upper stories. The chambers had not pillars (see on Ezekiel 40:49 ) as the courts had. Though it is not otherwise stated, these appear to have had colonnades like these in the Herodian (Josephus, 'Aut.,' 15. 11. 5) and probably also the Solomonic temple ( Acts 3:11 ); and hence the second and third stories required to recede in order to find supports for their respective galleries. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 42:5

Render: “And the upper chambers were” shortened, for galleries took off from them, from “the lower” and from “the middle-most, chambers, of the building.” The building rose in terraces, as was usual in Babylonian architecture, and so each of the two upper stories receded from the one below it. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 42:6

The front of the higher stories was not supported on pillars, but there was a narrowing from “the lowest” (chambers) “and” from “the middlemost” (chambers) “from the ground.” read more

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