Ezek. 45:1 Moreover, when ye shall divide by lot the land for inheritance, ye shall offer an oblation unto the LORD, an holy portion of the land: the length shall be the length of five and twenty thousand reeds, and the breadth shall be ten thousand. This shall be holy in all the borders thereof round about.
Ezek. 45:2 Of this there shall be for the sanctuary five hundred in length, with five hundred in breadth, square round about; and fifty cubits round about for the suburbs thereof.
Ezek. 45:3 And of this measure shalt thou measure the length of five and twenty thousand, and the breadth of ten thousand: and in it shall be the sanctuary and the most holy place.
After reading through this chapter, I know this is going to be slow going. Although the unit of measure is not identified in the first verse, the second verse would indicate that the reference is to cubits. IF that is correct, the area of the holy portion of land would measure approximately 8.3 x 6.6 miles as stated in the NLT. An 875’ square is to be set aside for the temple. The temple area is to be bordered by an area measuring 87.5’ on all sides. Verse 3 seems to be emphasizing that the area for the sanctuary is part of the original designation of 8.3 x 6.6 miles.
This land is to be considered a present or tribute (from the Hebrew for oblation) to the Lord.
Ezek. 45:4 The holy portion of the land shall be for the priests the ministers of the sanctuary, which shall come near to minister unto the LORD: and it shall be a place for their houses, and an holy place for the sanctuary.
Ezek. 45:5 And the five and twenty thousand of length, and the ten thousand of breadth, shall also the Levites, the ministers of the house, have for themselves, for a possession for twenty chambers.
It would seem that the priests and Levites were to live in the designated holy area in that portion outside that reserved for the temple complex.
Ezek. 45:6 And ye shall appoint the possession of the city five thousand broad, and five and twenty thousand long, over against the oblation of the holy portion: it shall be for the whole house of Israel.
The city of Jerusalem will border the land given to the Lord and will cover an area approximately 1.7 x 8.3 miles.
Ezek. 45:7 And a portion shall be for the prince on the one side and on the other side of the oblation of the holy portion, and of the possession of the city, before the oblation of the holy portion, and before the possession of the city, from the west side westward, and from the east side eastward: and the length shall be over against one of the portions, from the west border unto the east border.
Ezek. 45:8 In the land shall be his possession in Israel: and my princes shall no more oppress my people; and the rest of the land shall they give to the house of Israel according to their tribes.
The prince is also to receive a portion of land. It would seem that his portion borders the holy portion on the east and west sides. Each of the princes’ land sections will extend to the borders of the land on the east and west making the entire strip of land that includes that for the prince, the priests and Levites, the temple and the city comparable to the eastern and western borders of the tribal allotments.
The CJB for verse 7 was much more easily understood: “The prince is to have the territory on both sides of the holy offering and the city’s holding; it will extend westward to the western border of the land and eastward to its eastern border; and the length [from the far side of one] of its two parts [to the far side of the other] will be the same as the length of one of the [tribal] portions.”
Verse 8 is a statement of God’s promise that the prince and his descendants, the princes or rulers of the land, will never again mistreat the people of Israel. Then it goes on to state that the rest of Israel is to be given by allotment to the twelve tribes.
Ezek. 45:9 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord GOD.
This is an interesting verse from my perspective. The Lord is addressing a group of rulers yet to come in Israel. It would seem as though He is instructing them based on the actions of their forefathers of old. They are told to “remove violence and spoil.” I don’t think those that He is instructing will have acted in such a manner, but their forefathers certainly did. They are being instructed to rule rightly according to the law. The Hebrew for exaction references “dispossession.” This is evidently also a reference to the actions of the forefathers of these rulers. The rulers of Israel through the millennium will rule with righteousness and selflessness.
Ezek. 45:10 Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath.
Ezek. 45:11 The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, that the bath may contain the tenth part of an homer, and the ephah the tenth part of an homer: the measure thereof shall be after the homer.
Ezek. 45:12 And the shekel shall be twenty gerahs: twenty shekels, five and twenty shekels, fifteen shekels, shall be your maneh.
Instructions to the princes continue. They are to have standard weights and measures according to specific guidelines that govern the whole land. The people, and especially their leaders, are not to manipulate these weights and measures to their own benefit, as had their ancestors.
Reminder--Ezekiel is recording these instructions regarding the millennial temple and its function for the benefit of those captive in Babylon at that time. The day was coming when the Lord would provide for them to return to Jerusalem and Israel. Through these instructions the Lord is also instructing those who would assume leadership positions once they returned home. The rebukes that are a part of these instructions applied to their generation.
Ezek. 45:13 This is the oblation that ye shall offer; the sixth part of an ephah of an homer of wheat, and ye shall give the sixth part of an ephah of an homer of barley:
Ezek. 45:14 Concerning the ordinance of oil, the bath of oil, ye shall offer the tenth part of a bath out of the cor, which is an homer of ten baths; for ten baths are an homer:
Ezek. 45:15 And one lamb out of the flock, out of two hundred, out of the fat pastures of Israel; for a meat offering, and for a burnt offering, and for peace offerings, to make reconciliation for them, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezek. 45:16 All the people of the land shall give this oblation for the prince in Israel.
In this section the Lord is specifying the tribute that the people are to give the prince for his use. Note that this tribute is proportionate. Each person gives tribute according to his wealth. It would seem that the millennial Israel is again going to be a predominantly agricultural society.
This tribute is to be used in the administration of the temple and for offerings on behalf of the nation as a whole.
Ezek. 45:17 And it shall be the prince’s part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel.
It would seem that the prince will represent the nation in giving offerings on behalf of the people. These offerings area identified as:
Burnt
Meat
Drink
Feast
New moons
Sabbaths
All solemnities of the house of Israel—including the sin, meat, burnt and peace offerings.
I believe the first four offerings listed are what were referred to as the “sweet savor” offerings because they were offered at the will of the individual. It would seem that the prince will make these types of offerings on behalf of the nation.
The solemn feasts are identified as unleavened bread, feast of weeks and the feast of tabernacles. It would seem that the feast of weeks is omitted during the millennium.
2Chr. 8:12-13 Then Solomon offered burnt offerings unto the LORD on the altar of the LORD, which he had built before the porch, Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.
It would seem that the prince is following the precedent set by Solomon when the temple was first built. The NIV Commentary made note that the emphasis seems to be on God’s provision for the people since the offerings are coming from that which belongs to the prince.
Ezek. 45:18 Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the first month, in the first day of the month, thou shalt take a young bullock without blemish, and cleanse the sanctuary:
Ezek. 45:19 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering, and put it upon the posts of the house, and upon the four corners of the settle of the altar, and upon the posts of the gate of the inner court.
Ezek. 45:20 And so thou shalt do the seventh day of the month for every one that erreth, and for him that is simple: so shall ye reconcile the house.
The Lord now gives instructions regarding required sacrifices. The first day of the first month of the year is set apart for cleansing the temple. It requires a bull without blemish to be offered as a sin offering and its blood used to anoint the posts of the temple, the four corners of the altar, and the posts of the gate of the inner court. The process is to be repeated on the 7th day of the month as a special sacrifice for those that are “simple.” The translations vary on their interpretation of this word from naïve to ignorant. The Hebrew references one who is “seducible or foolish.” This speaks to me of someone who can be easily deceived, as was Eve.
Ezek. 45:21 In the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten.
Ezek. 45:22 And upon that day shall the prince prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bullock for a sin offering.
Ezek. 45:23 And seven days of the feast he shall prepare a burnt offering to the LORD, seven bullocks and seven rams without blemish daily the seven days; and a kid of the goats daily for a sin offering.
Ezek. 45:24 And he shall prepare a meat offering of an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and an hin of oil for an ephah.
Ezek. 45:25 In the seventh month, in the fifteenth day of the month, shall he do the like in the feast of the seven days, according to the sin offering, according to the burnt offering, and according to the meat offering, and according to the oil.
On the 14th day of the month they are to celebrate the Passover followed by the feast of unleavened bread. This feast is to last 7 days, and only unleavened bread can be eaten during that time. On the 14th the prince is to present a bull as a sin offering for himself and the people of Israel. This statement makes it hard for me to accept that the prince is Jesus or King David of old in his glorified body (without a sin nature). Scripture sometimes references sons by their fathers. Maybe this “David” is a descendant of King David that is named for his ancestor and honored as his descendant (like the descendants of Zadok). This would also allow for him having sons.
On each of the 7 days of the feast he is to offer a bull and ram without blemish as burnt offerings to the Lord. On each of the 7 days he is to offer a kid of the goats for a sin offering. He shall also present a grain and oil offering. Though the wording is unclear, it would seem that this is to be done each day as well.
In the 7th month, beginning on the 15th day of the month, this whole process is to be repeated for the Feast of Tabernacles.
It is to be noted that the sacrificial system in the millennial kingdom, though similar in many ways, is different from that established by Moses. I think the continuance of this system in the millennium is significant to helping the people to understand the sacrifice made by the Savior and the provision of God the Father on their behalf. It will be a time of righteousness and peace on earth such as never before. Though sin will still be present, it will be tightly controlled. It will be important to help the people fully appreciate all that God has done on their behalf. These practices will keep before them the wonderful truth of their redemption and their need to remain humble, thankful and obedient.
I like this quote from Paul Jablonowski regarding the millennial temple: “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.”
Ezek. 46:1 Thus saith the Lord GOD; The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened.
This chapter begins with the Lord continuing to give Ezekiel instructions regarding the administration of the temple during the millennium. The eastern gate through which the Lord reentered the temple, and which can be used by no man, is to remain shut. The eastern gate to the inner court, however, is to remain shut for the six working days of every week. On the Sabbath day it is to be opened, as well as on the days of the new moon.
I think this combination of the ancient Jewish practices (though somewhat revised) with new instructions is another emphasis regarding Israel fulfilling their ordained purpose before the nations. Though Jesus has come in fulfillment of all about which these practices teach, they are still significant to emphasize the truths that they represent. These truths have not changed through the ages. They have just come full circle so to speak. The plan of God has been unchanged since before the foundation of the earth. The tabernacle/temple system was established to teach men about God’s holiness and man’s sinfulness. It was established to teach the truths associated with our redemption. It was fulfilled in the ministry of Jesus Christ and His willing death on the cross. In the millennial kingdom it will be a most effective visual tool for ensuring that these truths are clearly understood in the kingdom age.
Ezek. 46:2 And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate without, and shall stand by the post of the gate, and the priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate: then he shall go forth; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening.
As stated previously, the prince will be allowed to enter through a porch that is connected to the eastern gate. He will have a designated “post” at the gate to the inner court where the priests will prepare his burnt and peace offerings. He never directly enters the inner court area designated for the priests. He will offer his worship at the “threshold of the gate”; this would indicate that he approaches the holy place of entrance, but does not go through it. The gate to the inner court will remain open until the evening.
Again, these restrictions upon the prince add to my belief that this prince is not Jesus.
Ezek. 46:3 Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the sabbaths and in the new moons.
It would seem that the people will gather for worship in the outer court area of the eastern entrance to the inner court on the Sabbaths and the new moons, times when the prince will be offering sacrifices on their behalf.
Ezek. 46:4 And the burnt offering that the prince shall offer unto the LORD in the sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish, and a ram without blemish.
Ezek. 46:5 And the meat offering shall be an ephah for a ram, and the meat offering for the lambs as he shall be able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah.
These verses designate the sacrifices to be made by the prince on the Sabbaths—6 lambs without blemish and a ram without blemish. This is to be accompanied by a specified meal/grain and oil offering.
Ezek. 46:6 And in the day of the new moon it shall be a young bullock without blemish, and six lambs, and a ram: they shall be without blemish.
Ezek. 46:7 And he shall prepare a meat offering, an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and for the lambs according as his hand shall attain unto, and an hin of oil to an ephah.
On the new moons the prince is to offer a young bull, 6 lambs and a ram—all without blemish. This is also to be accompanied by a specified grain and oil offering.
One thing that stands out to me is that the Lord is establishing the rules for what is acceptable and what is not. Man is the one in position of need, and God is the One Who can meet that need. All the blood that is used in the sacrifices is to come from animals without blemish. Only the blood of the perfect Son of God in flesh was acceptable to redeem man from sin. The meal offering is a picture of God’s provision for man in that it represents food. Jesus called Himself the bread of life.
John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
The grain is mixed with oil and baked in the fire. Jesus was filled with the Spirit (as represented by the oil) and put through the fire of judgment on our behalf.
Ezek. 46:8 And when the prince shall enter, he shall go in by the way of the porch of that gate, and he shall go forth by the way thereof.
Note is made that the prince will enter and exit the temple complex through the same porch. He is the Lord’s designated representative to the people as well as a representative of the people to the Lord. As the Lord’s representative, He will enter and exit the temple from the same place. This is a picture of the Lord’s unchanging character.
Ezek. 46:9 But when the people of the land shall come before the LORD in the solemn feasts, he that entereth in by the way of the north gate to worship shall go out by the way of the south gate; and he that entereth by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate: he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth over against it.
The people, however, are to enter through either the north or south gate and exit from the opposite gate. More than one commentator made the point that our worship experience with the Lord is meant to change us. We should not be the same person when we leave as when we entered. Ideally, we are to be growing in Christ through every encounter we have with Him.
Ezek. 46:10 And the prince in the midst of them, when they go in, shall go in; and when they go forth, shall go forth.
This verse emphasizes the prince’s identification with the people. His actions are representative of the people of the nation.
I am again reminded that God is speaking of His relationship with Israel. These practices will be predominantly directed toward the people of Israel, those who live in the land. They will be enjoying their privileged inheritance as the first-born of the Lord among the nations. Those today who say that Israel has no special place in God’s purpose for the future I believe are teaching a lie. The “church” (true body of believers) has been privileged to assume Israel’s intended position in the family for a time, but Paul makes it clear in Romans that the intended purpose is to provoke the Jewish nation to a position of repentance and faith and restoration to their God-ordained purpose from the beginning.
Ezek. 46:11 And in the feasts and in the solemnities the meat offering shall be an ephah to a bullock, and an ephah to a ram, and to the lambs as he is able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah.
Again, specification is given regarding the makeup of the meal offering.
Ezek. 46:12 Now when the prince shall prepare a voluntary burnt offering or peace offerings voluntarily unto the LORD, one shall then open him the gate that looketh toward the east, and he shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, as he did on the sabbath day: then he shall go forth; and after his going forth one shall shut the gate.
The prince is not limited to bringing offerings at only specific times; He can bring them any time he chooses. When he so chooses, the eastern gate to the inner court is to be opened for him just as it is on the Sabbaths and new moons. Instead of remaining open until evening, the gate is to be closed when he leaves.
The spontaneous voluntary offerings of the prince are an example to the people of the type of relationship we are to enjoy with the Lord. He takes great joy in our expressions of love and gratitude.
Ezek. 46:13 Thou shalt daily prepare a burnt offering unto the LORD of a lamb of the first year without blemish: thou shalt prepare it every morning.
Ezek. 46:14 And thou shalt prepare a meat offering for it every morning, the sixth part of an ephah, and the third part of an hin of oil, to temper with the fine flour; a meat offering continually by a perpetual ordinance unto the LORD.
Ezek. 46:15 Thus shall they prepare the lamb, and the meat offering, and the oil, every morning for a continual burnt offering.
These verses give instructions for the daily morning sacrifices; notice there is no mention of the evening sacrifice. This is a reminder that maintaining our relationship with the Lord is a daily process. Our praise, worship and thanksgiving should be the foundation upon which we base our daily activities. That serves to help us keep in mind that our every action should reflect our love for and gratitude to Him.
Ezek. 46:16 Thus saith the Lord GOD; If the prince give a gift unto any of his sons, the inheritance thereof shall be his sons’; it shall be their possession by inheritance.
Ezek. 46:17 But if he give a gift of his inheritance to one of his servants, then it shall be his to the year of liberty; after it shall return to the prince: but his inheritance shall be his sons’ for them.
This verse gives us some added information about the prince—he has sons. The Hebrew for son states “a son (as a builder of the family name).” This is a person who has physical descendants. In my mind this precludes Jesus, but does not preclude David. If the Lord can identify the 144,000 by the 12 tribes and make allotment in the kingdom according to the 12 tribes, He can surely identify David’s specific descendants.
The prince is allowed to pass along gifts to his sons for inheritance that will remain theirs as part of the family. If, however, the prince chooses to give a gift of inheritance to one of his servants, the servant will have to relinquish control in the year of “liberty.” This seems to be a direct reference to the year of Jubilee that occurred every 50 years, the essence of which would seem to be in force during the millennial kingdom.
Lev. 25:10 And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.
This also would indicate that the gift being referenced pertains to property that would normally be inherited by family. In fact, the CJB translates these verses as follows: “Adonai ELOHIM says this: ‘If the prince turns over part of his hereditary property to one of his sons, it is his inheritance; it will belong to his sons; it is their possession by inheritance. But if he gives part of his hereditary property to one of his slaves, it will be his until the year of freedom, at which time it will revert to the prince, so that the prince’s heritage will go to his sons.”
Ezek. 46:18 Moreover the prince shall not take of the people’s inheritance by oppression, to thrust them out of their possession; but he shall give his sons inheritance out of his own possession: that my people be not scattered every man from his possession.
This verse specifies that the prince is forbidden to take property away from the people as was done by evil rulers of the past, including those of Ezekiel’s time. God has provided for each person sufficiently. There is no need to take more than He gives you.
Ezek. 46:19 After he brought me through the entry, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers of the priests, which looked toward the north: and, behold, there was a place on the two sides westward.
Ezek. 46:20 Then said he unto me, This is the place where the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin offering, where they shall bake the meat offering; that they bear them not out into the utter court, to sanctify the people.
Ezekiel was next taken to the part of the temple where the priests cooked the meat offered as trespass and sin offerings—which was their designated portion. The design of the complex ensured that the priests would not have to come into contact with the people when partaking of that which had been set apart by God as holy.
Ezek. 46:21 Then he brought me forth into the utter court, and caused me to pass by the four corners of the court; and, behold, in every corner of the court there was a court.
Ezek. 46:22 In the four corners of the court there were courts joined of forty cubits long and thirty broad: these four corners were of one measure.
Ezek. 46:23 And there was a row of building round about in them, round about them four, and it was made with boiling places under the rows round about.
Ezek. 46:24 Then said he unto me, These are the places of them that boil, where the ministers of the house shall boil the sacrifice of the people.
Ezekiel is then taken into the outer court and shown designated areas that were in each of its four corners. These were designated as specific cooking areas for boiling the sacrifices that the people were to partake of in fellowship with the Lord.