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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 44:17-31

God's priests must be regulars, not seculars; and therefore here are rules laid down for them to govern themselves by and due encouragement given them to live up to those rules. Directions are here given, I. Concerning their clothes; they must wear linen garments when they went in to minister or do any service in the inner court, or in the sanctuary, and nothing that was woollen, because it would cause sweat, Ezek. 44:17, 18. They must dress themselves cool, that they might go the more readily... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 44:28

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 F18 והיתה להם לנחלה "habebunt etiam hereditarium aliquid", Tigurine version. ; 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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 44:28

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... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 44:17-31

A good minister of Jesus Christ. What the faithful priest was under the Law, that the "good minister" is under Christ ( 1 Timothy 4:6 ). And while the form of service is altogether different, the spirit should be the same. The ideal priest, as here delineated, is, mutatis mutandis , the true bishop or pastor of the New Testament. The latter is— I. STUDIOUS OF HIS MASTER 'S WILL , EVEN IN SMALL PARTICULARS . The priest was to carry out very minute instructions... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 44:27-30

Substantial wealth. In every part of the world there is hunger, more or less, to possess land. By long observation men have discovered that to possess land is to possess influence and honor among their fellow-men. Is not land essential as the foundation of the harvest-crops? And are not crops of corn and fruit essential to the life of men? Is not agriculture the mainstay of a nation's well-being? Yet without land agriculture is impossible; is it not therefore reasonable that men should... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 44:28

The Authorized Version conveys the impression that the first portion of the priests' sustenance should be derived from the sin offering, which is not mentioned till the following verse. And it shall be unto them for an inheritance ought rather to be rendered, and there shall be to them (what shall be) for an inheritance ; or more simply, and they shall have an inheritance (Revised Version), which, it is next declared, as in the Law ( Numbers 18:20 ; Deuteronomy 10:9 ; ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 44:28

Taking God as an Inheritance. The priests were to have no share in the partition of the land. They were to be supported by means of the sacrificial offerings of the people; and in so living they were said to take God for their Inheritance. Viewing their position from the lowest point of view, we have the thought that they were dependent on what was dedicated to God, as their livelihood was derived from God's share of the produce of the land; a higher consideration would lead them to see... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 44:28

The Lord the Inheritance of his people. There was a special sense in which the Lord was the Inheritance of the Levites and priests among the sons of Israel. A provision was made for them to compensate them for the lack of a territory such as was apportioned to the other tribes. Jehovah himself undertook the care of those who ministered in his sanctuary; he was their Inheritance. This declaration is suggestive of a wider truth, viz. that God is the Portion and Inheritance of all his people.... read more

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