Ezekiel 40:46

Eze 40:46 And the chamber whose prospect [is] toward the north [is] for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these [are] the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.

Ver. 46. Which come near.] Exo 19:22 Lev 10:3; Lev 21:17-18; Lev 21:21; Lev 21:23.

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.

40:46 The Lord at last rewarded the loyalty of Zadok (see 44:15) by decreeing that his descendants were the only ones permitted to approach the Lord to minister to him. Access to God in this Temple was restricted to those whom the Lord had chosen and who were fit to enter the holy space.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Zadok--lineally descended from Aaron. He had the high priesthood conferred on him by Solomon, who had set aside the family of Ithamar because of the part which Abiathar had taken in the rebellion of Adonijah (Kg1 1:7; Kg1 2:26-27).

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

46. The other chamber was for the ministrants at the altar; these were the sons of Zadok, Eze_44:15-31.

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.

The length of the porch was twenty cubits,.... From east to west; from the first gate of it to the last; which led directly into the house, or temple:

and the breadth eleven cubits; which may be thus accounted for; two cubits apiece being allowed for each post, and three for each leaf of the door that were hung upon them, and one for the upright post in the middle on which they shut; in all eleven:

and he brought me by the steps whereby they went up to it; as there was an ascent of seven steps to the several gates that led into the outward court; and another of eight steps, which led from that to the gates of the inner court; so there was an ascent from the inner court to the porch of the house, or temple; but how many steps there were is not said. The Septuagint and Arabic versions read ten steps; and the Vulgate Latin version eight steps. According to the Misnah (w), there were twelve in the second temple; so say Jarchi and Kimchi, with whom Josephus (x) agrees. Cocceius thinks there could not be more than two, since the ground of the inward court and temple were continued; but as their number is not given, a determination cannot be made; only it may be observed, that the saints' progress in the knowledge of Christ, and of divine things, and in faith and holiness, is gradual.

And there were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side; one on the north side, and the other on the south, somewhat like the two pillars of Jachin and Boaz, in Solomon's temple; which some apply to the ordinances of the Gospel saints partake of at their entrance into the Gospel church; but rather they are an emblem of Christ, the supporter of his church, and of all those that aright enter into it; and who, through his grace and strength, become pillars there also, Rev 3:12, he is their Jachin, who establishes them on himself, the sure foundation; and their Boaz, in whom their strength is, and from whom they have it to exercise grace, discharge duty, and persevere to the end.

(w) Middot, c. 2. sect. 3. (x) De Bello Jud. l. 5. c. 5. sect. 4.

Next: Ezekiel Chapter 41

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

The position of the “chamber” looking to the north commanded a view of the brasen altar and the sacrifices, which were prepared at the north side of the altar.

The sons of Zadok - The priests were all descended from one or other of the two sons of Aaron, Eleazar and Ithamar. David distributed the priestly offices between the families of Zadok, the representative of Eleazar, and Ahimelech, the representative of Ithamar 1Ch 24:3. From the time of Solomon not only the high priesthood, but the priesthood itself, so far as concerned its service, that of offering upon the two altars, seems to have been confined to the descendants of Zadok (see 1Ch 6:49-53). Perhaps the other offices, such as those mentioned in Eze 40:45, were performed by the descendants of Abiathar and Ithamar. Compare 1Sa 2:36, and below, Eze 43:19; Eze 44:15; Eze 48:11. The priests who had charge of the sacrifices were distinguished from the rest of the Levitical priests, “as they which come near to the Lord, and Eze 42:13 the priests that approach unto the Lord.”

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

Altar. Not on actual service, (chap. xli. 13.) but to prepare the victims.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

The chamber: see Eze 40:45.

For the priests, the keepers: see Eze 40:45.

Of the charge of the altar; to preserve the fire perpetually on the altar, &c.

Zadok; the high priest, who was put in by Solomon’s depriving of Abiathar, in whose race the high priesthood continued. While God’s order was observed, his sons, especially among the Levites, had this charge, and in their turns took care of the altar, which that they might the better do, they had those chambers, whose prospect I suppose was toward the altar.

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

The keepers of the charge of the altar. These formed another body of priests, whose duties generally were to officiate in the temple-worship, and more specifically to sacrifice and burn incense upon the altars (Leviticus 1-6). Under the Law the priests were all descendants of Aaron. (Exo_27:20, 21 28:1-4 29:9, 44 40:15) By David these were divided into two classes the sons of Eleazar, at the head of whom stood Zadok; and the sons of Ithamar, with Ahimelech as their chief. (1Ch_24:3) In the vision-temple the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi have the sole right of drawing near to the Lord to minister unto him. (see on Eze_43:15)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The keepers - To preserve the fire perpetually on the altar.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

General Information:

The man continues speaking to Ezekiel in the vision.

The room facing north

This refers to the room on the south side of the inner courtyard. The door of the room was on the north side of the room. AT: "This room whose door is on its north side" or "This room on the south side of the inner courtyard"

the priests on duty at the altar

"the priests who were offering sacrifices on the altar"

come near to Yahweh to serve him

"approach Yahweh in his temple in order to serve him"

he measured

"the man measured"

cubits

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

one hundred cubits

about 54 meters (See: Biblical Distance)

with the altar

"and the altar was"

the house

This refers to the temple.

translationWords

altar

son

Zadok

Yahweh

servant

Levi

house

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