CHAP. XLI.
|| door, six cubits; and the breadth of the The posts, doors, walls, chambers, foundations, dimensions, divie-door, seven cubits. ions, and ornaments, of the visionary temple itself, 1-26. 4 So he measured the length thereof, FTERWARD a he brought metod twenty cubits; and the breadth, twenty the temple, and measured the posts, cubits, before the temple; and he said unto
six cubits broad on the one side, and six cubits broad on the other side, which was the breadth of the tabernacle.
2 And the breadth of the door was ten cubits; and the sides of the door were five cubits on the one side, and five cubits on
the other side: and he measured the length thereof, forty cubits; and the breadth, twenty cubits.
3 Then went he inward, and measured the post of the door, two cubits; and the
that the Lord sheweth us; attending to the whole revelation of his will, and seeking the teaching of his Spirit; that we may be "throughly furnished for every good work;" and, if employed as ministers, may be able to "declare the whole counsel of God" to the people.Every part of scripture is divine, useful, and important, in different ways, or to different persons; but it may not all be so immediately useful to us: others have had, and others will have, the benefit of some portions, which are to us not so intelligible or full of instruction. But if we cannot understand or edify by any part of scripture, we should humbly acknowledge our own ignorance, and adore the divine
me, This is the most holy place .
5 After he measured the wall of the house, six cubits; and the breadth of every side-chamber, four cubits, round about the house on every side.
6 And the side-chambers were three, tone over another, and thirty in order: & and they entered into the wall, which was of the house for the side-chambers round about, that they might have hold; but they had not hold in the wall of the house.
d1 Kings 6:20. 2 Chr. 3:8. Rev. 21:16.
chamber.
Or, three and thirty times, or, feet.
e Ex. 26:33,34. Heb. 9:3-8. f 6,7. 42:3-14. 1 Kings 6:5,6. g 1 Kings 6:6,10,
Heb. side-chamber over side-Heb. be holden. 1 Pet. 1:5,
'by faith in our hearts with thanksgiving:' nor should we be slack to commemorate his death, who has "washed us from our sins in his blood, and made us kings and priests to God;" that we may here, in the courts of his temple, ripen for our removal to the sanctuary above, there to rejoice in his love and glorify his name for evermore.
NOTES.
CHAP. XLI. V. 1. 'By the posts are meant 'the door-cases on each side of the entrance. (11:9,48.) These were six cubits thick, on the 'north and south sides.... The same thickness
wisdom and knowledge; and not allow our-'had the upper lintel over the door.... The selves to start objections on that account. Yet, 'word which we render tabernacle , ... someas some portions are more clear, and, to us at 'times signifies a covering . ... ( Ex . 26:7. 36:14.) least, more important than others: so a fond- In this signification it may not be unfitly apness for the study of the obscure parts in pref- 'plied to the upper lintel, which is a kind of erence to the obvious, and for "the tithing of 'covering to the door. Lowth .
Some under 7 And there was an enlarging, and a winding about still upward to the sidechambers; for the winding about of the house went still upward round about the house: therefore the breadth of the house was still upward, and so increased from the lowest chamber to the highest by the midst. 8 I saw also the height of the house round about: the foundations of the sidechambers were ha full reed of six great cubits.
mint and cummin, above the weightier matters of the law," is a folly and a temptation sometimes even of godly men. The church of God and all Christians are separated from the world, and protected by God; they are built on an immoveable foundation, and exalted in excellency and privilege above the nations of the earth; and they are continually and gradually ascending towards the sanctuary above. "A little chamber," in this true temple, is preferable to the most magnificent palace of the wicked: how glorious then must be the many mansions prepared in heaven for the disciples of Christ!
There are even now very numerous churches of the saints; yet we may hope and pray, for their immense increase in numbers, bers, and in grace and peace.
They are all supported and sheltered by omnipotence: they have their measure of light, through ordinances and instruments, from Christ "the Light of the world," by which they may walk and work comfortably: but it is not sufficient to gratify the thirst of knowledge in those, who cannot be content to "see through a glass darkly." Into these churches men have access as living members by faith in Christ; there they "flourish as the palm-tree," by communion with God and his people; and they shall at length be made more than conquerors.
The nearer we approach to God in profession or office, the more spiritual we should be. This will be best effected by daily looking to and feeding on our great Sacrifice,
stand the verse of pent-houses, in the front of the porch, on each side, six cubits wide, with a covering of the same dimensions. ( Marg . Ref .- Note , 40:48,49.)
V. 2. The door, out of the porch into the sanctuary, seems to have been wider than that out of the court into the porch: ( Note , 40:48, 49.) but the whole length of the porch is still made out to be twenty cubits, perhaps including the side-walls. The dimensions of the first sanctuary, and of the most holy place, (4) accord with those in Solomon's temple. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref .--1 Kings 6:2,3, v. 2,15-22, v. 17,31-35. 2 Chr . 3:3-8.)
V. 3. The partition wall, between the sanctuary and the h holy of holies, is supposed to have been two cubits in thickness: the breadth of the wall on each side the gate seven cubits; and the entrance into the most holy place six cubits in width.
V. 5,6. Marg . and Marg . Ref .- Six cubits . (5) (5) 'The thickness of the wall from the foun'dation; the first story of the side-chambers. ... At five cubits height from the ground, the 'wall, or the buttresses, attresses, which supported these 'outward chambers, abated of their thickness 'one cubit; and there was a rest or ledge of 'one cubit's breadth, on which the ends of 'each story were fastened: they were not 'fastened in the main wall of the house. Lowth . ( Notes , 1 Kings 6:5,6,10.) The nethermost side chambers in Solomon's temple were five cubits wide.
9 The thickness of the wall, which was for the side-chamber without, was five cubits; and that which was left was the place of the side-chambers that were
within.
10 And between the chambers was the wideness of twenty cubits round about the house on every side.
11 And the doors of the side-chambers were toward the place that was left, one door toward the north, and another door toward the south: and the breadth of the place that was left was five cubits round about.
12 Now the building that was before the separate place, at the end toward the
Heb. it was made broader, i 5.
and went round. 1 Kings 6:8. Matt. 13:32. Heb. 6:1.
h 40:5. Rev. 21:16.
k 42:1,4,
19. 42:1.
m 13-15. 42:1,10,13.
V. 7. 'So much of breadth was added to the 'side-chambers, as was taken out of the thick'ness of the wall: so that the middle story was 'one cubit larger, and the uppermost story two 'cubits larger, than the lower rooms. And 'winding stairs, which enlarged as the rooms 'did, went up between each two chambers, 'from the bottom to the top: and there were 'two doors at the top of each pair of stairs, one 'door opening into one room, and the other 'into that over against it. (1 Kings 6:8.)' Lowth . ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . Note , 1 Kings 6:8.)
V. 8. This may mean, that the prophet from the upper chamber had a view of the height of these buildings, which surrounded the temple: and, including the rests, as a part of the foundation on which they were supported, it was a full reed, or six large cubits in width. (Note, 40:5.) - 'By "the house" is 'meant these chambers three stories high, in 'which sense the word beth ( house ) is used ver . '6.' Lowth.
V. 9. This seems to be meant of the outward wall, which enclosed the side-chambers. The dimensions are large: but the whole structure was erected to be very strong and durable. -The space of five cubits is thought by some to have been also allowed as a walk before the chambers. ( Note , 42:4.)
V. 10. A different word is here used for "chambers" than before: and some suppose that another row of buildings, at twenty cubits distance from the side-chambers, is intended. There was a row of chambers joined to the temple; and another row of buildings, parallel with them, with a passage of ten or eleven yards in breadth between them, besides the place that was left, before spoken of. (9)-But the description, and the various explanations of different commentators, are very obscure:
west, was seventy cubits broad; and the wall of the building was five cubits thick round about, and the length thereof ninety cubits.
13 So he measured the house, an hundred cubits long; and the separate place, and the building, with the walls thereof, an hundred cubits long;
14 Also the breadth of the face of the house, and of the separate place toward the east, an hundred cubits .
15 And he measured the length of the building over against the separate place which was behind it, and the galleries thereof on the one side, and on the other side an hundred cubits, with the inner temple, and the porches of the court;
0 narrow
16 The door-posts, and the windows, and the galleries round about on their three stories, over against the door, + cieled with wood round about, and from the ground up to the windows, and the windows were covered;
17 To that above the door, even unto the inner house and without, and by all the wall round about, within and without, by || measure.
t Or, several walks , or, walks
with pillars . 42:3. Cant. 1:17. 7:5. Zech, 3:7.
n 17. 40:15.
Heb. cieling of wood. 1 Kings
6:15. 2 Chr. 3:5. Hag. 1:4. Or, the ground unto the win- dows.
ο 26. 40:16,25. 1 Kings 6:4. 1 || Heb. measures. Cor. 13:12.
and probable conjecture seems all that can be attained to on the subject.
V. 11. 'The doors of the lower rooms open'ed into the void space between the chambers.' Lowth . This was the case, both of those chambers, which were on the south side, and those on the north side of the temple. Perhaps all the doors faced this void place; an area from the stairs leading to it on each side. (9)
V. 12. It has been supposed that there was a row of buildings, on the south and north sides of the temple, (besides the side-chamber,) with a space of twenty cubits between: and perlaps some building was erected on the west end of the temple, seventy cubits wide and ninety long, with a wall five cubits thick. Some, however, understand the verse of a wall , which was continued from east to west, on the outside of all the buildings before-mentioned, by the sides of the temple, to the extent of ninety cubits, and at the west end to seventy cubits.--From north to south is called its breadth , as it corresponded with the width of the temple; from east to west its length , as it was parallel with the length of the temple.
V. 13-15. These verses seem to mean, that the temple, with the buildings and spaces above described, occupied an area of a hundred cubits square, in the centre of which the temple itself was placed. ( Marg . and Ref .)
V. 16. Marg. and Marg . Ref.--From the , &c.] 'He measured from the ground up to 'the windows of the temple, which were plac'ed above the side-chambers. "The windows 'were covered," either because the side-cham'bers, jetting out beyond the main wall of the 'temple, hindered their being seen in the inner 'court; or else they were covered on the inside 'with curtains drawn before them.' Lowth . V. 17. The windows were placed above the
18 And it was made with cherubims || and the walls thereof, were of wood: and
and palm-trees, so that a palm-tree was between a cherub and a cherub; and every cherub had two faces.
19 So that the face of a man was toward the palm-tree on the one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm-tree on the other side; it was made through all the house round about.
20 From the ground unto above the door were cherubims and palm-trees made, and on the wall of the temple.
21 The posts of the temple were squared, and the face of the sanctuary; the appearance of the one as the appearance of the other.
22 The saltar of wood was three cubits high, and the length thereof two cubits; and the corners thereof, and the length thereof,
height of the door, at the east end of the tem
he said unto me, This is the table that is before the Lord.
23 And "the temple and the sanctuary had two doors.
24 And the doors had * two leaves
apiece , two turning leaves; two leaves for the one door, and two leaves for the other
door.
25 And there were made on them, on the doors of the temple, cherubims and palm-trees, like as were made upon the walls; and there were thick planks upon the face of the porch without.
26 And there were 2 narrow windows and palm-trees on the one side and on the other side, on the sides of the porch, and upon the side-chambers of the house, and thick planks.
May not an intimation be here given, that un
ple; and were continued at measured distan-der the New Testament, a table would be sub
ces, at the same height along the wall, on both sides of the holy place, to the wall of the inner sanctuary; in which there were no windows.The windows on the out-buildings seem likewise to be included, which were placed at regular distances, and made in exact proportion. ( Marg .)
V. 18-20. ( Marg . Ref .) 'The cherubim had 'four faces: but only two of these appeared 'in the carved work; the two other faces, that 'of an ox and an eagle being supposed to be 'hid in the plain or surface of the wall. Lowth . --The two faces, which were most conspicuous, seem to be intended. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref .-1 Kings 6:29. -Notes , 1:5--14, v . 10. 10:1, 2.)- Unto above the door. (20) That is, to the windows.
V. 21. 'The lintels or door-posts, both of 'the temple and inner sanctuary were not 'arched, but square; with a flat beam or upper lintel laid upon the top of the side-posts.' Lowth . ( Marg . and Ref . )
V. 22. "The altar of wood," must signify that on which incense was burned. ( Note , 43:13--17.)-The dimensions are here much || larger than those mentioned in Exodus; but that made by Solomon is supposed to have been larger than that made by Moses. ( Marg . Ref. s.-Notes, Ex . 30:1-6.1 Kings 6:15
stituted for the altars of the Old Testament, in that ordinance, by which we are admitted to the nearest communion with our God and Father? ( Marg . Ref . t.- Note , 44:15,16.)
V. 23, 24. The two doors being exceeding large, ... each of them had two leaves, that 'they might be more easily opened. Lowth . ( Marg . Ref . Note , 1 Kings 6:31-35.)
V. 25, 26. There was a wainscot work of 'boards, fastened to the end of the great beams, 'which came out beyond the wall of the porch. These were laid so as to make a frieze-work 'over the entrance into the eastern porch. ... "The figures of palm-trees were carved on that 'wainscot.' Lowth . ( Marg . Ref . Notes , 1620.)
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. When we carefully improve our instructions, concerning the introductory parts of religion, we shall be led forward by our great Teacher into the interior parts of divine truth; that we may go forward in knowledge, wisdom, and experience, till we arrive in the most holy place above. - The spiritual building, which the Lord is erecting, will prove both eminent and durable: our standing in the grace of God will be firmer, and our views and hearts more enlarged, in proportion as we mount upward in our affections and conversation: and all the
22, υυ . 20,22. 7:48--51.) Both of these, how-windings and intricacies of a Christian's path
ever, were covered with gold: and it is very remarkable, that in this temple described by Ezekiel, there is not the least mention made of gold or silver; though there was such a profusion of these metals, both in the tabernacle made by Moses, and in Solomon's temple. Does not this imply, that a glory of a more spiritual nature was intended under these emblems? Thus the glory of the second temple was greater than that of the first, because honored by the personal presence of Immanuel. (Note, Hag . 2:6-9.)
This is the table , &c.] Some suppose, that the altar of incense is here called a table, because of the incense laid upon it, and presented to God: and others that the table of shewbread was pointed out to the prophet, when his Instructer said, "This is the table, &c."
still lead him upward. The peace and enlargement of the church, and the believer's comfort and growth in grace, commonly make progress together. The cause of God gains ground gradually amidst all revolutions, under every dispensation: the boundaries of the church were vastly extended by the first preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles; but they will be much more enlarged, when the Jews shall be converted, and all nations shall do service to the great Redeemer.--We have fellowship with angels in our employment and felicity, in proportion as we grow devoted to the service of our God and Savior. -Prudence, affection, and fortitude should unite with fervency, in all our services. The ordinances of God have hitherto been rendered more simple and spiritual: the table of the
Lord has succeeded to altars and sacrifices; and the worship of God "in spirit and truth," and the beauty of holiness, to the burdensome rites and costly costly ornaments of the old dispensation. We should therefore endeavor to grow more simple in our dependence, and in our intentions and pursuits, and more spiritual in our affections and worship; for these things evidently mark the progress of the church, and of every believer, towards the perfection of the heavenly world.
NOTES.