Historical chapter commentary
Verse 2. Majesty. The world is enlightened by the preaching of the gospel; and the Church triumphant shall shine in perfection, when that which is sown in corruption shall put on incorruption. 1 Corinthians 15. Saint Jerome—The blessed Virgin conceiving Jesus Christ may be insinuated. Saint Thomas Aquinas p. 3. q. 27. a. 3. Worthington.
Verse 3. He came. Hebrew “I came to destroy (Septuagint to anoint) the city,” marking such as should be spared. Calmet. 9. The glorious chariot entered by the eastern gate, and the prophet followed to the court of the priests., verse 5. 13. Calmet.—The Jews says the second temple was deprived of the Shekinah, or glory of the Lord. Yet it seems here to enter; and Christ himself adorned this second house, more than the first, by his adorable presence. Agg. 2:8. Bible.
Verse 7. Said. The Lord spoke, (Chal. Theod.) or the angel, (Saint Jerome) in human shape. Bible.—He addresses the prophet, verse 12 to Calmet. 44:5 though what follows immediately seems to belong to the Lord, ( Calmet.) in whose name he speaks.—Name. God hath abandoned the synagogue, but will remain with his Church unto the end. Matthew 23:38 and 28:20. Yet the perfect Church, without spot, is the triumphant; (Ephesians 5:27. Worthington.) though the Catholic Church, on earth, is every holy and “the communion of saints.” Bible.—Carcasses. Idols, according to some; or rather by the kings being buried on Sion. This is nowhere else reprehended; neither is their building too near the temple, which the prophet here condemns. verse 8. Calmet.—It seems, however, that if these things had been blameable, such a number of pious and wise kings would not have acted thus, nor the prophets have neglected to admonish them of their duty. The carcasses and houses here specified may have been vestiges of idolatry; or, in future, the tombs and palaces were to be at a more respectful distance. Bible.
Verse 8. Wall. The kings of Juda had a door communicating with the temple, by which they entered on the west. It was guarded by Levites. 1 Chronicles 26:16. Ezechiel places no door on that side. Yet in Herod’s temple we find one leading to the adjacent palace, and three others into the town. Jos. Ant. xv. 14.
Verse 9. Carcasses. Lit. “ruins.” Bible.—The remains of the dead were probably not disturbed; but no more, that we know of, were placed on Sion. Calmet.—Kings may signify idols, Moloc, and so forth which they had worshipped, and which some had even placed in the holy place, to the nation’s ruin. Bible.
Verse 10. Measure, that they may be convinced of their ingratitude, ( Menochius.) which has deprived them of so noble a structure, and put them under the necessity of beginning so great a work again. It required all the exertions of the prophets to make them go forward with it. Agg. 1. Bible.
Verse 11. In the whole fabric, ( Menochius.) as thou hast described it, ( Bible.) or received from the angel, with all the ceremonies to be observed.
Verse 12. Border. Nothing but the temple shall be on his mountain. It shall be wholly consecrated to the Lord. This was ill observed. The Asmonean princes erected the famous tower Antonia, at the north side. Jos. See verse 8. The Jews assert that it was unlawful to spit on this ground, and so forth but no such thing is specified in Josephus or in Scripture, only we find that none were to go out by the same door at which they had entered, (Calmet. 46:9. Calmet.) except the king.
Verse 13. By. Hebrew “by cubits.” This cubit is a common cubit, and so forth The Babylonian, ( Bible.) or sacred one, was a palm longer. Worthington. Calmet. 40:5.—Breadth. It was the same as the depth, being designed to convey the blood by a conduit to the torrent Cedron.—Trench, or bottom aforesaid. Septuagint “the height.” Bible.—Chal. “disposition of the altar,” which seems best.
Verse 14. Cubit. they were each a cubit broad, but this greater means higher up. Some assert that the priests stood on this base to avoid treading on the altar, when they place the wood or victims. But it would be too low; and steps were made for that purpose. The altar was ten, or rather twelve cubits high, and as many broad. Solomon’s was ten high and twenty broad. Herod’s was a square of forty cubits, raised fifteen from the ground. Calmet.
Verse 15. The ariel. That is, the altar itself, or rather the highest part of it, upon which the burnt-offerings were laid. In the Hebrew it is harel, that is, the mountain of God; but in the following verse haariel, that is, the lion of God; a figure, from its consuming, and as it were devouring the sacrifices as a lion devours its prey. Challoner.—Fire descending sometimes from heaven. Saint Jerome Worthington.—It also appeared like a little mountain in the court. See Isaiah 29:1. The altar was probably made of brass, like Solomon’s. Josephus and Philo say that rough stones were used after the captivity: but it seems little attention was paid to the dimensions of the temple, and so forth given by Ezechiel. Calmet.—Yet the prophets were present to see the laws of God executed, and never complain of their infringement in these particulars, which were attended with no great difficulty. Calmet. 40:1. Bible.—It is certain the Jews never thought themselves bound to make their altars of a determinate size.
Verse 17. Crown, which was usually placed round altars and tables, that nothing might fall down.—Bottom of the altar, or base, mentioned verse 13.—Steps, boarded one each side. Exodus 20:26.
Verse 19. Levites. Hebrew “of the race of Levi, of the family of Sadoc.” He had obtained the dignity under Saul, ( Calmet.) and after the deposition of Abiathar, under Solomon, (3 Kennicott. 2:26. Bible.) his posterity always preserved it. Calmet. Diss.—Calf. Thou shalt give it, or make known these rites to the priests. Bible.—People are often said to do what they only command, as verse 20, and so forth
Verse 21. Sanctuary, out of the precincts of the temple, but on the mountain. Leviticus 4:3 and 6:11.
Verse 22. He-goat. Septuagint add, “of the goats,” (hircum caprarum. Bible.) denoting a young kid, ( Menochius.) or one selected ( Bible.) rather from the flock. Calmet.
Verse 26. Consecrate it. Lit. “fill his hand;” that is, dedicate and apply it to holy service, ( Challoner.) as the Hebrew and so forth speak of the altar. Septuagint “they shall fill their hands,” seems more natural, (Exodus 28:41) and is adopted by Pagn. Vat. and so forth Calmet.
A normal 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. A hand width is about 4.3 inches or 11 cm.
A span is the length from the tip of a man’s thumb to the tip of his little finger when his hand is stretched out (about half a cubit, or 9 inches, or 22.8 cm.)