Ezekiel 45:4 - Exposition

The holy portion of the land just defined ( Ezekiel 45:3 ) should be reserved for the priests the ministers of the sanctuary , i.e. of the inner court, who were privileged to draw near to Jehovah in altar ministrations (comp. Ezekiel 44:15 ; Exodus 28:43 ; Exodus 30:20 ; Numbers 16:5 , Numbers 16:40 ), as distinguished from the Levites, who were only" ministry of the house" ( Ezekiel 45:5 ), i.e. guardian, of the temple and assistants in its outer court services. As such this holy portion should serve the twofold purpose of providing- for the priests a place for their houses in which they might dwell, and an holy place for the sanctuary , in which they should minister.