The ordinary priests and their service 44:4-14The emphasis on the holiness of God that has marked this vision continues strong in this pericope and the next. God’s holiness will determine who serves as priests and how they serve. read more
Ezekiel was to tell the rebellious Israelites that the Lord had had enough of all their abominations, particularly profaning His Jerusalem temple. They had brought unbelievers into the temple, and they had misused the food brought as sacrifices to Him. They had even appointed foreigners to take care of the temple instead of taking care of it themselves."The religions of the ancient Near East frequently used foreign captives as temple servants to aid the priests." [Note: Alexander, "Ezekiel," p.... read more
§ 2. The Ordinances of the New Israel (Ezekiel 40-48)This concluding section of the book is dated in the twenty-fifth year of Ezekiel's captivity, i.e. the fourteenth year after the fall of Jerusalem (572 b.c.). It is therefore thirteen years later than the previous section (Ezekiel 33-39), and, with the exception of Ezekiel 29:17-21, forms the latest part of the book. It is in the form of a vision, which is the counterpart of that in Ezekiel 8-11. There God forsook the old Temple which had... read more
The Priests and the LevitesStanding at the inner northern gate Ezekiel again saw the glory of God filling the Temple and was again addressed by the divine voice (Ezekiel 44:4-5). The Speaker first rebuked the custom which had prevailed in the old Temple, of having foreigners as servants in the sanctuary (Ezekiel 44:6-8). He directed that in future their place should be taken by the Lévites who were not of the family of Zadok. These had formerly shared the priestly office, but for their... read more
Ezekiel 44:6 Still I delayed to scorn and leave the bliss of earthly things.... Wretched, most wretched, I had begged chastity from Thee in my early youth, crying, 'Give me chastity, only not yet'. For I feared lest Thou shouldest hear me soon, and cure me soon of the disease of concupiscence, which I wished to have satisfied rather than extinguished. Augustine, Confessions, viii. 7. Ezekiel 44:13-14 The comparison thought, that profit accrues to a life by the wise memory of its past... read more
PRINCE AND PEOPLEEzekiel 44:1-31; Ezekiel 45:1-25; Ezekiel 46:1-24, PASSIMIT was remarked in a previous chapter that the "prince" of the closing vision appears to occupy a less exalted position than the Messianic king of chapter 34 or chapter 37. The grounds on which this impression rests require, however, to be carefully considered, if we are not to carry away a thoroughly false conception of the theocratic state foreshadowed by Ezekiel. It must not be supposed that the prince is a personage... read more
CHAPTER 44 1. The outward eastern gate for the prince (Ezekiel 44:1-3 ) 2. The charge concerning the strangers and the rebellious tribes (Ezekiel 44:4-14 ) 3. The charge concerning the priests, the sons of Zadok (Ezekiel 44:15-27 ) 4. The inheritance of the priests (Ezekiel 44:28-31 ) read more
THE CLOSE OF THE BOOK THE GATE OF THE PRINCE (Ezekiel 44:1-3 ) As the glory of Jehovah had entered this gate (Ezekiel 48:4-5 ), it must hereafter be closed for all but His representative the prince. This cannot mean the Messiah, because the prince requires a sin-offering. (Remember that sin will be suppressed in that day, but not yet extirpated.) Doubtless this prince is a future prince of the house of David. THE FUTURE PRIESTS AND LEVITES (Ezekiel 44:9-31 ) Ezekiel 44:9-14 show that... read more
God's Care of His Altar Eze 44:9-16 Is not this rather severe upon the stranger? The injunction does not rest upon the fact of the strangeness of the stranger, because in chapter Eze 47:22-23 there is a distinct provision for the stranger in Israel: "And it shall come to pass, that ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you, and to the strangers that sojourn among you, which shall beget children among you: and they shall be unto you as born in the country among the children of... read more
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E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ezekiel 44:6
rebellious . Hebrew rebellion, put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for rebellious people. the Lord GOD . Hebrew. Adonai Jehovah , See note on Ezekiel 2:4 . read more