Ezekiel 44

Ezekiel 44:1

HE brought me] After he had brought mee through this gate into the inward court, Ezekiel 43:5. He made mee goe backe through the Easterne porch, whose outward gate went into the court of the people Of the outward Sanctuary] namely, by which they went out of the Priests court into the peoples court; Others, by the holy place do understand the whole circuit of the court of Gods people, seprated from that of the Gentiles, Ezekiel 42:20. and so this gate should be the first without all the Temple.

Ezekiel 44:2

The Lord] namely, The Angell which spake to mee, which was the everlasting Sonne of God This gate] To signifie, that onely the Sonne of God hath directly presented himselfe before God his father, by vertue of his owne merit, and righteousnesse, whereas men come; but as it were by collaterall and side doores: which were all towards the Altar, by vertue of the mediator, and through the benefit of his death, which is imputed to them by grace.

Ezekiel 44:3

For the Prince] namely, The chiefe Priest or the King, whereby we must meane Christ, who hath both the offices To eate] If this be referred to the high Priest, it must be understood of the meals made of the sacred flesh, Exodus 29:32. Lev. 8. 31. and 24. 9. if to the King; it must be understood, of the sacred feasts upon solemne festivall dayes, Deuteronomy 16:11; Deuteronomy 16:14. A figure of the fruition of glory which the Sonne of God hath in heaven through his sufferances. See Isaiah 53:11.

Ezekiel 44:5

The Ordinances] namely, The modell with all its dimensions & formes as I appoint thee.

Ezekiel 44:6

Let it suffice you] Yee have sinned enough: continue no longer therein, Ezekiel 45:1-25; Ezekiel 9:1-11. 1 Peter 4:3

Ezekiel 44:7

To be in my] To practice their Idolatries there. See 2 Kings 2. 3. 3. 7. 2 Chronicles 34:5 My Bread] My sacrifices, and especially the blood and the fat thereof; the use of which, was forbidden to men. See Lev. 3. 11. 16. 17. and 21. 8 And they have] the Italian, While they have] that is to say, At the same time, and in the same place you have done my outward service: and have likewise so practised your Idolatries by those strange Ministers, Ezek. 20. 39. and 43. 8.

Ezekiel 44:8

Your selves] Transgressing Gods Commandement concerning the vocation and calling of Aarons posteritie onely to be the sacred Ministers; who it is likely would not alwayes yeeld to the wills of their Idolatrous Kings and people. Whereupon they were degraded, and others put in their places, See 2 Chronicles 31:2.

Ezekiel 44:10

That are] See 2 Chron. 9. 4. 5.

Ezekiel 44:11

They shall] This is by figure taken from the example of Josias, 2 King. 23. 9. The meaning is, from Priests they shall be degraded to be plaine Levites, serving the Priests and the people, in the meanest offices belonging to Levites, of which; see 1 Chronicles 23:28-29. Whereby is meant the sanctification and re-establishment of all the Ministery of the Church.Ministers unto them] see 2 Chronicles 35:5; 2 Chronicles 35:13.

Ezekiel 44:12

Caused the house] They have beene the occasion of it, and an inducement thereunto, by meanes of their Idolatrie Lift up] that is to say, I have sworne.

Ezekiel 44:13

Holy things] See Lev. 2. 3. and 21. 22.

Ezekiel 44:14

Keepers] Which was one of the meanest Offices.

Ezekiel 44:15

The sonnes of] See 1 Chronicles 29:22. Ezekiel 43:19.

Ezekiel 44:16

My table] namely, The Altar, Ezekiel 41:22. Mal. 1. 7. 12.

Ezekiel 44:17

Whilest they minister] Especially in the act of sacrificing, in which the blood would sparkle upon their cloaths; for which cause they were forced to wash and whiten them often. For the other Priestly garments, which were died of divers colours, were no question wollen And within] namely, Within the Temple.

Ezekiel 44:18

With any thing that] the Itaian hath it, In the sweating places] namely, Under the arme pits, and under the flanks or sides; but about the middle of the body. This belongeth to the ceremoniall puritie, a figure of the spirituall.

Ezekiel 44:19

Shall not sanctifi.] All that touched any holy thing was consecrated, Exod. 29. 37. and 30. 29. Whereupon, if any of the people had touched these garments, he had been as it were gotten to God, and could not have returned to an ordinary course of life. And not being of the tribe of Levi; he could not have been imployed in Gods service: whereupon would have growne a grievous confusion. See Ezekiel 46:20.

Ezekiel 44:22

That hath had] which might fall out in two cases: namely, when the Priesthood did not passe from fa〈…〉er to sonne, but did fall into a collaterall line. And when one brother, a High Priest being dead without children; his brother succeeded him, with a right to marry his widow, for to raise posterity to him. Deuteronomy 27:5.

Ezekiel 44:28

I am their] that is to say, instead of inheritance, I have appointed mine offerings to them, and other rites, which I draw from my people, for a reward of the service which they do me. Numbers 18:20.