---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse Ezekiel 40:1. In the five and twentieth year of our captivity — According to the date here given, this prophecy was delivered on Tuesday, April 20,"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/ezekiel/40"
---

Verse [Ezekiel 40:1](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/1). ***In the five and twentieth year of our captivity*** — According to the date here given, this prophecy was delivered on Tuesday, April 20, A.M. 3430, in the *twenty-fifth* year of the captivity of *Jeconiah*, and *fourteen* years after the taking of Jerusalem.
The temple here described by Ezekiel is, in all probability, the same which he saw before his captivity, and which had been burned by the Chaldeans *fourteen* years before this vision. On comparing the Books of Kings and Chronicles with this prophet, we shall find the same dimensions in the parts described by both; for instance, the temple, or place which comprehended the sanctuary, the holy place, and the vestibule or porch before the temple, is found to measure equally the same both in Ezekiel and the Kings. Compare [1 Kings 6:3-16](../../../kjv/1-kings/6/3-16), with [Ezekiel 41:2](../../../kjv/ezekiel/41/2), c. The inside ornaments of the temple are entirely the same in both we see two courts; an inner one for the priests, and an outer one for the people. Compare [1 Kings 6:29-36](../../../kjv/1-kings/6/29-36); [2 Chronicles 4:9](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/4/9); and [Ezekiel 41:16-17](../../../kjv/ezekiel/41/16-17), and [Ezekiel 48:7-10](../../../kjv/ezekiel/48/7-10). So that there is room to suppose that, in all the rest, the temple of Ezekiel resembled the old one; and that God's design in retracing these ideas in the prophet's memory was to preserve the remembrance of the plan, the dimensions, the ornaments, and whole structure of this Divine edifice; and that at the return from captivity the people might more easily repair it, agreeably to this model. The prophet's applying himself to describe this edifice was a motive of hope to the Jews of seeing themselves one day delivered from captivity, the temple rebuilt, and their nation restored to its ancient inheritance. Ezekiel touches very slightly upon the description of the temple or house of the Lord, which comprehended the holy place or sanctuary, and which are so exactly described in the Books of Kings. He dwells more largely upon the gates, the galleries, and apartments, of the temple, concerning which the history of the kings had not spoken, or only just taken notice of by the way.
This is the judgment of *Calmet*; and although every Biblical critic is of the same opinion, yet more labour is spent on *rebuilding* this temple of *Ezekiel* than was spent on that built by Solomon! The Jesuits, *Prada* and *Vililalpand*, have given *three* folio volumes on this temple, with abundance of cuts, where the different parts are exhibited after the finest models of *Grecian* and *Roman* architecture! But still the building is incomplete. Now, of what consequence is all this to the Christian, or to any other reader? I confess I see not. While, then, we have the exact dimensions and accurate description in 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles, of that built by Solomon, in imitation of which this *plan by* *Ezekiel* was drawn, we need not be very solicitous about the *manner* *of measuring* and *describing* used by the prophet; as, when we have laboured through the whole, we have only the measurements and description of that built by Solomon, and delineated by a hand not less faithful in the First Book of Kings, [1 Kings 6](../../../kjv/1-kings/6), and Second Chronicles, [2 Chronicles 2](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/2), [2 Chronicles 3](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/3), [2 Chronicles 4](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/4), [2 Chronicles 5](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/5), and [2 Chronicles 6](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/6).
As the prophet knew that the Chaldeans had utterly destroyed the temple, he thought it necessary to preserve an *exact description* of it, that on their restoration the people might build one on the same model. As to *allegorical meanings* relative to this temple, I can say nothing: God has given no *data* by which any thing of this kind can be known or applied; and as to those who have laboured in this way, perhaps "Solomon's Temple Spiritualized, by *John* *Bunyan*," is equally good with their well-intended inventions. Those who wish to enter much into the particulars of this temple must have recourse to the more voluminous expositors, who on this subject seem to have thought that they could never say enough. See also the accompanying *map*.

Verse [Ezekiel 40:2](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/2). ***Set me upon a very high mountain*** — Mount *Moriah*, the mount on which Solomon's temple was built, [2 Chronicles 3:1](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/3/1).

Verse [Ezekiel 40:3](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/3). ***A man, whose appearance*****was*****like - brass*** — Like *bright* *polished brass*, which strongly reflected the rays of light. Probably he had what we would term a *nimbus* or *glory* round his head. This was either an *angel*; or, as some think, a personal appearance of our blessed Lord.

Verse [Ezekiel 40:4](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/4). ***Declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel*** — That they may know how to build the second temple, when they shall be restored from their captivity.

Verse [Ezekiel 40:5](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/5). ***A measuring reed of six cubits*****long**] The Hebrew cubit is supposed to be about *twenty and a half* inches; and a palm, about *three* inches more; the length of the rod about *ten* feet *six* inches.
***The breadth-one reed; and the height, one reed.*** — As this *wall* was as *broad* as it was *high*, it must have been a kind of *parapet*, which was carried, of the same dimensions, all round the temple. See AAAA in the plan. [Ezekiel 48:35](../../../kjv/ezekiel/48/35)

Verse [Ezekiel 40:6](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/6). ***Went up the stairs thereof*** — As the temple was built upon an eminence, there must have been steps on the outside, opposite to each door, to ascend by. And it appears there were *steps* to go up from *one court* to *another*, see [Ezekiel 40:22](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/22); [Ezekiel 40:26](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/26); [Ezekiel 40:34](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/34); [Ezekiel 40:37](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/37); and also from the *court of the priests* to the *sanctuary*, [Ezekiel 40:49](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/49). See MMMMM in the plan. [Ezekiel 48:35](../../../kjv/ezekiel/48/35)

Verse [Ezekiel 40:7](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/7). ***And*****every*****little chamber*****was*****one reed*** — These were the chambers of the buildings which were within the inclosure of the temple round the court, and these chambers appear to have been numerous. See the map, which has been carefully copied from that of *Calmet*.

Verse [Ezekiel 40:9](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/9). ***The porch of the gate*** — See account of the *gates* in the plan. [Ezekiel 48:35](../../../kjv/ezekiel/48/35)

Verse [Ezekiel 40:15](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/15). ***Fifty cubits.*** — The length of the building. See MMMMM in the plan. [Ezekiel 48:35](../../../kjv/ezekiel/48/35).

Verse [Ezekiel 40:17](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/17). ***The outward court*** — This was the court of the people.

Verse [Ezekiel 40:21](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/21). ***And the little chambers thereof*****were*****three, &c.*** — See the plan. [Ezekiel 48:35](../../../kjv/ezekiel/48/35).
***Arches*** — Porch. The arch was not known at this period.

Verse [Ezekiel 40:24](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/24). ***According to these measures.*** — The same measures that had been used at the eastern court.

Verse [Ezekiel 40:30](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/30). ***And the arches round about*****were*****five and twenty cubits**********long*** — That the *five cubits broad* should be *read twenty-five* is evident from [Ezekiel 40:21](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/21); [Ezekiel 40:25](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/25); [Ezekiel 40:29](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/29); [Ezekiel 40:33](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/33); [Ezekiel 40:36](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/36), The word ועשרים *veesrim, twenty*, has probably been lost out of the text. Indeed the whole verse is wanting in *two* of *Kennicott's* MSS., *one* of *De Rossi's*, and *one* of mine, (Cod. B.) It has been added in the margin of mine by a later hand. It is reported to have been anciently wanting in many MSS.

Verse [Ezekiel 40:39](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/39). ***The porch of the gate*** — The north gate of the court of the priests. See Q in the plan. [Ezekiel 48:35](../../../kjv/ezekiel/48/35).
***Two tables*** — Some say of *marble*. See *dddd* in the plan. [Ezekiel 48:35](../../../kjv/ezekiel/48/35).

Verse [Ezekiel 40:41](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/41). ***Four tables*** — These were in the porch of the north gate, in the court of the priests: on them they slew, flayed, and cut up the victims. See *dddd* in the plan. [Ezekiel 48:35](../../../kjv/ezekiel/48/35).

Verse [Ezekiel 40:47](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/47). ***He measured the court*** — This was the court of the priests. See FFF in the plan. [Ezekiel 48:35](../../../kjv/ezekiel/48/35); [Ezekiel 48:35](../../../kjv/ezekiel/48/35).

Verse [Ezekiel 40:48](../../../kjv/ezekiel/40/48). ***Breadth of the gate*** — It is evident that the gate was a bivalve, or had folding doors. The length of the porch was *twenty* cubits. *Josephus* says the vestibule was *twenty* cubits long and *ten* broad. Antiq. lib. viii. 3, 2.

Verse 49. ***By the steps*** — This was a flight of steps that led to the temple; there were *eight* steps in each flight. See YY in the plan. [Ezekiel 48:35](../../../kjv/ezekiel/48/35).

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