Ezekiel 41

Ezekiel 41:1

TO the Temple] namely, the fore-part of the body or basilick of the Temple, correspondent to the ancient Tabernacle, Exodus 26:33 The breadth] from East to West, according to the thicknesse of the wall The Tabernacle] it seemes we must take this for the upper threshold or upper part of the doore which was square.

Ezekiel 41:2

The breadth] namely, the breadth of the doore way The sides] the Italian, The shoulders] namely, those two parts of wall which were of each side of the doore, from the doore to the sides of the house.

Ezekiel 41:3

He inward] the Italian addeth, into the inner part] namely, into the most holy place or Oracle, Exod. 26. 33. 1 King. 6. 19. which was in the very bottome or end of the Temple, towards the West, two cubites] namely, in breadth, according to the thicknesse of the wall, which divided the holy place from the most holy: The doore] namely, the breadth of the doore way, or entry of the doore The breadth of the] the Italian, and besides the breadth of the doore were seven cubites] that is to say, upon each side of the doore, to the sides of the house were seven cubites, which makes fourteen on both the sides, which joyned to the ix of the doore way, make the twenty cubites of the breadth of the Temple.

Ezekiel 41:4

Before the Temple] namely, the holy place.

Ezekiel 41:5

The wall] which wall, according to the manner of high buildings, was garnished with counterforts, or spurres to strengthen it Six cubites] namely, in thicknesse.

Ezekiel 41:6

Thirty in order] each counterfort did jet outwards, sixteen foot and a halfe: wherefore the two which were one against the other, did jet out two and thirty foot They enred] between each counterfort, there were certaine chambers, and the beames of these chamber-floores were laid upon certaine in-lets made upon the sides of the counterforts, and then all these spaces, together with the counterforts were inclosed, with a wall on the outside, which wall was garnished with pilasters, answerable to the counterforts, so that the length of the counterfort, served for a wall to the chambers, which chambers were to lay up the vessels of the holy treasures, 1 Chronicles 28:12. Nehem. 13. 4, 5.

Ezekiel 41:7

An enlarging] namely, a void space left within those counterforts, for a staire-case made snaile-fashion, whereby they went up to these three stories of chambers, which were between the two counterforts, in each of which there was a doore to goe from one chamber to the other, v. 11 To the side-chambers] namely, in two of the counterforts, which were at the head of the Temple towards the gate, whereof one was on the South-side, and the other on the North-side.

Ezekiel 41:8

The foundations] namely, those in-lets or mensolas upon which the beames of the chamber-floores were laid, were six and six cubites one from the other, drawing upwards, great cubites] that is to say, not common or naturall cubites, but as one should say, Geometricall cubites. See 2 Chronicles 3:3.

Ezekiel 41:9

The thicknesse] namely, the thicknesse of the wals, which inclosed all these chambers, and the counterforts And that which] namely, the space likewise which was between the counterforts, which was left for the chambers, was of five cubites, from the outside of the Temple to the wall of the chambers, v. 11.

Ezekiel 41:10

Between these chambers] namely, between these chambers which were joyned to the body of the Temple, and the chambers which were right over against them, over the porticoes round about the courts, there was a void space.

Ezekiel 41:11

The doores of] the counterforts of each side, namely, of the North and South side (under which is also comprehended the East side) had doores made in them to goe from the staire-case into the chambers, and from one chamber to the other, and the breadth] namely, from the wall of the Temple, to the wall which inclosed the counter-forts.

Ezekiel 41:12

The building] namely, this whole circuit of chambers and counterforts In the end towards] the Italian, on both sides towards] namely, from the North and South side, which by a direct line looked full Westward, was seventy] whereof sixty were the length of the body of the Temple, five the length of the chambers and counterforts, and five the thicknesse of the wall which inclosed them on the outside Broad] he cals the length so, compared with the height, which was of ninety cubites The length] that is to say, the height.

Ezekiel 41:13

The house] that is to say, comprehending all the parts and additions thereunto together, as the Portico, and the chambers, the dimensions whereof from East to West, being all put together, made up just one hundred cubites.

Ezekiel 41:14

Of the separate] It was a space correspondent in breadth to the other which was spoken of, v. 10 an hundred cubites] namely, in length from North to South.

Ezekiel 41:15

Of the building] namely, of those porticoes made with pilasters and arches, wherewith the inward court was incompassed Over against] namely, the place of twenty cubites, v. 10. which was in the middle, which was behind it] namely, towards the West, on the one side, and the] namely, towards the North and South, an hundred cubites, equall with the place, v. 14.The inner Temple] namely, which was in the middle of that court which was incompassed with pilasters and arches.

Ezekiel 41:16

The doore-postes] he seemes to meane the upper parts of the windowes On their three stories] For on the East side there was portall, but only a plaine inclosure of stone, which did separate the Priests court from the Temple floore, over against the] He seemes to meane the chambers which were between the counterforts, seeled with] namely, their seelings were made of Cedar wood, and not vaulted with stone From the ground] it seemes to be the flat roofe of these chambers which were about the Temple To the windowes] namely, of the body of the Church, covered] namely, there was a kinde of an out-jetting in the Temple-wall just over the windowes.

Ezekiel 41:17

Above the doore] the meaning is; this order was observed over the gate of the Temple, which was of the same height, as the three stories of chambers round about were. Now by these words of the Text, is meant the East side Even unto] namely, the whole Southerne and Northerne length The inner] he seemes to meane that this symmetrie of the windowes, was observed within side, as well as without side of the Temple.

Ezekiel 41:18

It was made] namely, upon the wals within side of the Temple With Cherubims] the wals of the Temple were covered over with Cedar boords, 1 King. 6. 18. and over them was woodden carved worke guilded, 1 King. 6. 20.

Ezekiel 41:20

Above the doore] which was the place for the windowes, v. 17.

Ezekiel 41:21

The Postes] that is to say, the forme and structure of the gate was made square, and not vaulted The face of the] namely, the doore of the sanctuary, had the same forme, order, and ornaments, as the Temple gate had, only there was some difference in the dimensions, 1 King. 6. 31, 33.

Ezekiel 41:22

The Altar] namely, of perfumes, which was within the Temple Of wood] as Exod. 30. 1. 1 King. 6. 20. covered over with plates of gold, 1 King. 7. 48 The corners] these were the square woodden posts, on which the boords were fastened, wherewith the Altar was made The length] Heb. superficies: it seemes to be the upper part or covering of this Altar, Exod. 30. 3. and 37. 26. in the midst of which there was a little grate, or some such other vessell to hold the fire over which the perfumes were made. Others understand it to be the upper part, and the bottome.

Ezekiel 41:25

Thicke plankes] namely, the heads of the beames of the portico, which was before the Temple, did jet out in the void space of the freeze, above the architrane, wrought in trigliphes, or modiglions, and mensolas, according to the ancient manner of architecture. In following ages the same forme hath been observed, but all hath been made of stone.

Ezekiel 41:26

On the sides of] namely, in the capitels of the pilasters, and of the fronts of this portall Thick plankes] namely, the heads of those beames which did jet out in the freeze, were wrought with the same palme worke as the capitels were, which worke was in stead of the foliadges which in after times were used for that purpose.