Ezekiel 40:42

Eze 40:42 And the four tables [were] of hewn stone for the burnt offering, of a cubit and an half long, and a cubit and an half broad, and one cubit high: whereupon also they laid the instruments wherewith they slew the burnt offering and the sacrifice.

Ver. 42. Wherewith they slew the burnt offering.] The faithful ministers of the do daily execute their priestly offices, and have their instruments according. See Act 10:13 Rom 15:15-16 Php 2:17. The saints also, as spiritual priests, &c. {Rom 12:1 1Pe 2:9}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

42. Read: and there were four tables for the burnt offering, of hewn stone. The phrase “for the burnt offering” is very indefinite. These stone tables seem too small to slay the offerings upon, and the end of the verse intimates that instruments for slaughtering were laid on the stone tables.

whereupon also they laid] whereupon they laid. The construction is peculiar.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And he said unto me,.... The illustrious Person that appeared in a human form, measuring the several parts of the temple, said to the prophet, as follows:

this chamber, whose prospect is toward the south; the row of chambers that were on the side of the north gate, facing the south:

is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house; that observe the keeping of it; observe all the laws and ordinances of God's house, and are careful that the worship of God may be maintained and preserved, to his glory, and their mutual edification: and which is, or should be, the concern, not of ministers only, but of all true believers, who are priests unto God; that present their bodies and souls before him, as a holy, living, and acceptable sacrifice, which is their reasonable service; and offer up the spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise to him, through Christ, Rev 1:6.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Omit “the” and “were.” These “four tables” are not the same as those mentioned before. The eight tables (T) were for slaying and preparing the victims, and were probably of wood, these (S) were of “hewn stone.” There may be in the number twelve a reference to the twelve tribes of Israel.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

The four tables; each four tables, for the prophet speaks of all eight, but names them four, because they were coupled so one four on the one side and the other four on the other side.

Hewn stone: it is not likely these were mean, worthless stones, but either best marble, or else some stone better than marble, and they are exactly square, a cubit and half every way.

One cubit high: here is nothing said of the thickness of these stone tables, it is probable they were of a good thickness, which, added to the cubit height, on which they were set, might raise them to convenient height for use.

They laid the instruments, when they were brought out for present use; at other times we know they were laid up in chambers and cupboards prepared for that end.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

There were four tables of cut stone

These were apparently different tables than the eight tables on which the sacrifices were killed. This can be stated explicitly. AT: "There were also four tables of cut stone" or "There were four other tables made of cut stone" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

of cut stone

"that were made out of stone that had been cut"

cubits

See how you translated these "long" cubits in Ezekiel 40:05.

one and a half cubits

about 0.8 meter (See: Biblical Distance)

one cubit

about one-half meter

Two-pronged hooks a handbreadth in length were fastened in the portico all around

"All around the portico, people had attached hooks that were a handbreadth long and had two prongs each"

Two-pronged hooks

something that has two long curved points, which people can hang things on

a handbreadth in length

about 8 centimeters (See: Biblical Distance)

the flesh of the offerings would be put on the tables

This can be stated in active form. AT: "they would put the flesh of the offerings on the tables" (See: Active or Passive)

translationWords

burnt offering

sacrifice

flesh

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

upon them they would lay the implements Upon them they lay the knives and the basins in which the blood is received to be ready for [use by] those who slaughter the holiest sacrifices [Kodshei Kodoshim] in the north.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.