Chapters xl-xlviii.
The final nine chapters of this book form the climax of the great
prophecies of Ezekiel; they belong to the most difficult in the entire
prophetic Word. Once more the hand of the Lord rests upon the seer and
in the visions of God he is brought into the land of Israel. In the very
beginning of this grand finale we learn therefore that the visions
concern the land of Israel. Let us remember that after the fall of
Jerusalem had been announced to Ezekiel (chapter xxxiii:21), his
prophetic utterances and visions concern the future when Israel is to be
regathered and restored to the land. The previous two chapters dealt
with the last invasion of the land of Israel and the complete overthrow
of Gog and its hordes. The vision contained in this last section follows
after Israel's final deliverance. So much is clear as to the time when
the prophecies of these eight chapters will be accomplished. They have
not been fulfilled in the past, certainly not in the remnant which
returned under Zerubabbel and Ezra. Nor have these prophecies been
fulfilled since then. All is future. Only when the Lord has gathered
Judah and Israel, when He has established His glorious Kingdom in their
midst and delivered His people and the land from the last invader, will
this last vision of Ezekiel become history.
This disposes then at once of the different modes of interpretation
employed by so many expositors of this book. These are the following:
1. The theory of interpretation which looks upon the vision of these
chapters as fulfilled in the return of the remnant from Babylon. One of
the expositors who follows this line stated that these visions are "an
ideal representation of the Jewish state about to be restored after the
captivity." It does not need much argument to show that this mode of
interpretation is erroneous. The temple which the remnant built does in
no way whatever correspond with the magnificent structure which Ezekiel
beheld in his vision. The fact is, if this temple is a literal building
(as it assuredly is) it has never yet been erected. Furthermore, it is
distinctly stated that the glory of the Lord returned to the temple and
made His dwelling place there, the same glory which Ezekiel had seen
departing from the temple and from Jerusalem. But the glory did not
return to the second temple. No glory cloud filled that house. And
furthermore no high priest is mentioned in the worship of the temple
Ezekiel describes, but the Jews after their return from Babylon had high
priests again. Nor can the stream of healing waters flowing from the
temple as seen by Ezekiel be in any way applied to the restoration from
the Babylonian captivity. Expositors who follow this mode of
interpretation claim that all has been fulfilled and that there is
nothing in store for Israel in the future. It is the most superficial
method and totally wrong.
2. Another interpretation claims that the whole vision sprang from the
imagination of the prophet. That all is an ideal description of
something which the expositor himself is unable to define. This mode of
interpretation needs no further mention and answer.
3. The third interpretation of these chapters is the allegorical which
spiritualizes everything and claims that the Christian church, its
earthly glory and blessing, is symbolically described by the prophet.
This is the weakest of all and yet the most accepted. But this theory
gives no exposition of the text, is vague and abounds in fanciful
applications, while the greater part of this vision is left unexplained
even in its allegorical meaning, for it evidently has no such meaning at
all.[36]
[36] What strange applications have been made of this vision! We quote
from the "New Century Bible" which says concerning this temple: "Its
details shed a light nowhere else vouchsafed to us upon the ideals of
_Hebrew art_, influenced perhaps, by Babylonian masterpieces, yet
entirely national and Puritan; and they embody in material form
Ezekiel's sober but intense conception of religion, as completely as the
Gothic cathedrals translate into concrete and abiding stone and marble
the soaring visions of mediaeval Christianity."(!)
The true interpretation is the literal one which looks upon these
chapters as a prophecy yet unfulfilled and to be fulfilled when Israel
has been restored by the Shepherd and when His glory is once more
manifested in the midst of His people. The great building seen in his
prophetic vision will then come into existence and all will be
accomplished.
But while we are sure of the strictly future fulfillment of this final
vision, the many details which abound in these chapters can hardly be
fully interpreted as to their meaning. Much is obscure. That all has a
deeper meaning we do not doubt; and here and there we shall offer
suggestions, but many things we shall have to pass over. Before we turn
to the text and open up the contents of these chapters, a telescopic
view of the whole section is in order and will be helpful in our further
studies.
We call attention first to the three main divisions.
=I. The Description of the Temple.= Chapters xl-xlii.
=II. The Temple Worship.= Chapters xliii-xlvi.
=III. The Vision Concerning the Land.= Chapters xlvii-xlviii.
Generally these eight chapters are called "The Temple Vision;" but there
is much more than the vision of a future temple. We shall see next the
contents of these chapters.
=I. The Description of the Temple.= Chapters xl-xlii.
Chapter xl.
1. The Introduction. Verses 1-4.
2. The Gate toward the East. Verses 5-16.
3. The Outer Court. Verses 17-27.
4. The Inner Court. Verses 28-37.
5. The Tables for the Offerings and the Chambers for the Inner
Court. Verses 38-47.
6. The Porch of the House. Verses 48-49.
Chapter xli.
1. The Holy Place. Verses 1-2.
2. The Most Holy. Verses 3-4.
3. The Side Chambers. Verses 5-11.
4. The Hinder Buildings and the Measurement. Verses 12-14.
5. Description of the Interior of the Temple. Verses 15-26.
Chapter xlii.
1. The Priest's Chambers in the Inner Court. Verses 1-14.
2. The Final Measurements. Verses 15-20.
=II. The Temple Worship.= Chapters xliii-xlvi.
Chapter xliii.
1. The Return of the Glory of the Lord and Filling the House.
Verses 1-9.
2. The Address to the Nation. Verses 10-12.
3. The Dimensions of the Altar. Verses 13-17.
4. The Offerings to be Brought. Verses 18-27.
Chapter xliv.
1. The Outward Eastern Gate for the Prince. Verses 1-3.
2. The Charge concerning the Strangers and the Rebellious Tribes.
Verses 4-14.
3. The Charge concerning the Priests, the Sons of Zadok. Verses 15-27.
4. The Inheritance of the Priests. Verses 28-31.
Chapter xlv.
1. The Portions of the Priests, the Levites, of the whole House of
Israel and the Prince. Verses 1-8.
2. Concerning the Prince. Verses 9-17.
3. The Feast of Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles. Verse 18-25.
Chapter xlvi.
1. The Worship of the Prince. Verses 1-8.
2. Further Instruction as to Worship. Verses 9-15.
3. Concerning the Prince, his Sons and his Servants. Verses 16-18.
4. A Final Description of places in the Temple. Verses 19-24.
=III. The Vision concerning the Land.= Chapters xlvii-xlviii.
Chapter xlvii.
1. The Waters of Healing from the Temple. Verses 1-12.
2. Borders of the Land. Verses 13-21.
3. Concerning the Stranger in the land. Verses 22-23.
Chapter xlviii.
1. The Portion of the Seven Tribes. Verses 1-7.
2. The Oblation for the Sanctuary, for the City and for the Prince.
Verses 8-29.
3. The Gates of the City and its new Name. Verses 30-35.