Ver. 1. Moreover, when ye shall divide by lot.] As Ezekiel 48:29, where we have the division of the land, and the several seats assigned to each tribe. Here we have first provision made for the church service, which Christ’s people are most zealous of, and do therefore allot, before any divident, a portion for the Lord’s house and servants, and that very large, to prefigure the largeness of the Church of the New Testament. See Revelation 7:9,10, &c. Here Jerome aeknowledgeth himself to be in a labyrinth. The Jews call again for their Elias. Oecolampadius comes in with his huius loci mysteria tacitus veneror, and thinks this part of the prophecy such as no human understanding can fathom. Howbeit— “ Nil desperandum Christo duce, et auspice Christo. ” The length shall be.] [See Trapp on “Eze 40:1”]
Ver. 2. For the suburbs.] Which hath its name in Hebrew from its being severed from the city, and, as it were, cast out of it. It is better rendered, as in the margin, void places.
Ver. 3. The length of five and twenty thousand.] Here the same again is repeated, [as Ezekiel 45:1] and further is shown how this holy portion of ground was to be employed to the use of the priests.
Ver. 4. And it shall be a place for their houses.] Ministers should he resident upon their charges, and as incumbent, dwell near, and as it were lean over their work.
Ver. 5. For twenty chambers,] i.e., For twenty rows of chambers.
Ver. 6. And ye shall appoint the possession of the city.] After the church service settled, and the ministry provided for. Aristotle’s advice is πρωτον περι θειων επιμελει, first take care of divine things—that is the best policy. It shall be for the whole house of Israel.] A rendezvous for them at festival times. Polit., lib. vii. cap. 8.
Ver. 7. And a portion shall be for the prince.] See on Ezekiel 44:3. Understand it of the civil magistrate, who is lord keeper of both tables of the law, and ought to have a special care of the Church’s welfare. Here his portion is said to lie on both sides of the oblation of the holy portion; and (Song of Solomon 8:9) magistrates are required to hem ministers in with boards of cedar, i.e., to provide for their security, that they may be “without fear among them,” as Timothy. (1 Corinthians 16:10)
Ver. 8. And my princes shall no more oppress my people.] As Samuel foretold they would do, (1 Samuel 8:11-18) and accordingly they did. But in the Christian commonwealth it should be better, as indeed it was in the days of Constantine the Great, Valentinian, and Theodosius,—which three godly emperors called themselves the vassals of Christ,—and is now, blessed be God, among us at this day.
Ver. 9. Let it suffice you.] Be content with your double portion, your so large a lot; and that ye may be so, hear the laws that I lay upon you: remove violence and spoil, execute judgment and justice; take away your exactions, &c.; see that ye have just balances and a just ephah. Let these things be done, or you will be quickly undone. Is it not enough to be above men, but you must needs be above mankind, as those princes would be that would not be under the law?
Ver. 10. Ye shall have just balances.] Leviticus 19:35,36 Pr 11:1 16:11 20:10,23 Mic 6:10,11; [See Trapp on “Le 19:35”] [See Trapp on “Le 19:36”] [See Trapp on “Pr 11:1”] [See Trapp on “Pr 16:11”] [See Trapp on “Pr 20:10”] [See Trapp on “Pr 20:23”] [See Trapp on “Mic 6:10”] [See Trapp on “Mic 6:11”] The gospel rule is, “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” (Matthew 7:12) And, “Let no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter; because that the Lord is the avenger of all such”; and the civil magistrate is his minister, “a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil” either by force or fraud. (Romans 13:4)
Ver. 11. The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure.] Of the same capacity, only the ephah is the measure of dry things, and the bath of moist.
Ver. 12. And the shekel shall be twenty gerahs] Exodus 30:13 Le 27:25 Nu 3:47. Fifteen shekels, shall be your maneh.] Or, μνα, mina, pound weight.
Ver. 13. This is the oblation.] After order taken that both prince and people might have whereof to make oblations. (Ezekiel 45:9-12) Here follow laws concerning these matters also.
Ver. 14. Out of the cor, which is an homer.] Only “cor” is the Chaldee word, “homer” the Hebrew.
Ver. 15. Out of the fat pastures.] Those that are well watered and most fruitful. God must have the very best of the best, and that on pain of a heavy curse. (Malachi 1:14)
Ver. 16. For the prince,] i.e., Upon a levy made by the prince for that purpose. Of these oblations, prefiguring evangelical sacrifices, the use followeth, (Ezekiel 46:4) it being first premised what the prince should do over and above these offerings of wheat, barley, oil, and lambs.
Ver. 17. He shall prepare the sin offering.] Or, He shall offer, so some render it, and apply it to Christ. [so Ezekiel 45:22] This prince then is in addition a priest of the tribe of Judah. See Psalms 110:4 Heb 7:11-8:6. Non mirum quod hic haereant Iudaei; here the Jews are puzzled. Oecolamp.
Ver. 18. Thou shalt take.] Thou, O prince, shalt. A young bullock.] One, and no more. Ut unitas singularis sacvificii Christi intimaretur.
Ver. 19. And put it upon the posts.] This and other ceremonies were not enjoined by the law of Moses. The Jews cannot tell what to say to it. They will not see that old things are past, and all things become new.
Ver. 20. And so thou shalt.] This also is a new injunction, [see Ezekiel 45:19] and very comfortable to those that sin of passion or precipitancy. See 1 John 2:1,2.
Ver. 21. In the fourteenth day.] Upon that very day, not duly observed then by the Jews, was “Christ our passover sacrificed for us.” (1 Corinthians 5:7)
Ver. 22. Shall the prince prepare.] See Ezekiel 45:17.
Ver. 23. A burnt offering.] In token of self-denial.
Ver. 24. A meat offering.] Made of meal, in token of mortification, and submission to God in all things.
Ver. 25. In the feast of the seven days,] i.e., Of tabernacles, wont to be of eight days. (Leviticus 23:34,35) Quam sunt nova omnia There are all thing new. Of Pentecost here is no mention at all.