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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Ezekiel XLI].</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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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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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. XLI.</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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An account was given of the porch of the house in the close of the
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foregoing chapter; this brings us to the temple itself, the description
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of which here given creates much difficulty to the critical expositors
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and occasions differences among them. Those must consult them who are
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nice in their enquiries into the meaning of the particulars of this
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delineation; it shall suffice us to observe,
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I. The dimensions of the house, the posts of it
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+41:1">ver. 1</A>),
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the door
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+41:2">ver. 2</A>),
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the wall and the side-chambers
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+41:5,6">ver. 5, 6</A>),
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the foundations and wall of the chambers, their doors
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+41:8-11">ver. 8-11</A>),
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and the house itself,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+41:13">ver. 13</A>.
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II. The dimensions of the oracle, or most holy place,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+41:3,4">ver. 3, 4</A>.
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III. An account of another building over against the separate place,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+41:12-15">ver. 12-15</A>.
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IV. The manner of the building of the house,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+41:7,16,17">ver. 7, 16, 17</A>.
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V. The ornaments of the house,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+41:18-20">ver. 18-20</A>.
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VI. The altar of incense and the table,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+41:22">ver. 22</A>.
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VII. The doors between the temple and the oracle,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+41:23-26">ver. 23-26</A>.
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There is so much difference both in the terms and in the rules of
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architecture between one age and another, one place and another, that
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it ought not to be any stumbling-block to us that there is so much in
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these descriptions dark and hard to be understood, about the meaning of
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which the learned are not agreed. To one not skilled in mathematics the
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mathematical description of a modern structure would be scarcely
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intelligible; and yet to a common carpenter or mason among the Jews at
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that time we may suppose that all this, in the literal sense of it, was
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easy enough.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Eze41_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze41_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze41_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze41_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze41_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze41_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze41_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze41_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze41_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze41_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze41_11"> </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 Vision of the Temple.</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 Afterward he brought me to the temple, and measured the
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posts, six cubits broad on the one side, and six cubits broad on
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the other side, <I>which was</I> the breadth of the tabernacle.
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2 And the breadth of the door <I>was</I> ten cubits; and the sides
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of the door <I>were</I> five cubits on the one side, and five cubits
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on the other side: and he measured the length thereof, forty
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cubits: and the breadth, twenty cubits.
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3 Then went he inward, and measured the post of the door, two
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cubits; and the door, six cubits; and the breadth of the door,
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seven cubits.
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4 So he measured the length thereof, twenty cubits; and the
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breadth, twenty cubits, before the temple: and he said unto me,
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This <I>is</I> the most holy <I>place.</I>
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5 After he measured the wall of the house, six cubits; and the
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breadth of <I>every</I> side chamber, four cubits, round about the
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house on every side.
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6 And the side chambers <I>were</I> three, one over another, and
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thirty in order; and they entered into the wall which <I>was</I> of
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the house for the side chambers round about, that they might have
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hold, but they had not hold in the wall of the house.
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7 And <I>there was</I> an enlarging, and a winding about still
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upward to the side chambers: for the winding about of the house
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went still upward round about the house: therefore the breadth of
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the house <I>was still</I> upward, and so increased <I>from</I> the lowest
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<I>chamber</I> to the highest by the midst.
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8 I saw also the height of the house round about: the
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foundations of the side chambers <I>were</I> a full reed of six great
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cubits.
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9 The thickness of the wall, which <I>was</I> for the side chamber
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without, <I>was</I> five cubits: and <I>that</I> which <I>was</I> left <I>was</I> the
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place of the side chambers that <I>were</I> within.
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10 And between the chambers <I>was</I> the wideness of twenty cubits
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round about the house on every side.
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11 And the doors of the side chambers <I>were</I> toward <I>the place
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that was</I> left, one door toward the north, and another door
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toward the south: and the breadth of the place that was left
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<I>was</I> five cubits round about.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We are still attending a prophet that is under the guidance of an
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angel, and therefore attend with reverence, though we are often at a
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loss to know both what this is and what it is to us. Observe here,
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1. After the prophet had observed the courts he was at length
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<I>brought to the temple,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+41:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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If we diligently attend to the instructions given us in the plainer
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parts of religion, and profit by them, we shall be led further into an
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acquaintance with the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. Those that
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are willing to dwell in God's courts shall at length be brought into
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his temple. Ezekiel was himself a priest, but by the iniquity and
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calamity of the times was cut short of his birthright privilege of
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ministering in the temple; but God makes up the loss to him by
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introducing him into this prophetical, evangelical, celestial temple,
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and employing him to transmit a description of it to the church, in
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which he was dignified above all the rest of his order.
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2. When our Lord Jesus spoke of the destroying of <I>this temple,</I>
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which his hearers understood of this second temple of Jerusalem, he
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spoke of the temple of his body
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+2:19,21">John ii. 19, 21</A>);
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and with good reason might he speak so ambiguously when Ezekiel's
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vision had a joint respect to them both together, including also his
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mystical body the church, which is called the <I>house of God</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+3:15">1 Tim. iii. 15</A>),
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and all the members of that body, which are <I>living temples,</I> in
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which the Spirit dwells.
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3. The very posts of this temple, the door-posts, were as far one from
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the other, and consequently the door was as wide, as <I>the</I> whole
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<I>breadth of the tabernacle</I> of Moses
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+41:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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namely, twelve cubits,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+26:16,22,25">Exod. xxvi. 16, 22, 25</A>.
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In comparison with what had been under the law we may say, <I>Wide is
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the gate</I> which leads into the church, the ceremonial law, that wall
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of partition which had so much straitened the gate, being taken down.
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4. The most holy place was an exact square, twenty cubits each way,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+41:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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For the new Jerusalem is exactly square
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:16">Rev. xxi. 16</A>),
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denoting its stability; for we look for a city that cannot be moved.
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5. The upper stories were larger than the lower,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+41:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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The walls of the temple were six cubits thick at the bottom, five in
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the middle story, and four in the highest, which gave room to enlarge
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the chambers the higher they went; but care was taken that the timber
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might have <I>fast hold</I> (though God builds high, he builds firmly),
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yet so as not to weaken one part for the strengthening of another; they
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had hold, but not <I>in the wall of the house.</I> By this spreading
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gradually, the <I>side-chambers</I> that were on <I>the height of the
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house</I> (in the uppermost story of all) were six cubits, whereas the
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lowest were but four; they gained a cubit every story. The higher we
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build up ourselves in our most holy faith the more should our hearts,
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those living temples, be enlarged.</P>
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<A NAME="Eze41_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze41_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze41_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze41_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze41_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze41_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze41_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze41_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze41_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze41_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze41_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze41_23"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze41_24"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze41_25"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze41_26"> </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>The Vision of the Temple.</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>12 Now the building that <I>was</I> before the separate place at the
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end toward the west <I>was</I> seventy cubits broad; and the wall of
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the building <I>was</I> five cubits thick round about, and the length
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thereof ninety cubits.
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13 So he measured the house, a hundred cubits long; and the
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separate place, and the building, with the walls thereof, an
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hundred cubits long;
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14 Also the breadth of the face of the house, and of the
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separate place toward the east, a hundred cubits.
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15 And he measured the length of the building over against the
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separate place which <I>was</I> behind it, and the galleries thereof
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on the one side and on the other side, a hundred cubits, with
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the inner temple, and the porches of the court;
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16 The door posts, and the narrow windows, and the galleries
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round about on their three stories, over against the door, cieled
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with wood round about, and from the ground up to the windows, and
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the windows <I>were</I> covered;
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17 To that above the door, even unto the inner house, and
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without, and by all the wall round about within and without, by
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measure.
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18 And <I>it was</I> made with cherubims and palm trees, so that a
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palm tree <I>was</I> between a cherub and a cherub; and <I>every</I> cherub
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had two faces;
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19 So that the face of a man <I>was</I> toward the palm tree on the
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one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm tree on
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the other side: <I>it was</I> made through all the house round about.
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20 From the ground unto above the door <I>were</I> cherubims and
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palm trees made, and <I>on</I> the wall of the temple.
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21 The posts of the temple <I>were</I> squared, <I>and</I> the face of
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the sanctuary; the appearance <I>of the one</I> as the appearance <I>of
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the other.</I>
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22 The altar of wood <I>was</I> three cubits high, and the length
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thereof two cubits; and the corners thereof, and the length
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thereof, and the walls thereof, <I>were</I> of wood: and he said unto
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me, This <I>is</I> the table that <I>is</I> before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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23 And the temple and the sanctuary had two doors.
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24 And the doors had two leaves <I>apiece,</I> two turning leaves;
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two <I>leaves</I> for the one door, and two leaves for the other
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<I>door.</I>
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25 And <I>there were</I> made on them, on the doors of the temple,
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cherubims and palm trees, like as <I>were</I> made upon the walls; and
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<I>there were</I> thick planks upon the face of the porch without.
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26 And <I>there were</I> narrow windows and palm trees on the one
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side and on the other side, on the sides of the porch, and <I>upon</I>
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the side chambers of the house, and thick planks.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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1. An account of a building that was <I>before the separate place</I>
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(that is, before the temple), <I>at the end towards the west</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+41:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
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which is here measured, and compared
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+41:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>)
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with the measure of the house, and appears to be of equal dimensions
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with it. This stood in a court by itself, which is measured
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+41:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>)
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and its galleries, or chambers belonging to it, its posts and windows,
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and the ornaments of them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+41:15-17"><I>v.</I> 15-17</A>.
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But what use was to be made of this other building we are not told;
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perhaps, in this vision, it signified the setting up of a church among
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the Gentiles not inferior to the Jewish temple, but of quite another
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nature, and which should soon supersede it.
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2. A description of the ornaments of the temple, and the other
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building. The walls on the inside from top to bottom were adorned with
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<I>cherubim and palm-trees,</I> placed alternately, as in Solomon's
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temple,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+6:29">1 Kings vi. 29</A>.
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Each cherub is here said to have two <I>faces,</I> the <I>face of a
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man</I> towards the palm tree on one side and the <I>face of a young
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lion towards the palm-tree</I> on the other side,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+41:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
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These seem to represent the angels, who have more than the wisdom of a
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man and the courage of a lion; and in both they have an eye to the
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palms of victory and triumph which are set before them, and which they
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are sure of in all their conflicts with the powers of darkness. And in
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the assemblies of the saints angels are in a special manner present,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+11:10">1 Cor. xi. 10</A>.
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3. A description of the posts of the doors both of the temple and of
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the sanctuary; they were <I>squared</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+41:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>),
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not round like pillars; and <I>the appearance of the one was as the
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appearance of the other.</I> In the tabernacle, and in Solomon's
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temple, the door of the sanctuary, or most holy, was narrower than that
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of the temple, but here it was fully as broad; for in gospel-times
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<I>the way into the holiest of all is made</I> more <I>manifest</I>
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than it was under the Old Testament
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+9:8">Heb. ix. 8</A>)
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and therefore the door is wider. These doors are described,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+41:23,24"><I>v.</I> 23, 24</A>.
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The temple and the sanctuary had each of them its door, and they were
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<I>two-leaved,</I> folding doors.
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4. We have here the description of the altar of incense, here said to
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be an <I>altar of wood,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+41:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
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No mention is made of its being <I>over-laid with gold;</I> but surely
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it was intended to be so, else it would not bear the fire with which
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the incense was to be burned, unless we will suppose that it served
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only to put the censers upon. Or else it intimates that the incense to
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be offered in the gospel-temple shall be purely spiritual, and the fire
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spiritual, which will not consume an altar of wood. Therefore this
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altar is called a table. <I>This is the table that is before the
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Lord.</I> Here, as before, we find the altar turned into a table; for,
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the great sacrifice being now offered, that which we have to do is to
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feast upon the sacrifice at the Lord's table.
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5. Here is the adorning of the doors and windows with palm-trees, that
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they might be of a piece with the walls of the house,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+41:25,26"><I>v.</I> 25, 26</A>.
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Thus the living temples are adorned, not with gold, or silver, or
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costly array, but with <I>the hidden man of the heart, in that which is
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not corruptible.</I></P>
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