Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. And. S. Jerom finding the Septuagint and others varying in the explanations, gives his own; yet adopts the saying of Socrates, “I know that I am ignorant:” for this also is a part of science. Worthington.—Outward, with respect to the temple. It is styled inner court, with reference to that of the people.—Separate. Calmet. 41:9.
Verse 3. Triple, one over another, (verse 6) or on a level with the priests’ court.
Verse 4. One cubit, projecting out perhaps for seats, or for the pilasters.
Verse 5. Above. The higher stories are not so lofty.
Verse 6. Fifty cubits. We only allow thirty, as this is not in Hebrew and so forth The text, verse 10 and 12, seems incorrect. Calmet.
Verse 13. Holies. Hebrew “who are very holy,” and ( Bible.) on duty. See Leviticus 6:25.
Verse 14. People. Calmet. 44:17. Exodus 28:42. Christian priests use their vestments only when they are officiating. Durand and Durant Rit. ii. 9. Calmet.
Verse 16. Five. Hebrew emoth should be meoth, “three hundred, as it is printed (yet not in the Prot. version. Bible.) thrice just after, and as it is written here in MS. 4. Camb. 1. 2.” Kennicott.—Reeds. Septuagint “cubits,” as Hebrew Saint Jerome and so forth insinuate. The mountain was only five hundred paces square, even when it was enlarged in the time of Josephus. Bel. vi. 14. Gr.—We must therefore read cubits. Calmet.—If we retain reeds, ( Bible.) the wall will be twelve thousand cubits, ( Menochius.) which seems improbable. Tournemine. See Calmet. 45. Bible.
Verse 20. Cubits. This confirms the former correction. verse 16. Bible.—Hebrew has only, “of five hundred.” Maldonat and A. Lapide would understand reeds, to agree with what goes before. Menochius.—Separation. Josephus mentions a wall three cubits high, on the pillars of which was written in Greek and Latin, that such as entered the temple must be pure, ( Calmet.) and no stranger. Bible.—Into this court all might come. Philo. Calmet.
A cubit is the length from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow on a man’s arm, or about 18 inches or 46 centimeters.