Ezek. 39:1 Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
This verse is a repeat of 38:3 (see comments in previous chapter).
Ezek. 39:2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:
Again, emphasis is given to the fact that God’s sovereign hand is in control of the events taking place.
“leave but the sixth part of thee” – The natural reading of this verse seems to say that only a sixth part of the army that comes against Israel will live through the experience; five-sixths or over 80% of Gog’s army will be destroyed. Imagine my amazement when I read through eight other translations and found no mention of a sixth part. So far, of the commentaries I have checked, only Matthew Henry has come to the same conclusion I did concerning this phrase.
Other commentaries basically agreed with John Gill’s exposition of this section: “…meaning, not that a sixth part only should escape the vengeance of God, and all but a sixth part be destroyed in the land of Israel; for it looks as if the whole army would be utterly destroyed, and none left; but that, when he should come out of his own country upon this expedition, a sixth part of his subjects only should be left behind; five out of six should accompany him; so numerous should his army be, and so drained his country by this enterprise of his.”
While listening to Joe Focht, he explained that the language used was similar to saying that Gog’s armies will be decimated.
Ezek. 39:3 And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.
Ezek. 39:4 Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.
Ezek. 39:5 Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.
Verse 3 basically indicates that God is going to make the weapons of Gog ineffective. The Hebrew for fall in verse 4 is a reference to falling down dead. In other words, most, if not all (depending upon your understanding of verse 2) of Gog’s armies will die on the mountains of Israel; and the birds of prey and beasts of the field will feast on the carcasses. (yuk!) The armies will not be able to take cover; God will ensure that they fall in the open field. As He has spoken, so it will be done.
Ezek. 39:6 And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD.
Not only will Gog’s armies in Israel be struck in judgment, the Lord will also send fire on Magog (Russia/Turkey), the land over which Gog rules, and upon those “that dwell carelessly in the isles.” Fire in the Hebrew means just what it says. I guess the question becomes—What kind of fire? Of supernatural origin, the forces of nature, the results of war, etc. Whatever the “source,” it will be coming from the hand of God.
“isles” = a habitable spot (as desirable); dry land, a coast, an island:—country, isle, island.
In my mind, the isles equated to islands or coastal lands, but it is basically a reference to anywhere people live. Carelessly seems to reference a false sense of security. I would think that this would be a reference to the homelands of those that had joined Gog’s coalition, but this prophecy doesn’t clarify that. However, the purpose of this judgment is to make the nations recognize God as LORD.
Ezek. 39:7 So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.
God’s intervention will cause Israel to once again acknowledge God as LORD. He will not allow His name to be polluted by the Jewish people as a whole any more from the time that He delivers them from the armies of Gog. The Hebrew for pollute includes “profane” among other choices. In my mind, this connects directly with chapter 36:21-23.
Ezekiel 36:21–23 “But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.”
No longer will the nations be able to consider the God of Israel weak or powerless regarding His provision for His people. His Holiness goes hand-in-hand with His truthfulness, and all will be done according to His word. They will be made to recognize YHWH as God Almighty, THE God of Israel. I think this will result in part through recognition that biblical prophecy is being fulfilled.
Ezek. 39:8 Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken.
I often have to remind myself that God is outside of time. Even as He is giving this prophecy to Ezekiel regarding the end times, God considers events as good as done. In human understanding, God is assuring us of the certainty of these events coming to pass just as He has foretold. The simple illustration I have heard most often: God is looking down on the parade of events on earth from a skybox view that allows Him to see the beginning and the end in one gaze.
Ezek. 39:9 And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years:
Ezek. 39:10 So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord GOD.
Interesting to note in these verses is that these weapons are going to supply fuel for Israel for seven years. One can’t help but try to make a connection with the 7 years being mentioned and the 7 years of Daniel’s 70th week known as the tribulation. I’ve always reasoned that this would put this war before or near the beginning of that tribulation period, but there is no clarification in this prophecy in that regard.
Others equate this invasion with Armageddon, but that doesn’t fit the prerequisite condition for Israel. Israel will be experiencing the despotic rule of the Antichrist at the time of Armageddon.
Point is also made that the Jewish people will gain from the spoil taken from Gog’s armies. This is another example of reaping what you have sown. Gog and his armies had attacked to spoil and rob the Jewish people; but they would become the ones spoiled and robbed.
Ezek. 39:11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog.
The number of dead from Gog’s armies will be so great that there will have to be a valley in Israel designated as the burial site. It is said to be located east of the “sea.” The Hebrew for sea includes a reference to the Mediterranean but also indicates that it could reference any large body of water or even a large river. Some commentaries locate this valley to the east of the Dead Sea. Though that would place the valley in current day Jordan, it could reference land that was originally allotted to the tribes of Israel. The location of this valley is not a significant issue in my mind except that God declares it will be in Israel. The significant point is that such a large place will be needed to bury the dead of Gog’s armies.
Ezek. 39:12 And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.
Ezek. 39:13 Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezek. 39:14 And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.
Ezek. 39:15 And the passengers that pass through the land, when any seeth a man’s bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamongog.
The number of dead will be so great that it will take seven months for Israel to bury them all. I liked the wording of the NLT for verse 13: “Everyone in Israel will help, for it will be a glorious victory for Israel when I demonstrate my glory on that day, says the Sovereign LORD.”
All the people are involved in getting the dead buried. After burying remains for seven months, a search will be made throughout the land to ensure that all the dead have been buried. Those who notice human remains will set up signs or markers to let the hired workers know that they have work to do at that location. This does seem to be a very specific process, and is a very interesting description considering today’s nuclear capabilities.
Jack Kelley at www.gracethrufaith.com/ikvot/the-battle-of-ezekiel-38-39-part-3 made these comments regarding this scripture: “It will require the combined efforts of all Israeli citizens for 7 months to bury the enemy dead. After that they'll hire professionals, some to decontaminate the land and some to search for any bodies the people may have missed. They won't touch any bones they find, but will set up markers and call the professionals to come take them away. This approach fits modern Nuclear Biological Chemical Warfare decontamination procedures to a tee.”
Point is made twice in these verses that this process will cleanse the land. It’s a reminder to me that God is dealing with Israel under the Old Testament teachings. Dead bodies were considered unclean. Everything associated with God, including His chosen land, is to be clean and pure.
Num. 19:16 And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.
This is just another affirmation that the place of burial will be in Israel.
Ezek. 39:16 And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land.
Evidently this valley will be marked by a city called Hamonah, which means multitude in reference to the number of dead. Again, emphasis is given to the fact that the land will be cleansed. This emphasis on “clean vs. unclean” would normally accompany temple practices and the keeping of the law as in Old Testament times (which I think will be the case in that 70th week).
Ezek. 39:17 And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood.
Ezek. 39:18 Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan.
Ezek. 39:19 And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you.
Ezek. 39:20 Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord GOD.
As I was working on a blog post and spending time yet once again in this section of scripture, I realized that verse 17 could represent a jump in time similar to the passage from which Jesus read in the synagogue in Nazareth from Isaiah 61:1-2. He stopped reading at a comma that has represented almost 2000 years at this point in time.
In context, Daniel 11 might provide a better example since it involves two different beings and times. There is a definite jump in application from Antiochus Epiphanes to the Antichrist in the 70th week by verse 36.
Revelation 19:17-18 seems to mirror this passage in Ezekiel: “And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.”
As you can see, the next verse (v21) declares that this sacrifice is followed by God “setting His glory among the heathen.” I now believe this is in reference to establishing Jesus on His throne in Jerusalem to reign as King of kings. In fact, the rest of this chapter flows beautifully with that thought. Verse 22 helped affirm my thinking. Ezekiel states that “the house of Israel shall know that “I am the Lord their God from that day and forward.” That statement was always one of those puzzle pieces that just didn’t fit in connection with Gog’s attack. It fits perfectly, however, with Armageddon and the return of Jesus as King.
Ezek. 39:21 And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.
The word heathen is a reference to all non-Jewish peoples. God is declaring that His glory, His honor, is upheld before the nations when His word is brought to pass just as He has foretold when He intercedes to defeat the armies of the heathen at this time.
Ezek. 39:22 So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward.
Also at that time, the people of Israel will again know that YHWH is their God—faithful to His covenants with their fathers. Though they might not understand why God has chosen to act as He has over such a long period of time, they will no longer doubt that He has been and continues to be in control of their future as a nation.
Ezek. 39:23 And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword.
This is a very interesting verse to me. God declares that the nations of the world will know and understand that Israel was dispersed among the nations because of their choice to disregard God’s law. They will understand the reason that God “hid His face” from them for a time and gave them over to the persecution of their enemies that resulted in the death of millions.
In spite of all the evidence of fulfilled prophecy, people still choose to reject the truth of God’s word. This ties in with other thoughts I have about the rapture and the tribulation. The information that is available as to the truth of God’s word and the widespread dissemination of that information makes it very hard to understand how the Antichrist will be able to deceive the nations. How can people continue to reject God’s word when it is playing out before their very eyes? I am amazed that more people don’t connect events in the Middle East in particular with the truth presented in scripture. Things such as the strengthening of ties between Russia and Turkey and the purposeful investment Russia is making in other countries identified as part of the Russian-led coalition. Things such as the Saudis, a strong Muslim nation, publicly recognizing Israel’s right to exist as a nation since Ezekiel declares that they will question Gog’s attack on Israel.
The prophecies concerning end times that began with the formation of the state of Israel are forthright. In fact, there is nothing in scripture that would cause people’s expectations to be anything other than for events to come down exactly as foretold. When Jesus came as the Messiah the first time, the people of Israel were blinded by their expectation of a coming King and deliverer. There is no room for misunderstanding events as they unfold according to end time prophecies. Although there is room for different understandings of different aspects as to timing and details, I think the biblical picture is clear enough on the major points as to make them recognizable as fulfillment takes place.
Ezek. 39:24 According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them.
Again, it is interesting to note that the Lord is speaking of the events being prophesied in the past tense. God’s word is sure.
Is. 14:24 The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand….
Again, point is made that God’s judgment of His people is in accordance with their actions; in other words, the punishment fits the crime.
Also important to note is that God chose to hide His face from them; He chose to allow His people to experience the reality of being outside the fence of His protection and care. As a parent, and as a child of God on the path of spiritual growth, I understand that to be a loving act on the part of the Father.
Prov. 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
Heb. 12:5-7 & 11 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?…Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
We are so prone to a spirit of pride and independence that we do not seem to learn and grow without experiencing the fire of judgment and/or trials. Paul expressed this truth in his letter to the Romans.
Rom. 5:3-4 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope….
Ezek. 39:25 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;
Ezek. 39:26 After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid.
These verses declare that this time of judgment upon God’s people is to be of specific duration; it will come to an end. God is going to again bring His people together as a nation in the land of Israel. This will be an act of mercy on His part; in other words, their actions deserve more, but the mercy of God will cause Him to intervene on their behalf. Why? In honor of His holy name. God set Israel apart among the nations and made unconditional covenants with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David. His honor is connected to the keeping of those covenants. After causing them to bear the shame of their rejection of Him in spite of His abundant provision for and faithfulness to them, He will again begin to intercede on their behalf. They were safe in the protection of His arms and had no reason to fear any enemy. Pride intervened and they began to think themselves outside the sphere of God’s judgment due to their chosen position and His patience and longsuffering.
I believe this is a true statement regarding many “Christians” today. They presume upon God’s love and patience; they feel their position “in Christ” protects them from the consequences of sin and disobedience. They haven’t learned the truth presented by the writer of Hebrews quoted above.
Ezek. 39:27 When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations;
Ezek. 39:28 Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there.
The time is coming when no one will be able to doubt the holiness of God based on the truth of His word. Though He has caused His people to be scattered among the nations, He will again bring them back as a whole nation to the land of Israel. Not one Jewish person will be left outside the land. No one will doubt that it is the power of God that has brought this about. This will be fulfilled at the establishment of the Messiah’s Kingdom on earth for 1000 years.
Ezek. 39:29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.
Never again will the people of Israel experience the withdrawal of God’s hand of provision and protection. Why? Because God is going to fill each and every Jew with His own Holy Spirit to empower them.
Ezekiel 36:24–28 “For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.”
Again, this is a very thought-provoking verse to me. These people will not be in resurrected bodies. They will still have a sin nature and be subject to the things of the world.
1John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life….
In other words, they will be living with the same empowerment that we have as Christians today. This is very convicting to me. We/I have no excuse to succumb to sin. True, the devil will be bound and Messiah will be on the throne ruling with a rod of iron. But we basically say that the power of God is not sufficient if we try to justify our sin for any reason since we possess the power of God within us through the Holy Spirit. I am certainly looking forward to a new body that is no longer influenced by the sin nature, but until that time I truly want to learn to yield to the power of the Holy Spirit in my life to live a life that honors the Savior. I have to call it like it is----Success is dependent on taking self off the throne of my life and yielding to God as LORD in my life in every aspect.
I already know that these last chapters are going to be the hardest for me. But here we go. The prophet Zechariah seems to declare that Jesus will build this temple.
Zech. 6:12-13 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
Ezek. 40:1 In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither.
Ezekiel received this message after being in captivity for 24 years, 14 years after the destruction of Jerusalem. This is also a good place to note that I believe this is the description of a real temple, with real measurements that will be in use during the millennial kingdom when Christ reigns as King of kings for 1000 years.
Ezek. 40:2 In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south.
Ezek. 40:3 And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.
Ezekiel is transported by means of a vision to a very high mountain in the land of Israel. As he looked toward the south, he could see a city being built; this would seem to indicate that he was positioned north of the city. There he saw a man who had “the appearance of brass”; this seems to indicate that he had a great tan or had dark skin. I think the prophet is saying that his appearance was striking and distinctive. The man is holding a line (twine or thread) of flax (linen (i.e. the thread, as carded)) and a measuring reed/stick. JFB indicated that the line was for making longer measurements and the reed for shorter. The man was standing at the gate to the city.
Ezek. 40:4 And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.
Ezekiel is instructed to pay careful attention to everything he saw and heard. He is to report in detail all that he sees to the people of Israel.
Ezek. 40:5 And behold a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man’s hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and an hand breadth: so he measured the breadth of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed.
Ezek. 40:6 Then came he unto the gate which looketh toward the east, and went up the stairs thereof, and measured the threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad; and the other threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad.
Ezek. 40:7 And every little chamber was one reed long, and one reed broad; and between the little chambers were five cubits; and the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate within was one reed.
The chapter begins looking toward a city, now the focus centers on the construction of “the house,” which context will prove to be the temple in Jerusalem. Measurement is first made of the wall surrounding the temple complex. Point is made that the measuring reed is 6 cubits + 1 hand breadth (the span of your fingers), aka a long cubit. A cubit was determined as the length between the elbow and the wrist (18-20 inches generally speaking). Commentators disagree as to the exact dimensions, but a total of 21-23” is generally referenced as the distance for the cubit + hand. The wall is as tall as it is thick—both measurements equating to about 10.5 feet. Evidently they walked around the wall to enter at the eastern gate and ascended the stairs. Verse 6 mentions two thresholds for the gate. I would assume that he is saying that entrance from outside the walls of the temple court and the entrance to the inner court from that same gate are the same after walking the 10.5’ width of the gate. From the inner court you would see that there was a series of square chambers (10.5’ x 10.5’) with 5 cubits separating each chamber. It would seem to me that these chambers are built into the wall surrounding the temple complex. It would seem that after entering the gate proper, there was a porch that extended into the courtyard.
Ezek. 40:8 He measured also the porch of the gate within, one reed.
Ezek. 40:9 Then measured he the porch of the gate, eight cubits; and the posts thereof, two cubits; and the porch of the gate was inward.
Ezek. 40:10 And the little chambers of the gate eastward were three on this side, and three on that side; they three were of one measure: and the posts had one measure on this side and on that side.
Ezek. 40:11 And he measured the breadth of the entry of the gate, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits.
Ezek. 40:12 The space also before the little chambers was one cubit on this side, and the space was one cubit on that side: and the little chambers were six cubits on this side, and six cubits on that side.
It would seem that the porch was the same size as the chambers. Verse 9 seems to indicate that the porch extended 8 more cubits; the support posts were 2 cubits thick. There were three small chambers of equal size (6 cubits x 6 cubits) on each side of the porch with one cubit between each chamber.
I’m not going to stress out about what I don’t understand at this stage. I’m just going to forge ahead and try to understand as much as possible. I found a link to reference Lambert Dolphin at www.templemount.org/ezektmp.html and through his article to the site of a man he recommends as one quite knowledgeable on this subject—Paul Jablonowski. His website is: www.sonstoglory.com/ThirdTempleEzekielsMillennialTemple.htm
I will refer to both along the way.
Ezek. 40:13 He measured then the gate from the roof of one little chamber to the roof of another: the breadth was five and twenty cubits, door against door.
Ezek. 40:14 He made also posts of threescore cubits, even unto the post of the court round about the gate.
Ezek. 40:15 And from the face of the gate of the entrance unto the face of the porch of the inner gate were fifty cubits.
Mr. Jablonowski diagrams this to show a length of 50 cubits from the outside of the courtyard wall to the posts supporting the exit of the gate area into the courtyard with a width of 25 cubits from the back walls of the side chambers on each side of the gateways. His diagram looks reasonable to me, but I could never have come up with it on my own.
Ezek. 40:16 And there were narrow windows to the little chambers, and to their posts within the gate round about, and likewise to the arches: and windows were round about inward: and upon each post were palm trees.
The chambers have windows that look toward the posts and the arches. The NLT painted a picture of narrow, recessed windows. The support posts are decorated with images of palm trees. Resources declare the palm tree to represent victory, peace and plenty in Judaism.
Ezek. 40:17 Then brought he me into the outward court, and, lo, there were chambers, and a pavement made for the court round about: thirty chambers were upon the pavement.
Ezek. 40:18 And the pavement by the side of the gates over against the length of the gates was the lower pavement.
Ezek. 40:19 Then he measured the breadth from the forefront of the lower gate unto the forefront of the inner court without, an hundred cubits eastward and northward.
Ezekiel now enters the outer court which it would seem is completely paved. It would seem that there are 30 chambers that are seen as being built into or next to the wall around the courtyard. Point is made that some of the pavement is designated as lower. It would seem that from the inside of the Eastern Gate entry to the temple mount to the entry gate to the inner court would measure 100 cubits.
Wiersbe notes that the outer court covers nearly 400,000 square feet.
Ezek. 40:20 And the gate of the outward court that looked toward the north, he measured the length thereof, and the breadth thereof.
Ezek. 40:21 And the little chambers thereof were three on this side and three on that side; and the posts thereof and the arches thereof were after the measure of the first gate: the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.
Ezek. 40:22 And their windows, and their arches, and their palm trees, were after the measure of the gate that looketh toward the east; and they went up unto it by seven steps; and the arches thereof were before them.
Ezekiel sees 3 chambers on each side of the gate. He states that the gate area in the north is identical to the one on the east. He also states that you ascended to the Northern Gate area by means of 7 steps.
Ezek. 40:23 And the gate of the inner court was over against the gate toward the north, and toward the east; and he measured from gate to gate an hundred cubits.
It would seem there were also 100 cubits encompassing the courtyard area between the inner and outer northern gates and between the inner and outer eastern gates.
Wiersbe notes that the inner court covers about 175 square feet.
Ezek. 40:24 After that he brought me toward the south, and behold a gate toward the south: and he measured the posts thereof and the arches thereof according to these measures.
Ezek. 40:25 And there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about, like those windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.
Ezek. 40:26 And there were seven steps to go up to it, and the arches thereof were before them: and it had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, upon the posts thereof.
There is also a Southern Gate by which one can enter the temple courtyard. This gate area is identical to those of the east and north. It would seem that one descended into the courtyard by seven steps from all three gate areas (east, north and south).
Ezek. 40:27 And there was a gate in the inner court toward the south: and he measured from gate to gate toward the south an hundred cubits.
Ezek. 40:28 And he brought me to the inner court by the south gate: and he measured the south gate according to these measures;
Ezek. 40:29 And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, according to these measures: and there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.
Ezek. 40:30 And the arches round about were five and twenty cubits long, and five cubits broad.
Ezek. 40:31 And the arches thereof were toward the utter court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof: and the going up to it had eight steps.
The courtyard area between the outer and inner gates of the south is also designated to be 100 cubits.
Ezekiel is then taken up eight steps into the inner courtyard through the south gate. It seems that the gates to the inner court are the same as those that allow entry to the outer court except that they faced outward rather than inward.
Ezek. 40:32 And he brought me into the inner court toward the east: and he measured the gate according to these measures.
Ezek. 40:33 And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, were according to these measures: and there were windows therein and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.
Ezek. 40:34 And the arches thereof were toward the outward court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps.
This description mirrors that of the south gate.
Ezek. 40:35 And he brought me to the north gate, and measured it according to these measures;
Ezek. 40:36 The little chambers thereof, the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, and the windows to it round about: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.
Ezek. 40:37 And the posts thereof were toward the utter court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps.
This description mirrors that of the southern and eastern gates.
Ezek. 40:38 And the chambers and the entries thereof were by the posts of the gates, where they washed the burnt offering.
Ezekiel is now told that by the posts at the entries of each gate to the inner court were the designated areas for washing the burnt offerings.
Ezek. 40:39 And in the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, to slay thereon the burnt offering and the sin offering and the trespass offering.
Ezek. 40:40 And at the side without, as one goeth up to the entry of the north gate, were two tables; and on the other side, which was at the porch of the gate, were two tables.
Ezek. 40:41 Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate; eight tables, whereupon they slew their sacrifices.
Ezek. 40:42 And the four tables were of hewn stone for the burnt offering, of a cubit and an half long, and a cubit and an half broad, and one cubit high: whereupon also they laid the instruments wherewith they slew the burnt offering and the sacrifice.
Ezek. 40:43 And within were hooks, an hand broad, fastened round about: and upon the tables was the flesh of the offering.
There are a total of 8 tables positioned at the northern gate to the inner court upon which will be slain the burnt offering, sin offering and trespass offering. The tables are made of stone that had been cut into 1.5 cubit squares and are one cubit high. These tables were equipped with the instruments needed for killing the offerings and sacrifices. The indication is that there were hooks to hold these instruments.
At first I thought this meant that this setup was at all the gates to the inner court, but Ezekiel seems to single out the northern gate. JFB made the following informative notations: “This does not apply to all the gates but only to the north gate. For Leviticus 1:11 directs the sacrifices to be killed north of the altar; and Ezekiel 8:5 calls the north gate, ‘the gate of the altar.’”
Lev. 1:11 And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar.
Ezek. 8:5 Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry.
Ezek. 40:44 And without the inner gate were the chambers of the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate; and their prospect was toward the south: one at the side of the east gate having the prospect toward the north.
The CJB states: “Outside the inner gate, in the inner courtyard, were rooms for the singers, one facing south alongside the north gate, and one facing north alongside the east gate.”
Young states it this way: “And on the outside of the inner gate [are] chambers of the singers, in the inner court, that [are] at the side of the north gate, and their fronts [are] southward, one at the side of the east gate [hath] the front northward.”
I was completely surprised to note that several translations refer to the east gate as the south gate. I looked at the Concordance for the NIV and noticed that a completely different word was used, so I am assuming the difference is in the source text.
Ezek. 40:45 And he said unto me, This chamber, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house.
Ezek. 40:46 And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.
These verses seem to indicate that there are only 2 chambers being referenced; verse 44 was confusing as to that point. The chamber that faces south is for the priests that take care of the temple proper. The one that faces north is for those priests who minister at the altar, specifically identified as the sons of Zadok. The reason this family has been chosen for this privilege is stated in chapter 44.
Ezek. 44:15-16 But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD: They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.
These kinds of verses always “wow” me. God is completely knowledgeable of our ancestry. After all these thousands of years, the sons of Zadok are going to be blessed due to the faithfulness of their ancient ancestors. This certainly gives one pause regarding how our actions are impacting our own children and grandchildren. Are we benefiting them or hindering them regarding their future service for the Lord?
Ezek. 40:47 So he measured the court, an hundred cubits long, and an hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the altar that was before the house.
Ezek. 40:48 And he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured each post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the gate was three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side.
Ezek. 40:49 The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits; and he brought me by the steps whereby they went up to it: and there were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side.
The inner court seems to measure 100 cubits square. The altar is in front of the Temple proper. I would assume at the northern end based on verses 39-43 above.
Ezekiel is then taken to the porch of the Temple. The supporting posts are measured as 5 cubits square. The gate or door is 3 cubits wide on each side; that gives me a picture of a double door. The porch is 20 cubits long and eleven cubits deep. Ezekiel had to ascend to the porch using steps. Two pillars are mentioned at the end of verse 49, which immediately brings to mind the two named pillars of Solomon’s temple—Joachin and Boaz. I’m not sure, however, how to separate a post from a pillar. Mr. Jablonowski’s diagram pictures them positioned on each side of the doorway into the temple proper.
One of the first questions that comes to mind as you read this chapter is concerning the reason God chooses to reestablish the sacrificial system. Under the Old Testament Law the sacrifices pointed to the coming Savior and His provision for us as the spotless Lamb of God Who died to provide forgiveness of sin. Under the New Testament period of grace we are reminded of that provision through participating in communion, the Lord’s Supper. I have most often heard it taught that the sacrificial system of the millennial kingdom will point back to the provision of Messiah.
My mind took a little different direction. In both periods the sin of mankind has dominated the culture of the world and the need for a Savior was obvious. Although men will still possess a sin nature, in the millennial kingdom the Lord will be ruling with a rod of iron.
Rev. 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
In other words, Jesus as King will not allow sin to dominate the world again. He will not be tolerant or politically correct. Not only that, Satan and his forces will be bound and not allowed to influence men with lies, deceit and oppression. The reinstituted sacrificial system will vividly portray the truth that man’s sin required the death of the spotless, innocent Son of God to provide man the gift of salvation. I think one who is living in a world that is dominated by the good and not the bad, one in which even the animals get along with one another and pose no threat to man, would need that vivid reminder of the terrible consequences of his sin. This would especially apply to the nation of Israel, since not one Jewish person will choose to reject the Lord during the whole kingdom age.
Jer. 31:31-34 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Rom. 11:26-27 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Though the sacrificial system provides a vivid reminder of the death of our innocent Savior, that is all it is—a reminder. There is no way that we can truly comprehend the pain and suffering He endured in that act of unconditional love—all because of “my” sin.
I downloaded an article by John Whitcomb called “Christ’s Atonement and Animal Sacrifices in Israel.” He posited that the sacrifices would have much the same purpose as they did under the Old Covenant. He quotes the following from Jerry Hullinger as quoted in Bibliotheca Sacra 163 (Oct-Dec 2006).
“The fundamental rationale of the mosaic sacrificial system [was] the presence of the divine glory. The Mosaic system was instituted in Leviticus subsequent to the descent of the Shekinah in Exodus 40:34-38. Because of the communicability of uncleanness, the purity of God’s presence needed to be protected. Fittingly, as Ezekiel envisioned a future temple in the millennial kingdom with the resident glory of God [Ezekiel 43:2-7; 44:1-4], he saw the necessity of sacrificial blood once more because of the presence of nonglorified individuals who can be a source of communicable contamination.”
This seems to be supported in the following verse: Ezekiel 44:23 “And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.”
Obviously, I hadn’t thought about it in this specific context before. I think the purpose for these sacrifices probably includes all of the following:
To remind mankind of the necessity of Christ’s sacrifice to atone for the sin of all who will accept Him as Lord and Savior.
To emphasize the need for purity before God.
Though all Israel will be saved in the millennium; they will not be sinless. The sacrificial system will be a constant tangible reminder of their need to strive for holiness and purity in obedience and service to God. These thoughts go hand-in-hand with the thoughts expressed by Paul Jablonowski.
“Therefore, the previous temples in history have been for the purpose of teaching us what it means to be the true "temple of God" not made with hands. Physical temples explain to us in a practical "hands on" manner how we become a holy and pure and undefiled place for God to dwell. The reason previous temples had to be destroyed (like Solomon's, & Herod's) was because of OUR (Mankind's) unfaithfulness to the Covenant that God has made with us, and not because Yahweh's purposes have been changed.
The Millennial Temple will not be any different than previous temples in its eternal purpose. It will serve the same eternal purposes by providing a natural object lesson for the spiritual reality that God will be working out in His true temple "not made with hands." We still have much to learn about what it really means to be God's dwelling place. To be exact, we will have one thousand years worth of discipling and perfecting.”