Ezekiel 45:18 - Exposition

Thus saith the Lord God. The usual solemn introduction prefixed to Divine enactments (comp. Ezekiel 45:9 ; Ezekiel 43:19 ; Ezekiel 44:6 , Ezekiel 44:9 ; Ezekiel 46:1 , Ezekiel 46:16 ). In the first month, in the first day of the month (comp. Genesis 8:13 ). That the first month, Abib, was intended is apparent from Ezekiel 45:21 , compared with Exodus 12:2 ; Numbers 9:1 . Under the Mosaic Torah, the Passover began on the tenth day of the first month by the selection of a lamb ( Exodus 12:3-6 ), corresponding to which the great Day of Atonement in the seventh month fell upon the tenth day ( Leviticus 23:27 ). In the Torah of Ezekiel, the ceremonies introducing and leading up to the Passover should begin with the first day of the month, as under the Law the Feast of Trumpets on the first day of the seventh mouth practically began the solemnities which culminated in the Feast of Tabernacles. A young bullock without blemish should form the sacrificial offering on this first day of the year, according to the ordinance published by Ezekiel; that promulgated by the Hebrew lawgiver appointed for new moons generally, in addition to the burnt and meat offerings, a he-goat for a sin offering ( Numbers 28:15 ), and particularly for the first day of the seventh month, in addition to the regular burnt and meat offerings, one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs for a burnt offering, meat offerings of flour and oil for each of these animals, and a he-goat for a sin offering ( Numbers 29:2-6 ). The object for which the Mosaic offerings were presented was to make atonement for the worshippers; the Ezekelian sacrifices should stand in more immediate relation to the place of worship, and be designed to cleanse the sanctuary from such defilement, to be afterwards mentioned, as might be contracted from the presence in it of erring men (verse 20).