Ezekiel 40:16 - Exposition

And there were narrow (Hebrew, closed ) windows , probably of lattice-work, so fixed as to prevent either egress or ingress. That these "windows" ( חַלּ וֹנוֹת , so called from being perforated) were intended to impart light to the gateway, either in whole or in part, is apparent, though it is difficult to form a clear idea of how they were situated. They were in the chambers, and in their posts and in the arches, or colonnades . In the chambers, or "lodges," they were most likely in the back walls, and in or near the posts, or pillars, belonging to the doors of these chambers, the clause, "and in their posts," being regarded as epexegetic of the preceding, and designed to furnish a more precise explanation of the particular part of the guard-room in which the windows were. Similar windows existed in the Solomonic temple ( 1 Kings 6:4 ). The "arches," or "colonnades" ( אֵלַ מּיִת ), were probably wall-projections on the sides of the chambers, to that light was admitted from three sides.

Thus to one standing within, the whole gateway appeared studded round and round with windows. The description of the gate closes with the statement that upon each post were palm trees, which may signify either that the shaft was fashioned like a palm tree, as is sometimes seen in ancient buildings in the East (Dr. Currey, Plumptre) or that it was ornamented with representations of palm branches or palm trees (Keil, Ewald, Kliefoth). Hengstenberg's idea, that "whole palms beside the pillars are meant," is favored by Smend, who cites, in addition to Ezekiel 40:26 , Ezekiel 41:18 , etc; and 1 Kings 6:29 ; 1 Kings 7:36 .