Historical chapter commentary
Verse 2. Prince. After the captivity, although the race of David continued in Salathiel, Zorobabel, and so forth yet they had not the state of kings. Hence Christians, R. David and other Jews, understand this of the Messias and the rites of his Church, with a literal allusion to the old law. Worthington.—Without, not proceeding into the court of the priests. Calmet. 44:2.
Verse 4. Six. Moses only prescribed two lambs for every day. Numbers 28:9.
Verse 5. Sacrifice. See Calmet. 45:24. Flour and oil accompanied the victim. When lambs were presented, this was left to the prince’s devotion (verse 7 and 11. Calmet.) only. If he gave three or four ephies of flour, he must give as many hins of oil. Bible.
Verse 6. Calf. Moses orders two, and seven lambs. Numbers 28:11. Calmet.—The rams. Hebrew “a ram. They shall,” and so forth Bible.
Verse 9. It, perhaps to avoid confusion, ( Menochius.) and turning the back on the temple, ( Calmet.) or to exercise their obedience. As many might enter by one gate as by another, and thus the concourse would not be diminished. Bible.
Verse 10. Out. The prince went in and out by the same gate, (verse 8) and might order that on the east to be opened when he had to offer a voluntary sacrifice. In other respects he was like a simple Israelite, and was to attend the temple and use the same gates as the rest. Before, the kings had a gate on the west leading to their palace. But this was no longer to subsist, and the palace was to be far removed. Calmet. 48:21.
Verse 11. Solemnities. Hebrew “on feasts and on days of meeting.” Calmet.—Sacrifice: mincha. verse 7, and Calmet. 45:24. Bible.
Verse 13. Morning. That for the evening had the same ceremonies. Leviticus 6:9.
Verse 14. By. Cata seems to be taken Calmet. from the Greek κατα, “according to,” or by. verse 15. Bible.
Verse 17. Sons. If any portion of his land was made over to them, it still remained in the family; but if any other had a present of it, the land must revert to the royal family, agreeably to the law. Leviticus 25:10. Calmet.—This insinuates that works done by the true children of God, in the state of grace, merit an eternal reward, while moral good works performed in the state of sin, can only have a temporal one. Worthington.
Verse 19. Gate, on the north. Calmet. 44:4.—West. At this corner was the kitchen for victims, which could only be eaten in the inner court. If they had been brought into that without, the people would have become unclean; as it is equally wrong to touch holy or impure things when they are forbidden. Calmet. 44:19. There were four other kitchens for the people who might choose to eat their peace-offerings. verse 24. Calmet.
Verse 22. Little. Hebrew “courts joined.” Prot. or marg. “made with chimneys,” ( Bible.) or “smoked,” as no chimneys were used. Septuagint “little courts,” as they have read differently. Calmet.—Vulg. unites both meanings. Bible.
Verse 24. Kitchens. Septuagint “porticoes,” or rather ( Calmet.) “boiling places;” Prot. and verse 24. Bible.
A hin is about 6.5 liters or 1.7 gallons.
1 ephah is about 22 liters or about 2/3 of a bushel
1 ephah is about 22 liters or about 2/3 of a bushel
1 ephah is about 22 liters or about 2/3 of a bushel
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.