He said to me, “Son of man, the Lord Yahweh says: ‘These are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they make it, to offer burnt offerings on it, and to sprinkle blood on it. You shall give to the Levitical priests who are of the offspring of Zadok, who are near to me, to minister to me,’ says the Lord Yahweh, ‘a young bull for a sin offering. You shall take of its blood, and put it on its four horns, and on the four corners of the ledge, and on the border all around. You shall cleanse it and make atonement for it that way. You shall also take the bull of the sin offering, and it shall be burned in the appointed place of the house, outside of the sanctuary.
“On the second day you shall offer a male goat without defect for a sin offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they cleansed it with the bull. When you have finished cleansing it, you shall offer a young bull without defect, and a ram out of the flock without defect. You shall bring them near to Yahweh, and the priests shall cast salt on them, and they shall offer them up for a burnt offering to Yahweh.
“Seven days you shall prepare every day a goat for a sin offering. They shall also prepare a young bull, and a ram out of the flock, without defect. Seven days shall they make atonement for the altar and purify it. So shall they consecrate it. When they have accomplished the days, it shall be that on the eighth day, and forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings on the altar, and your peace offerings. Then I will accept you,’ says the Lord Yahweh.”
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v26 Hebrew, fill his hand.
Hebrew, fill his hand.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv18–27 Eze 43:18 And he said unto me, Son of…
Eze 43:18 And he said unto me, Son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; These [are] the ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt offerings thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon.
Ver. 18. These are the ordinances of the altar.] Christians also have their sacrifices, though of another alloy, to offer, and must look to the ordinances of their altar; ministers must especially.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv18–27 These are the ordinances; these are the measures and…
These are the ordinances; these are the measures and proportions for building the altar.
In the day when, whensoever,
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they shall make it, the returned captives shall build and use it.
To offer burnt-offerings thereon: it appears then this was the great brazen altar, of which see Exo 38:30; 39:39.
To sprinkle blood thereon, according to the law, Lev 1:5.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv18–27 And he said unto me, son of man, thus…
And he said unto me, son of man, thus saith the Lord God,.... This is the voice of the Lord continued, speaking out of the house to the prophet; see Eze 43:6,
these are the ordinances of the altar: not what go before, concerning the measures of it, but what follow, concerning the sacrifices to be offered on it:
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in the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt offerings thereon, and sprinkle blood thereon; this plainly shows that this altar is the altar of burnt offerings; such were to be offered on it, and the blood of them to be sprinkled thereon, as follows; that is, upon the horns, corners, and border of it, Eze 43:20.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27 Give - Direct, or command that it be given.
Give - Direct, or command that it be given.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv19, 25 Verse 19. The priests - that be of the…
Verse 19. The priests - that be of the seed of Zadok] It was this Zadok that was put in the place of Abiathar, by Solomon, 1Kg 2:35, in whose family the priesthood had continued ever since.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v18 Eze 43:18-27. These are the ordinances of the altar…
Eze 43:18-27. These are the ordinances of the altar — Here we have directions concerning the dedication of the altar at first. Seven days were to be spent in the dedication of it, and every day sacrifices were to be offered upon it, particularly a goat for a sin-offering, (Eze 43:25,) besides a young bullock for a sin-offering on the first day, Eze 43:19; which teaches us, in all our religious services, to have an eye to Christ, the great sin- offering. Neither our persons nor our performances can be acceptable to God, unless sin be taken away; and that cannot be taken away but by the blood of Christ, which both sanctifies the altar (for Christ entered by his own blood) and the gift upon the altar. There was also a bullock and a ram to be offered for a burnt-offering, (Eze 43:24,) which was intended purely for the glory of God, to teach us to have an eye to that in all our services. This dedication of the altar is called the cleansing and purging of it, Eze 43:20; Eze 43:26. Christ, our altar, though he had no pollution to be cleansed from, yet sanctified himself, Joh 17:19. And when we consecrate the altars of our hearts to God, to have holy love always burning upon them, we must see that they be purified and cleansed from the love of the world and the lust of the flesh. It is observable, that there are several differences between the rites of dedication here, and those which were appointed Exodus 29., to intimate that the ceremonial institutions were mutable things, and the changes made in them were earnests of their termination in Christ. Only here, according to the general law that all the sacrifices must be seasoned with salt, (Lev 2:14,) particular orders are given (Eze 43:24) that the priests shall cast salt upon the sacrifices. Grace is the salt with which all our religious performances must be seasoned, Col 4:6. An everlasting covenant is called a covenant of salt, because it is incorruptible. The glory reserved for us is incorruptible and undefiled; and the grace wrought in us, influencing the hidden man of the heart, is in that which is not corruptible, and therefore, in the sight of God, of great price. We may observe further here, that constant use was to be made of the altar when dedicated; the priests being directed to make their burnt-offerings and peace-offerings upon it, (Eze 43:27,) for therefore it was sanctified, that it might sanctify the gift that was offered upon it. And for their encouragement in this whole service, God promises, on condition of their observing these directions, that he would graciously accept them: for those that give themselves to God shall be accepted of him, their persons first, and then their performances, through the Mediator; and if our persons be accepted, and our services be pleasing to him, it is enough, we need no more.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 27 The rites here described are not those of the…
The rites here described are not those of the regular service, but those to be observed on the day of dedication. (Compare Lev 8:10 ff; 1Ki 8:63 ff; 2Ch 7:4 ff, In the tabernacle the priest killed the victims, but Moses sprinkled the blood. In the vision the seer is addressed as though he were to perform the part of Moses.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv19, 20, 21, 22, 26 Levites. Hebrew, "of the race of Levi, of the…
Levites. Hebrew, "of the race of Levi, of the family of Sadoc." He had obtained the dignity under Saul, (Calmet) and after the deposition of Abiathar, under Solomon, (3 Kings ii. 26.; Haydock) his posterity always preserved it. (Calmet, Diss.) --- Calf. Thou shalt give it, or make known these rites to the priests. (Haydock) --- People are often said to do what they only command, as [in] ver. 20, &c.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv18, 20, 21, 26, 27 The sacrifices here are not mere commemorative, but propitiatory…
The sacrifices here are not mere commemorative, but propitiatory ones. The expressions, "blood" (Eze 43:18), and "for a sin offering (Eze 43:19, Eze 43:21-22), prove this. In the literal sense they can only apply to the second temple. Under the Christian dispensation they would directly oppose the doctrine taught in Heb. 10:1-18, namely, that Christ has by one offering for ever atoned for sin. However, it is possible that they might exist with a retrospective reference to Christ's sufferings, as the Levitical sacrifices had a prospective reference to them; not propitiatory in themselves, but memorials to keep up the remembrance of His propitiatory sufferings, which form the foundation of His kingdom, lest they should be lost sight of in the glory of that kingdom [DE BURGH]. The particularity of the directions make it unlikely that they are to be understood in a merely vague spiritual sense.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On v18 18-27. The consecration of the altar is here described.…
18-27. The consecration of the altar is here described. It is much like that in Solomon’s temple (1Ki_8:63-66; 2Ch_7:4-10) excepting that here there is no need of cleansing the house and the different vessels; for Jehovah has already entered the temple, and it is already holy. For the same reason the priests of the family of Zadok (see Eze_44:15) need no consecration before taking part in the most sacred ordinances of the dedication ceremony. These holy priests now offer for a sin offering the same sacrifice which formerly Aaron and his sons offered (Lev_8:14). Only the altar on which was laid the sins of the people had need of cleansing by the application of sacrificial blood to the uplifted horns, ledge, and border (see note Eze_43:13-17); “thus shall they cleanse it and make atonement for it.” (Compare Lev_4:7; Lev_4:34.) The body of the bullock was burned in a place outside the sanctuary. (Compare Lev_4:10; Lev_4:12; Heb_13:11; Heb_13:13.) Perhaps the “separate place” (Eze_41:12), which was outside the sanctuary proper, is meant. (See H, chart facing page 209.) The second day’s ritual (Eze_43:22), with those which followed, demanded “a he-goat without blemish” (compare Lev_4:23-24), thus deviating from the Mosaic order (Exo_29:36), after which followed the burnt offering (Eze_43:23-24; compare Lev_1:3-5; Lev_8:18), which, as in the old law, was sprinkled with salt, the well-known symbol of entire consecration (Lev_2:13; see notes Eze_16:4; Religion of the Semites, 4:435). “Seven days shall they make atonement for the altar, and purify, and consecrate it,” after which it shall be ready for the regular sacrifices (Eze_43:27). “The prominence given to ‘burnt’ and ‘peace’ offerings, as distinguished from ‘sin offerings,’ may, as Schrader suggests, have pointed to the fact that the sacrificers who should use this altar would be a people in a state of grace, to whom Jehovah was prepared to say, ‘I will accept you; not your offerings alone, but your persons as well.’” — Pulpit Commentary.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv18–26 18. The general purpose of the altar. The burnt-offering…
18. The general purpose of the altar. The burnt-offering was wholly consumed on the altar, of the other offerings only the fat.
18–27. Sacrifices and ceremonies by which the altar was consecrated and inaugurated
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The general purpose of the altar is to offer burnt-offerings upon and to sprinkle blood thereon. The statement in Eze_43:19-20 is somewhat elliptical, the writer’s object being to advert specially to the difference between the sin-offering on the first day and that on the following days. Hence he describes the ritual of the sin-offering on the first day fully, omitting to refer to the burnt-offering, which he mentions only in connexion with the second and following days. And when in Eze_43:25 it is said that a goat for sin-offering and a young bullock and a ram were offered for seven days, the difference between the sin-offering on the first day (a bullock) and that for the following six days (a goat) is not adverted to, the burnt-offering being the same all the seven days.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26 (18) In the day when they shall make it.—This…
(18) In the day when they shall make it.—This looks to the future, and implies that the whole structure of the Temple, and its acceptance by the manifestation of the Divine glory, though necessarily represented in the vision as already done, were yet in the future. The phrase, “in the day when they shall make it,” is intended only to require the consecration of the altar before it is used. The actual time occupied by the consecration (Eze_43:25-26) was to be seven days, as in Exo_29:37.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27 The ordinances of the altar. These were not the…
The ordinances of the altar. These were not the regulations for the sacrificial worship to be afterwards performed upon this altar, but the rites to be observed at its consecration when the day should arrive for its construction. As the altar in the tabernacle (Exo_29:1-46; Lev_8:11-33) and that in Solomon"s temple (1Ki_8:63-66; 2Ch_7:4-10) so was this in Ezekiel"s "house" dedicated by a special ceremonial before being brought into ordinary use. The particular ritual observed by Solomon is not described in detail; but a comparison between that enjoined upon and practiced by Moses with that revealed to and published by Ezekiel shows that while in some respects they agreed, in other important particulars they differed. In both the ceremony largely consisted in offering sacrifice and smearing blood, and lasted seven days; but in the former the ceremony was performed exclusively by Moses, consisted, in addition to the above, of an anointing of the altar, the holy utensils, and the tabernacle itself with oil, and was associated with the consecration of the priests; whereas in the latter, in addition to some variations in the sacrificial victims, which will be noted in the course of exposition, the priests should bear an active part there should be no anointing with oil, and no consecration of the priests, the priesthood being assumed as already existing. If in Ezekiel"s ritual there was no mention of a cleansing of the sanctuary, (that of Eze_45:18 referring to a special ease) but only of the altar, that was sufficiently explained by the circumstance that Jehovah was already in the "house." The final clause, to offer burnt offerings thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon, indicates the purpose for which the altar was to be used.
Vers. 18-22. The sin offering.
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When Ezekiel, a prophet, describes the ceremonial of a sin offering with some minuteness, it is reasonable to suppose that he intends the details to be suggestive of spiritual facts.
I THERE MUST BE AN OFFERING FOR SIN. "Without shedding of blood there is no remission of sins." The practical universality of sin offerings among various races has made it appear that the sacrifice arose from an instinct of conscience. We feel that we need a propitiation for our sins. Now, Christ has come to satisfy that need, and his one death on the cross is the great atonement for the world"s sin. How the Sacrifice is efficacious may be a matter of consideration, and may give rise to divergent views. The important point lies in the fact that Christ is a Sacrifice for sin. (Heb_10:12)
II THIS OFFERING MUST BE UNBLEMISHED. God cannot take what is not pure and perfect, even in our daily work we should give our best to God. But in making an offering for sin, no man can come before God without blemishes being seen on all he is and all he does. Christ is the one Perfect Sacrifice for sin, the Lamb without spot. No one ever convicted him of evil-doing. He is the well-beloved Son of God.
III A PRIEST MUST PRESENT THE OFFERING. It must be given by one who has a right of close access to God. With our sin we shrink back from God and dare not enter his holy presence. Therefore, though in rite and symbol priests may be found to present sacrifices, as a fact, since all men are alienated from God, no men can truly serve as priests. But Christ, who became a Man, and so our Representative, and was like us in all other points, was" unlike us in his sinlessness. He never lost his near communion with God, He is our one High Priest, and he does not need to offer sacrifices first for himself, as was the case with the Aaronic priesthood.
IV THE BLOOD OF THE OFFERING MUST BE SPRINKLED. This essential part of the ceremonial was necessary that the completed sacrifices might be efficacious by the application of its results to the worshippers. Christ has made his great sacrifice of himself once for all. But now the benefits of his death have to be shared individually by men. These benefits do not accrue spontaneously and without men"s actively receiving them. The blood must be sprinkled; the grace of Christ"s great sacrifice must be taken home.
1. There must be individual faith in Christ. Thus the sacrifice is made efficacious in the case of each man who will avail himself of it.
2. There must be an application to the whole of life. The blood of the Passover lamb was sprinkled on the lintels and doorposts of the houses of the Hebrews. We need to have our homes and all that belongs to us brought into subjection to Christ, and then brought under the gracious influences that stream from the great Sacrifice on Calvary.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v19 and thou shalt
and thou shalt
Doubtless these offerings will be memorial, looking back to the cross, as the offerings under the old covenant were anticipatory, looking forward to the cross. In neither case have animal sacrifices power to put away sin. Heb 10:4; Rom 3:25.
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For Another Point of View: See Topic 301246
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv18, 20, 22, 25 he said
he said
"Yahweh said"
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Son of man
"Son of a human being" or "Son of humanity." God calls Ezekiel this to emphasize that Ezekiel is only a human being. God is eternal and powerful, but humans are not. See how you translated this in Ezekiel 2:1. AT: "Mortal person" or "Human"
the regulations
"the rules" or "the instructions"
You will
The word "you" is singular. (See: Forms of You)
this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration
Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. See how you translated this in Ezekiel 5:11. AT: "this is what the Lord Yahweh has declared" or "this is what I, the Lord Yahweh, have declared" (See: First, Second, or Third Person)
translationWords
Lord Yahweh
burnt offering
blood
sin offering
Levi
priest
descend
Zadok
servant
declare
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv18, 25, 26 43:18-21 The new altar had to be consecrated before…
43:18-21 The new altar had to be consecrated before it was used. • On the first day, the blood of a young bull was to be applied to the extremities of the altar, the horns and corners, as a sin offering. The body of the sin offering was then burnt outside the sacred area, as with the Tabernacle (cp. Lev 4:11-12).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.