Ezekiel 44:1
וַיָּ֣שֶׁב אֹתִ֗י דֶּ֣רֶךְ שַׁ֤עַר הַמִּקְדָּשׁ֙ הַֽחִיצ֔וֹן הַפֹּנֶ֖ה קָדִ֑ים וְה֖וּא סָגֽוּר׃
and he caused me to return the way of the gate of the temple, the outer [gate] facing east, and it was closed.
Paraphrase: After showing me the altar, My guide (Ezekiel 40:3) brought me to the front of the temple which faces east. I noticed that the door of the temple was now tightly shut.
Comments:
For וַיָּשֶׁב, recall missing letter rule #2. Note as well the sheva which marks it as a hifil.
Is אֹתִי the object marker word or the preposition? Study this.
Note the sign of the passive participle in סָגוּר.
Ezekiel 44:2
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלַ֜י יְהוָ֗ה הַשַּׁ֣עַר הַזֶּה֩ סָג֨וּר יִהְיֶ֜ה לֹ֣א יִפָּתֵ֗חַ וְאִישׁ֙ לֹא־יָ֣בֹא ב֔וֹ כִּ֛י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בָּ֣א ב֑וֹ וְהָיָ֖ה סָגֽוּר׃
and YHWH said to me, “This gate is closed and will not be opened, and a man will not enter through it because YHWH, God of Israel, entered it, and it was closed.
Paraphrase: Then YHWH, the Great King, said to me, “You see that this gate is closed. Earlier, you saw the glory-cloud of YHWH enter into the temple. (Ezekiel 43) Now that God has entered into His dwelling place (Psalm 132), the door is shut; He will never leave this temple again. (Ezekiel 43:7) There will be no need to open this door ever again because YHWH will never depart as He did previously. (Ezekiel 11:22)
Comments:
The noun אִישׁ is in a place of emphasis.
Ezekiel 44:3
אֶֽת־הַנָּשִׂ֗יא נָ֥שִׂיא ה֛וּא יֵֽשֶׁב־בּ֥וֹ לֶאֱכָול־לֶ֖חֶם לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה מִדֶּ֨רֶךְ אֻלָ֤ם הַשַּׁ֙עַר֙ יָב֔וֹא וּמִדַּרְכּ֖וֹ יֵצֵֽא׃
The Prince, the prince Himself will dwell in it to eat bread before YHWH; from the way of the porch, that gate He will enter and from His way He will exit.
Paraphrase: Only the Prince is allowed to enter the temple by the front door, which is the east-facing gate. He is welcome to enter and to sit in the presence of the Great King and to have a meal with YHWH. The Prince will come and go via this gate on the front of the temple; He will use it to both enter and exit the temple.
Comments:
The identity of this Prince is difficult. It seems obvious to identify him with the Messiah (Ezekiel 37:25), but why then would he offer a sin offering for Himself? (Ezekiel 45:22) From the premillennial view, Unger notes that the sacrifices in the millennium are not propitiatory but only commemorative. Therefore, the fact that the Prince here offers a sin-offering does not imply that he is a sinner. “Ezekiel’s Vision of Israel’s Restoration,” Bibliotheca Sacra 106 (1949): 324. This idea of sacrifice in the millennium, however, is not found in the Bible. Fairbairn also concludes that the Prince cannot be the Messiah. source Greenhill disagrees:
It is said, v22, that the prince must “prepare for himself and for all the people a bullock for a sin offering.” This prince, therefore, seems not to be Christ, but the high priest, who was sinful, and offered first for himself, and then for the people, Heb. 7:27. Christ had no sin, and so could not offer sacrifice for himself. For answer hereunto, know, that Christ considered in himself was an immaculate Lamb, without blemish, 1 Pet. 1:19; “an High Priest, holy, harmless, undefiled,” Heb. 7:26. But consider him as our Surety, as Head of the body, so he had sin; his own self did bear our sins in his own body, 1 Pet. 2:24; he was made sin for us, 2 Cor. 5:21; he was offered to bear the sins of many, Heb. 9:28; the Lord laid upon him the iniquities of us all, Isa. 53:6; and he was numbered with transgressors, v12. Our sins were imputed to him, so that he stood as a sinner and malefactor in our stead; and offered up himself a sacrifice for himself, that is, for his body the church. Thus nothing hinders but by “prince” here we may understand Christ. source
If it is not the Messiah, then we must conclude that the Prince is an idealized form of a civil ruler who serves God with all his heart and soul though not perfectly. Perhaps he is the answer to the false shepherds of Ezekiel 34.
Ezekiel 44:4
וַיְבִיאֵ֜נִי דֶּֽרֶךְ־שַׁ֣עַר הַצָּפוֹן֮ אֶל־פְּנֵ֣י הַבַּיִת֒ וָאֵ֕רֶא וְהִנֵּ֛ה מָלֵ֥א כְבוֹד־יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה וָאֶפֹּ֖ל אֶל־פָּנָֽי׃
and he caused me to enter by the way of the north gate before the house and I saw and behold the glory of YHWH filled the house of YHWH, and I fell on my face.
Paraphrase: Now since the front door of the temple was shut (the door facing east), my guide took me in by way of the north gate. When I looked into the temple, I was struck down by the Glory-Cloud of YHWH’s presence. The entire house was full of YHWH’s Glory just like I had seen on the Chebar river. (Ezekiel 1) In amazement and wonder, I fell down with my face to the ground.
Comments:
Ezekiel 44:5
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלַ֜י יְהֹוָ֗ה בֶּן־אָדָ֡ם שִׂ֣ים לִבְּךָ֩ וּרְאֵ֨ה בְעֵינֶ֜יךָ וּבְאָזְנֶ֣יךָ שְּׁמָ֗ע אֵ֣ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֲנִי֙ מְדַבֵּ֣ר אֹתָ֔ךְ לְכָל־חֻקּ֥וֹת בֵּית־יְהוָ֖ה וּלְכָל־תּוֹרֹתוֹ וְשַׂמְתָּ֤ לִבְּךָ֙ לִמְב֣וֹא הַבַּ֔יִת בְּכֹ֖ל מוֹצָאֵ֥י הַמִּקְדָּֽשׁ׃
and YHWH said to me, “Son of man, set your heart and see with your eyes and hear with your ears all what I am speaking to you; to all the procedures of the house of YHWH and to all His laws and set your heart to the entrance of the house and on all the exits of the sanctuary.
Paraphrase: Then YHWH spoke to me out of the glory-cloud, “Son of man! Take careful note of what I am saying to you now. It is of the first importance. I am going to give you terms upon which anyone may enter and exit this temple. I want you to mark these regulations well and see to it that they are enacted with diligence.
Comments:
The idiom שִׂים לִבְּךָ means to pay attention.
Ezekiel 44:6
וְאָמַרְתָּ֤ אֶל־מֶ֙רִי֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֑ה רַב־לָכֶ֛ם מִֽכָּל־תּוֹעֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
and you will say to the rebels, to the house of Israel, “Thus says Lord YHWH! Enough to you from all your abominations, house of Israel.”
Paraphrase: Now I am giving you a word for Israel. Say to those rebels! “This is a word from YWHW, the Great King, the Sovereign Lord! Haven’t you had enough yet of all your wickedness? Oh My people Israel, how much more sin can you commit before you finally have had enough?
Comments:
Ezekiel 44:7
בַּהֲבִיאֲכֶ֣ם בְּנֵֽי־נֵכָ֗ר עַרְלֵי־לֵב֙ וְעַרְלֵ֣י בָשָׂ֔ר לִהְי֥וֹת בְּמִקְדָּשִׁ֖י לְחַלְּל֣וֹ אֶת־בֵּיתִ֑י בְּהַקְרִֽיבְכֶ֤ם אֶת־לַחְמִי֙ חֵ֣לֶב וָדָ֔ם וַיָּפֵ֙רוּ֙ אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֔י אֶ֖ל כָּל־תּוֹעֲבוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃
When you are bringing sons of foreigners uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh to be in My sanctuary to defile it, My house, when you cause my bread to draw near, the fat and the blood, and they violate my covenant in all your abominations.
Paraphrase: What are these abominations? Let me draw your attention to the entrance and exits of My house. Do you see that door? You show no discernment whatsoever in who you allow through that door and into My house. All kinds of people are allowed in without any thought for what they think of Me. Some are even uncircumcised in flesh which actually is not My real concern. (1 Corinthians 7:19) The real abomination is that many of these “worshippers” do have the physical mark of circumcision but are actually uncircumcised in heart! Their mother was a Hittite and their father an Amorite! (Ezekiel 16:45) These are people are people who really defile My Holy House. (Ezekiel 43:12) These are the ones who you allow to come through that door bringing their grain offerings (Leviticus 2) and presenting them to Me as a gift while their hearts care nothing for Me (Isaiah 29:13). The fact that they are in covenant with Me makes no difference in their life. Anyone on the outside looking at them would never know that these people were set apart by Me for a life of holiness and called to be My special treasure above all peoples. (Exodus 19:5) They might be circumcised, but it doesn’t mean anything. The spiritual reality which is meant to accompany the physical act is nowhere to be found in them. When they bring a peace offering (Leviticus 3), they expect Me to sit with them and to fellowship with them over the choice pieces of meat they have brought for Me. What is this but a taking of My Name in vain (Exodus 20:7) and dragging the covenant through the dirt? (Psalm 50:16) Listen, don’t fool yourself; God is not to be mocked in this way. (Galatians 6:7)
Comments:
Ezekiel 44:8
וְלֹ֥א שְׁמַרְתֶּ֖ם מִשְׁמֶ֣רֶת קָדָשָׁ֑י וַתְּשִׂימ֗וּן לְשֹׁמְרֵ֧י מִשְׁמַרְתִּ֛י בְּמִקְדָּשִׁ֖י לָכֶֽם׃
You have not kept the charge of My holy place, and you have placed guards of My charge in My sanctuary for yourself.
Paraphrase: I gave you a responsibility to guard My holy temple, My house. I charged you to never allow any unclean person to enter it (2Chron 23: 19); but instead, you have hired guards to keep this charge but really they are just doing what you want them to do. They have no interest in guarding my temple from profanation by unclean persons.
Comments:
See Michaelis for more on clean and unclean.
Ezekiel 44:9
כֹּה־אָמַר֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִה֒ כָּל־בֶּן־נֵכָ֗ר עֶ֤רֶל לֵב֙ וְעֶ֣רֶל בָּשָׂ֔ר לֹ֥א יָב֖וֹא אֶל־מִקְדָּשִׁ֑י לְכָל־בֶּן־נֵכָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֕ר בְּת֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
Ezekiel 44:10
כִּ֣י אִם־הַלְוִיִּ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר רָֽחֲקוּ֙ מֵֽעָלַ֔י בִּתְע֤וֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תָּע֣וּ מֵֽעָלַ֔י אַחֲרֵ֖י גִּלּֽוּלֵיהֶ֑ם וְנָשְׂא֖וּ עֲוֺנָֽם׃
Ezekiel 44:11 וְהָי֤וּ בְמִקְדָּשִׁי֙ מְשָׁ֣רְתִ֔ים פְּקֻדּוֹת֙ אֶל־שַׁעֲרֵ֣י הַבַּ֔יִת וּֽמְשָׁרְתִ֖ים אֶת־הַבָּ֑יִת הֵ֠מָּה יִשְׁחֲט֨וּ אֶת־הָעֹלָ֤ה וְאֶת־הַזֶּ֙בַח֙ לָעָ֔ם וְהֵ֛מָּה יַעַמְד֥וּ לִפְנֵיהֶ֖ם לְשָֽׁרְתָֽם׃
Ezekiel 44:12 יַ֗עַן אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְשָׁרְת֤וּ אוֹתָם֙ לִפְנֵ֣י גִלּֽוּלֵיהֶ֔ם וְהָי֥וּ לְבֵֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְמִכְשׁ֣וֹל עָוֺ֑ן עַל־כֵּן֩ נָשָׂ֨אתִי יָדִ֜י עֲלֵיהֶ֗ם נְאֻם֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה וְנָשְׂא֖וּ עֲוֺנָֽם׃
Ezekiel 44:13 וְלֹֽא־יִגְּשׁ֤וּ אֵלַי֙ לְכַהֵ֣ן לִ֔י וְלָגֶ֙שֶׁת֙ עַל־כָּל־קָ֣דָשַׁ֔י אֶל־קָדְשֵׁ֖י הַקְּדָשִׁ֑ים וְנָֽשְׂאוּ֙ כְּלִמָּתָ֔ם וְתוֹעֲבוֹתָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשֽׂוּ׃
Ezekiel 44:14 וְנָתַתִּ֣י אוֹתָ֔ם שֹׁמְרֵ֖י מִשְׁמֶ֣רֶת הַבָּ֑יִת לְכֹל֙ עֲבֹ֣דָת֔וֹ וּלְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֵעָשֶׂ֖ה בּֽוֹ׃פ
Ezekiel 44:15 וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֨ים הַלְוִיִּ֜ם בְּנֵ֣י צָד֗וֹק אֲשֶׁ֨ר שָׁמְר֜וּ אֶת־מִשְׁמֶ֤רֶת מִקְדָּשִׁי֙ בִּתְע֤וֹת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מֵֽעָלַ֔י הֵ֛מָּה יִקְרְב֥וּ אֵלַ֖י לְשָֽׁרְתֵ֑נִי וְעָמְד֣וּ לְפָנַ֗י לְהַקְרִ֥יב לִי֙ חֵ֣לֶב וָדָ֔ם נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃
Ezekiel 44:16 הֵ֜מָּה יָבֹ֣אוּ אֶל־מִקְדָּשִׁ֗י וְהֵ֛מָּה יִקְרְב֥וּ אֶל־שֻׁלְחָנִ֖י לְשָׁרְתֵ֑נִי וְשָׁמְר֖וּ אֶת־מִשְׁמַרְתִּֽי׃
Ezekiel 44:17 וְהָיָ֗ה בְּבוֹאָם֙ אֶֽל־שַׁעֲרֵי֙ הֶחָצֵ֣ר הַפְּנִימִ֔ית בִּגְדֵ֥י פִשְׁתִּ֖ים יִלְבָּ֑שׁוּ וְלֹֽא־יַעֲלֶ֤ה עֲלֵיהֶם֙ צֶ֔מֶר בְּשָֽׁרְתָ֗ם בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֛י הֶחָצֵ֥ר הַפְּנִימִ֖ית וָבָֽיְתָה׃
Ezekiel 44:18 פַּאֲרֵ֤י פִשְׁתִּים֙ יִהְי֣וּ עַל־רֹאשָׁ֔ם וּמִכְנְסֵ֣י פִשְׁתִּ֔ים יִהְי֖וּ עַל־מָתְנֵיהֶ֑ם לֹ֥א יַחְגְּר֖וּ בַּיָּֽזַע׃
Ezekiel 44:19 וּ֠בְצֵאתָם אֶל־הֶחָצֵ֨ר הַחִיצוֹנָ֜ה אֶל־הֶחָצֵ֣ר הַחִיצוֹנָה֮ אֶל־הָעָם֒ יִפְשְׁט֣וּ אֶת־בִּגְדֵיהֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁר־הֵ֙מָּה֙ מְשָׁרְתִ֣ם בָּ֔ם וְהִנִּ֥יחוּ אוֹתָ֖ם בְּלִֽשְׁכֹ֣ת הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ וְלָֽבְשׁוּ֙ בְּגָדִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וְלֹֽא־יְקַדְּשׁ֥וּ אֶת־הָעָ֖ם בְּבִגְדֵיהֶֽם׃
Ezekiel 44:20 וְרֹאשָׁם֙ לֹ֣א יְגַלֵּ֔חוּ וּפֶ֖רַע לֹ֣א יְשַׁלֵּ֑חוּ כָּס֥וֹם יִכְסְמ֖וּ אֶת־רָאשֵׁיהֶֽם׃
Ezekiel 44:21 וְיַ֥יִן לֹֽא־יִשְׁתּ֖וּ כָּל־כֹּהֵ֑ן בְּבוֹאָ֖ם אֶל־הֶחָצֵ֥ר הַפְּנִימִֽית׃
Ezekiel 44:22 וְאַלְמָנָה֙ וּגְרוּשָׁ֔ה לֹֽא־יִקְח֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם לְנָשִׁ֑ים כִּ֣י אִם־בְּתוּלֹ֗ת מִזֶּ֙רַע֙ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְהָֽאַלְמָנָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּֽהְיֶ֣ה אַלְמָנָ֔ה מִכֹּהֵ֖ן יִקָּֽחוּ׃
Ezekiel 44:23 וְאֶת־עַמִּ֣י יוֹר֔וּ בֵּ֥ין קֹ֖דֶשׁ לְחֹ֑ל וּבֵין־טָמֵ֥א לְטָה֖וֹר יוֹדִעֻֽם׃
Ezekiel 44:24 וְעַל־רִ֗יב הֵ֚מָּה יַעַמְד֣וּ לִשְׁפֹּט בְּמִשְׁפָּטַ֖י וְשָׁפְטֻהוּ וְאֶת־תּוֹרֹתַ֤י וְאֶת־חֻקֹּתַי֙ בְּכָל־מוֹעֲדַ֣י יִשְׁמֹ֔רוּ וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתוֹתַ֖י יְקַדֵּֽשׁוּ׃
Ezekiel 44:25 וְאֶל־מֵ֣ת אָדָ֔ם לֹ֥א יָב֖וֹא לְטָמְאָ֑ה כִּ֣י אִם־לְאָ֡ב וּ֠לְאֵם וּלְבֵ֨ן וּלְבַ֜ת לְאָ֗ח וּלְאָח֛וֹת אֲשֶֽׁר־לֹא־הָיְתָ֥ה לְאִ֖ישׁ יִטַּמָּֽאוּ׃
Ezekiel 44:26 וְאַחֲרֵ֖י טָֽהֳרָת֑וֹ שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים יִסְפְּרוּ־לֽוֹ׃
Ezekiel 44:27 וּבְיוֹם֩ בֹּא֨וֹ אֶל־הַקֹּ֜דֶשׁ אֶל־הֶחָצֵ֤ר הַפְּנִימִית֙ לְשָׁרֵ֣ת בַּקֹּ֔דֶשׁ יַקְרִ֖יב חַטָּאת֑וֹ נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃
Ezekiel 44:28 וְהָיְתָ֤ה לָהֶם֙ לְֽנַחֲלָ֔ה אֲנִ֖י נַֽחֲלָתָ֑ם וַאֲחֻזָּ֗ה לֹֽא־תִתְּנ֤וּ לָהֶם֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲנִ֖י אֲחֻזָּתָֽם׃
Ezekiel 44:29 הַמִּנְחָה֙ וְהַחַטָּ֣את וְהָאָשָׁ֔ם הֵ֖מָּה יֹֽאכְל֑וּם וְכָל־חֵ֥רֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לָהֶ֥ם יִהְיֶֽה׃
Ezekiel 44:30 וְרֵאשִׁית֩ כָּל־בִּכּ֨וּרֵי כֹ֜ל וְכָל־תְּר֣וּמַת כֹּ֗ל מִכֹּל֙ תְּרוּמ֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם לַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים יִֽהְיֶ֑ה וְרֵאשִׁ֤ית עֲרִסֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ תִּתְּנ֣וּ לַכֹּהֵ֔ן לְהָנִ֥יחַ בְּרָכָ֖ה אֶל־בֵּיתֶֽךָ׃
Ezekiel 44:31 כָּל־נְבֵלָה֙ וּטְרֵפָ֔ה מִן־הָע֖וֹף וּמִן־הַבְּהֵמָ֑ה לֹ֥א יֹאכְל֖וּ הַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃פ