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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Ezekiel XLV].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1712)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>E Z E K I E L.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XLV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter is further represented to the prophet, in vision,
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I. The division of the holy land, so much for the temple, and the
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priests that attended the service of it
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:1-4">ver. 1-4</A>),
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so much for the Levites
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:5">ver. 5</A>),
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so much for the city
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:6">ver. 6</A>),
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so much for the prince, and the residue to the people,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:7,8">ver. 7, 8</A>.
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II. The ordinances of justice that were given both to prince and
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people,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:9-12">ver. 9-12</A>.
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III. The oblations they were to offer, and the prince's part in those
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oblations,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:13-17">ver. 13-17</A>.
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Particularly in the beginning of the year
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:18-20">ver. 18-20</A>)
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and in the passover, and the feast of tabernacles,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:21-25">ver. 21-25</A>.
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And all this seems to point at the new church-state that should be set
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up under the gospel, which, both for extent and for purity, should far
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exceed that of the Old Testament.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Eze45_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze45_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze45_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze45_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze45_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze45_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze45_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze45_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Division of the Holy Land.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 574.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Moreover, when ye shall divide by lot the land for
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inheritance, ye shall offer an oblation unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, a holy
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portion of the land: the length <I>shall be</I> the length of five and
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twenty thousand <I>reeds,</I> and the breadth <I>shall be</I> ten thousand.
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This <I>shall be</I> holy in all the borders thereof round about.
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2 Of this there shall be for the sanctuary five hundred <I>in
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length,</I> with five hundred <I>in breadth,</I> square round about; and
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fifty cubits round about for the suburbs thereof.
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3 And of this measure shalt thou measure the length of five and
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twenty thousand, and the breadth of ten thousand: and in it shall
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be the sanctuary <I>and</I> the most holy <I>place.</I>
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4 The holy <I>portion</I> of the land shall be for the priests the
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ministers of the sanctuary, which shall come near to minister
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unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: and it shall be a place for their houses, and an
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holy place for the sanctuary.
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5 And the five and twenty thousand of length, and the ten
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thousand of breadth, shall also the Levites, the ministers of the
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house, have for themselves, for a possession for twenty chambers.
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6 And ye shall appoint the possession of the city five thousand
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broad, and five and twenty thousand long, over against the
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oblation of the holy <I>portion:</I> it shall be for the whole house
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of Israel.
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7 And a <I>portion shall be</I> for the prince on the one side and
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on the other side of the oblation of the holy <I>portion,</I> and of
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the possession of the city, before the oblation of the holy
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<I>portion,</I> and before the possession of the city, from the west
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side westward, and from the east side eastward: and the length
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<I>shall be</I> over against one of the portions, from the west border
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unto the east border.
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8 In the land shall be his possession in Israel: and my princes
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shall no more oppress my people; and <I>the rest of</I> the land shall
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they give to the house of Israel according to their tribes.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Directions are here given for the dividing of the land after their
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return to it; and, God having warranted them to do it, would be an act
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of faith, and not of folly, thus to divide it before they had it. And
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it would be welcome news to the captives to hear that they should not
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only return to their own land, but that, whereas they were now but few
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in number, they should <I>increase and multiply,</I> so as to
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<I>replenish</I> it. But this never had its accomplishment in the
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Jewish state after the return out of captivity, but was to be fulfilled
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in the model of the Christian church, which was perfectly new (as this
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division of the land was quite different from that in Joshua's time)
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and much enlarged by the accession of the Gentiles to it; and it will
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be perfected in the heavenly kingdom, of which the land of Canaan had
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always been a type. Now,
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1. Here is the portion of land assigned to <I>the sanctuary,</I> in the
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midst of which the temple was to be built, with all its courts and
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purlieus; the rest round about it was for the priests. This is called
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>)
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<I>an oblation to the Lord;</I> for what is given in works of piety,
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for the maintenance and support of the worship of God and the
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advancement of religion, God accepts as given to him, if it be done
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with a single eye. It is a <I>holy portion of the land,</I> which is to
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be set out first, as the <I>first-fruits</I> that sanctify the lump.
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The appropriating of lands for the support of religion and the ministry
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is an act of piety that bids as fair for perpetuity, and the benefit of
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posterity, as any. This <I>holy portion of the land</I> was to be
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measured, and the borders of it fixed, that the sanctuary itself might
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not have more than its share and in time engross the whole land. So far
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the lands of the church shall extend and no further; as in our own
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kingdom donations to the church were of old limited by the <I>statute
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of mortmain.</I> The lands here allotted to the sanctuary were 25,000
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<I>reeds</I> (so our translation makes it, though some make them only
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<I>cubits</I>) in length, and 10,000 in breadth-about eighty miles one
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way and thirty miles another way (say some); twenty-five miles one way
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and ten miles the other way, so others. The priests and Levites that
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were to come near to minister were to have their dwellings in this
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<I>portion of the land</I> that was round about the sanctuary, that
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they might be near their work; whereas by the distribution of land in
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Joshua's time the cities of the priests and Levites were dispersed all
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the nation over. This intimates that gospel ministers should reside
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upon their charge; where their service lies there must they live.
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2. Next to the lands of the sanctuary the city-lands are assigned, in
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which the holy city was to be built, and with the issues and profits of
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which the citizens were to be maintained
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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<I>It shall be for the whole house of Israel,</I> not appropriated, as
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before, to one tribe or two, but some of all the tribes shall dwell in
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the city, as we find they did,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+11:1,2">Neh. xi. 1, 2</A>.
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The portion for the city was fully as long, but only half as broad, as
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that for the sanctuary; for the city was enriched by trade and
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therefore had the less need of lands.
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3. The next allotment after the church-lands and the city-lands is of
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the crown-lands,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:7,8"><I>v.</I> 7, 8</A>.
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Here is no admeasurement of these, but they are said to lie <I>on the
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one side and on the other side</I> of the church-lands and city-lands,
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to intimate that the prince with his wealth and power was to be a
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protection to both. Some make the prince's share equal to the church's
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and city's share both together; others make it to be a thirteenth part
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of the rest of the land, the other twelve parts being for the twelve
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tribes. The prince that attends continually to the administration of
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public affairs must have wherewithal to support his dignity, and have
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abundance, that he may not be in temptation to oppress the people,
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which yet with many does not prevent that; but the grace of God shall
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prevent it, for it is promised here, <I>My princes shall no more
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oppress my people;</I> for God will make the <I>officers peace</I> and
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the <I>exactors righteousness.</I> Notwithstanding this, we find that
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after the return of the Jews to their own land the princes were
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complained of for their exactions. But Nehemiah was one that did not do
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as the <I>former governors,</I> and yet kept a handsome court,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:15,18">Neh. v. 15, 18</A>.
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But so much is said of the prince in this mystical holy state, to
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intimate that in the gospel-church magistrates should be as <I>nursing
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fathers</I> to it and Christian princes its patrons and protectors; and
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the holy religion they profess, as far as they are subject to the power
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of it, will restrain them from oppressing God's people, because they
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are more his people than theirs.
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4. The rest of the lands were to be distributed to the people
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<I>according to their tribes,</I> who had reason to think themselves
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well settled, when they had both the <I>testimony of Israel</I> and the
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<I>throne of judgment</I> so near them.</P>
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<A NAME="Eze45_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze45_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze45_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze45_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Rules of Justice.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 574.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>9 Thus saith the Lord G<FONT SIZE=-1><B>OD</B></FONT>; Let it suffice you, O princes of
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Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and
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justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord
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G<FONT SIZE=-1><B>OD</B></FONT>.
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10 Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just
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bath.
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11 The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, that the
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bath may contain the tenth part of a homer, and the ephah the
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tenth part of a homer: the measure thereof shall be after the
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homer.
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12 And the shekel <I>shall be</I> twenty gerahs: twenty shekels,
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five and twenty shekels, fifteen shekels, shall be your maneh.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here some general rules of justice laid down both for prince
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and people, the rules of distributive and commutative justice; for
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godliness without honesty is but a form of godliness, will neither
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please God nor avail to the benefit of any people. Be it therefore
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enacted, by the authority of the church's King and God,
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1. That <I>princes do not oppress their subjects,</I> but duly and
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faithfully administer justice among them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>):
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"<I>Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel!</I> that you have been
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oppressive to the people and have enriched yourselves by spoil and
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violence, that you have so long fleeced the flock instead of feeding
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them, and henceforward do so no more." Note, Even princes and great men
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that have long done amiss must at length think it time, high time, to
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reform and amend; for no prescription will justify a wrong. Instead of
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saying that they have been long accustomed to oppress, and therefore
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may persist in it, for the custom will bear them out, they should say
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that they have been long accustomed to it and therefore, as here,
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<I>Let the time pass suffice,</I> and let them now remove <I>violence
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and spoil;</I> let them drop wrongful demands, cancel wrongful usages,
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and turn out those from employments under them that do violence. Let
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them <I>take away their exactions,</I> ease their subjects of those
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taxes which they find lie heavily upon them, and let them <I>execute
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judgment and justice</I> according to the law, as the duty of their
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place requires. Note, All princes, but especially the princes of
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Israel, are concerned to do justice; for of their people God says, They
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are my people, and they in a special manner <I>rule for God.</I>
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2. That one neighbour do not cheat another in commerce
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>):
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<I>You shall have just balances,</I> in which to weigh both money and
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goods, a <I>just ephah</I> for dry measure of corn and flour, a <I>just
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bath</I> for the measure of liquids, wine, and oil; and the
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<I>ephah</I> and <I>bath</I> shall be <I>one measure,</I> the tenth
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part of a <I>chomer,</I> or <I>cor,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
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So that the ephah and bath contained (as the learned Dr. Cumberland
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has computed) seven wine gallons and four pints, and something more. An
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omer was but the tenth part of an ephah
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+16:36">Exod. xvi. 36</A>)
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and the one hundredth part of a <I>chomer,</I> or <I>homer,</I> and
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contained about six pints. The <I>shekel</I> is here settled
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>);
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it is twenty <I>jerahs,</I> just half a <I>Roman</I> ounce, in our
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money 2<I>s.</I> 4 1/4<I>d.</I> and almost the eighth part of a
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farthing, as the aforesaid learned man exactly computes it. By the
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shekels the <I>maneh,</I> or pound, was reckoned, which, when it was
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set for a mere weight (says bishop Cumberland), without respect to
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coinage, contained just 100 shekels, as appears by comparing
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+10:17">1 Kings x. 17</A>,
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where it is said three <I>manehs,</I> or <I>pounds, of gold, went to
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one shield,</I> with the parallel place,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+9:16">2 Chron. ix. 16</A>,
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where it is said 300 <I>shekels of gold went to one shield.</I> But
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when the <I>maneh</I> is set for a sum of money or coin it contains but
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sixty shekels, as appears here, where twenty shekels, twenty-five
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shekels, and fifteen shekels, which in all make sixty, shall be the
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<I>maneh.</I> But it is thus reckoned because they had one piece of
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money that weighed twenty shekels, another twenty-five, another
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fifteen, all of which made up one pound, as a learned writer here
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observes. Note, It concerns God's Israel to be very honest and just in
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all their dealings, very punctual and exact in rendering to all their
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due, and very cautious to do wrong to none, because otherwise they
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spoil the acceptableness of their profession with God and the
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reputation of it before men.</P>
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<A NAME="Eze45_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze45_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze45_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze45_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze45_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze45_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze45_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze45_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze45_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze45_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze45_23"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze45_24"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze45_25"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Oblations Enjoined.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 574.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>13 This <I>is</I> the oblation that ye shall offer; the sixth part
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of an ephah of a homer of wheat, and ye shall give the sixth
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part of an ephah of a homer of barley:
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14 Concerning the ordinance of oil, the bath of oil, <I>ye shall
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offer</I> the tenth part of a bath out of the cor, <I>which is</I> an
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homer of ten baths; for ten baths <I>are</I> a homer:
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15 And one lamb out of the flock, out of two hundred, out of
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the fat pastures of Israel; for a meat offering, and for a burnt
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offering, and for peace offerings, to make reconciliation for
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them, saith the Lord G<FONT SIZE=-1><B>OD</B></FONT>.
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16 All the people of the land shall give this oblation for the
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prince in Israel.
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17 And it shall be the prince's part <I>to give</I> burnt offerings,
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and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in
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the new moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the
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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.
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|
18 Thus saith the Lord G<FONT SIZE=-1><B>OD</B></FONT>; In the first <I>month,</I> in the first
|
|
<I>day</I> of the month, thou shalt take a young bullock without
|
|
blemish, and cleanse the sanctuary:
|
|
19 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering,
|
|
and put <I>it</I> 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.
|
|
20 And so thou shalt do the seventh <I>day</I> of the month for
|
|
every one that erreth, and for <I>him that is</I> simple: so shall ye
|
|
reconcile the house.
|
|
21 In the first <I>month,</I> in the fourteenth day of the month, ye
|
|
shall have the passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread
|
|
shall be eaten.
|
|
22 And upon that day shall the prince prepare for himself and
|
|
for all the people of the land a bullock <I>for</I> a sin offering.
|
|
23 And seven days of the feast he shall prepare a burnt
|
|
offering to the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, seven bullocks and seven rams without
|
|
blemish daily the seven days; and a kid of the goats daily <I>for</I>
|
|
a sin offering.
|
|
24 And he shall prepare a meat offering of an ephah for a
|
|
bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and a hin of oil for an ephah.
|
|
25 In the seventh <I>month,</I> 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.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Having laid down the rules of the righteousness toward men, which is
|
|
really a branch off true religion, he comes next to give some
|
|
directions for their religion towards God, which is a branch of
|
|
universal righteousness.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. It is required that they offer an oblation to the Lord out of what
|
|
they have
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>All the people of the land</I> must give an oblation,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
As God's tenants, they must pay a quitrent to their great landlord.
|
|
They had offered an oblation out of their real estates
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
|
|
|
|
a <I>holy portion of their land;</I> now they are directed to offer an
|
|
oblation out of their personal estates, their goods and chattels, as an
|
|
acknowledgement of their receivings from him, their dependence on him,
|
|
and their obligations to him. Note, Whatever our substance is we must
|
|
honour God with it, by giving him his dues out of it. Not that God has
|
|
need of or may be benefited by any thing that we can give him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:9">Ps. l. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
No; it is but an <I>oblation;</I> we only <I>offer it</I> to him; the
|
|
benefit of it returns back to ourselves, to his poor, who, as our
|
|
neighbours, are ourselves, or to his ministers who serve continually
|
|
for our good.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The proportion of this oblation is here determined, which was not
|
|
done by the law of Moses. No mention is made of the title, but only of
|
|
this oblation. And the <I>quantum</I> of this is thus settled:--
|
|
|
|
1. Out of their corn they were to offer a sixtieth part; out of every
|
|
<I>homer of wheat and barley,</I> which contained ten ephahs, they were
|
|
to offer the sixth part of one ephah, which was a sixtieth part of the
|
|
whole,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. Out of their oil (and probably their wine too) they were to offer a
|
|
hundredth part, for this oblation; out of every cor, or homer, which
|
|
contained ten baths they were to offer the tenth part of one bath,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
This was given to the altar; for in every meat-offering there was
|
|
<I>flour mingled with oil.</I>
|
|
|
|
3. Out of their flocks they were to give <I>one lamb</I> out of 200;
|
|
that was the smallest proportion of all,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
But it must be <I>out of the fat pastures of Israel.</I> They must not
|
|
offer to God that which was taken up from the common, but the fattest
|
|
and best they had, for <I>burnt-offerings</I> and
|
|
<I>peace-offerings:</I> the former were offered for the giving of glory
|
|
to God, the latter for the fetching in of mercy, grace, and peace, from
|
|
God, and in our spiritual sacrifices these are our two great errands at
|
|
the throne of grace; but, in order to the acceptance of both, these
|
|
sacrifices were to <I>make reconciliation</I> for them. Christ is our
|
|
sacrifice of atonement, by whom reconciliation is made, and to him we
|
|
must have an eye in our sacrifices of acknowledgment.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. This oblation must be given <I>for the prince in Israel,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
Some read it <I>to</I> the prince, and understand it of Christ, who is
|
|
indeed the prince in Israel, to whom we must offer our oblations, and
|
|
into whose hands we must put them, to be presented to the Father. Or,
|
|
They shall give it <I>with</I> the prince; every private person shall
|
|
bring his oblation, to be offered with that of the prince; for it
|
|
follows
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>).
|
|
|
|
It <I>shall be the prince's part to provide</I> all the offerings,
|
|
<I>to make reconciliation for the house of Israel.</I> The people were
|
|
to bring their oblations to him according to the foregoing rules, and
|
|
he was to bring them to the sanctuary, and to make up what fell short
|
|
out of his own. Note, It is the duty of rulers to take care of
|
|
religion, and to see that the duties of it be regularly and carefully
|
|
performed by those under their charge, and that nothing be wanting that
|
|
is requisite thereto: the magistrate is the keeper of both tables; and
|
|
it is a happy thing when those that are above others in power and
|
|
dignity go before them in the service of God.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. Some particular solemnities are here appointed.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Here is one in the beginning of the year, which seems to be
|
|
altogether new, and not instituted by the law of Moses; it is the
|
|
annual solemnity of cleansing the sanctuary.
|
|
|
|
(1.) <I>On the first day of the first month</I> (upon new-year's day)
|
|
they were to offer a sacrifice for the <I>cleansing of the
|
|
sanctuary</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
that is, to make atonement for the iniquity of the holy things the year
|
|
past, that they might bring none of the guilt of them into the services
|
|
of the new year, and to implore grace for the preventing of that
|
|
iniquity, and for the better performance of the service of the
|
|
sanctuary the ensuing year. And, in token of this, the blood of this
|
|
<I>sin-offering</I> was to be put upon the <I>posts of the gate of the
|
|
inner court</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>),
|
|
|
|
to signify that by it atonement was intended to be made for the sins of
|
|
all the servants that attended that house, priests, Levites, and
|
|
people, even the sins that were found in all their services. Note, Even
|
|
sanctuaries on earth need cleansing, frequent cleansing; that above
|
|
needs none. Those what worship God together should often join in
|
|
renewing their repentance for their manifold defects, and applying the
|
|
blood of Christ for the pardon of them, and in renewing their covenants
|
|
to be more careful for the future; and it is very seasonable to begin
|
|
the year with this work, as Hezekiah did when it had been long
|
|
neglected,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+29:17">2 Chron. xxix. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
They were here appointed to <I>cleanse the sanctuary</I> upon the first
|
|
day of the month, because on the fourteenth day of the month they were
|
|
to eat the <I>passover,</I> an ordinance which, of all Old-Testament
|
|
institutions, had most in it of Christ and gospel grace, and therefore
|
|
it was very fit that they should begin to prepare for it a fortnight
|
|
before by cleansing the sanctuary.
|
|
|
|
(2.) This sacrifice was to be repeated <I>on the seventh day of the
|
|
first month,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
And then it was intended to make atonement <I>for every one that errs,
|
|
and for him that is simple.</I> Note, He that sins <I>errs and is
|
|
simple;</I> he mistakes, he goes out of the way, and shows himself to
|
|
be foolish and unwise. But here it is spoken of those sins which are
|
|
committed through ignorance, mistake, or inadvertency, whether by any
|
|
of the priests, or of the Levites, or of the people. Sacrifices were
|
|
appointed to atone for such sins as men were surprised into, or did
|
|
before they were aware, which they would not have done if they had
|
|
known and remembered aright, which they were overtaken in, and for
|
|
which, afterwards, they condemn themselves. But for presumptuous sins,
|
|
committed with a high hand, there was no sacrifice appointed,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+15:30">Num. xv. 30</A>.
|
|
|
|
By these repeated sacrifices you shall <I>reconcile the house,</I> that
|
|
is, God will be reconciled to it, and continue the tokens of his
|
|
presence in it, and will <I>let it alone this year also.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The passover was to be religiously observed at the time appointed,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
Christ is <I>our passover,</I> that is <I>sacrificed for us.</I> We
|
|
celebrate the memorial of that sacrifice and feast upon it, triumphing
|
|
in our deliverance out of the Egyptian slavery of sin and our
|
|
preservation from the sword of the destroying angel, the sword of
|
|
divine justice, in the Lord's supper, which is our passover-feast, as
|
|
the whole Christian life is, and must be, the feast of unleavened
|
|
bread. It is here appointed that the prince shall prepare a
|
|
<I>sin-offering,</I> to be offered <I>for himself and the people,</I> a
|
|
bullock on the <I>first</I> day
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>)
|
|
|
|
and a <I>kid of the goats</I> every other day
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>),
|
|
|
|
to teach us, in all our attendance upon God for communion with him, to
|
|
have an eye to the great sin-offering, by which <I>transgression</I>
|
|
was <I>finished</I> and an <I>everlasting righteousness brought in.</I>
|
|
On every day of the feast there was to be a <I>burnt-offering,</I>
|
|
purely for the honour of God, of no less than seven bullocks and seven
|
|
rams, with their meat-offering, which were wholly consumed upon the
|
|
altar, and yet <I>no waste,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:23,24"><I>v.</I> 23, 24</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. The feast of tabernacles; that is spoken of next
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+45:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>),
|
|
|
|
and there is no mention of the feast of pentecost, which came between
|
|
that of the passover and that of tabernacles. Orders are here given
|
|
(above what were given by the law of Moses) for the same sacrifices to
|
|
be offered during the seven days of the passover. See the deficiency of
|
|
the legal sacrifices for sin; they were therefore often repeated, not
|
|
only every year, but every feast, every day of the feast, because
|
|
<I>they could not make the comers thereunto perfect,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+10:1,3">Heb. x. 1, 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
See the necessity of our frequently repeating the same religious
|
|
exercises. Though the sacrifice of atonement is offered <I>once for
|
|
all,</I> yet the sacrifices of acknowledgement, that of a broken heart,
|
|
that of a thankful heart, those spiritual sacrifices which are
|
|
acceptable to God through Christ Jesus, must be every day offered. We
|
|
should, as here, fall into a method of holy duties, and keep to it.</P>
|
|
|
|
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