Ezekiel 40:1-3
Summary for Ezek 40:1-4: 40:1–48:35 a The final section of Ezekiel focuses on the new Temple (40:1–47:12 b; see thematic note for Temple Architecture as Theology at end of chapter; thematic note for Temple Legislation as Theology at end of chapter) and on reallotment of the land (47:13–48:35 c; see thematic note for Israel’s Geography as Theology at end of chapter). The Temple at the center of the land was the capstone of God’s program of restoring and sanctifying his people so that he could once again dwell in their midst (see 37:28 d). This Temple, which Ezekiel saw in a vision, was never actually constructed.Summary for Ezek 40:1-42:20: 40:1–46:24 e The prophet’s tour of the new Temple proceeded from the outside of the Temple into its center. From the inside, he then returned outwards, ending up at the kitchens in the corners of the outer courtyard (46:19-24 f).
40:2 g a very high mountain: Revelations from God often took place on mountaintops in the Old Testament. Moses received God’s law and the design for the Tabernacle at Mount Sinai (Exod 19–40 h), and he viewed the Promised Land that he would never enter from Pisgah Peak (Deut 34:1-4 i). Similarly, on this mountaintop Ezekiel met with God and saw the wonderful future that God had prepared for his people, even though he would not live to experience it.
40:3 j a man whose face shone like bronze: An angelic guide would host Ezekiel’s tour of the Temple. The bronze color is reminiscent of the heavenly creatures described in the opening vision (see 1:7 k). Unlike the guide for his previous visionary tour of the earthly Temple in chs 8–11 l, this guide was armed only with a linen measuring cord and a measuring rod, implements of construction rather than destruction. Measurement is a key theme in the chapters that follow, enabling the prophet to highlight the importance of certain parts of the Temple by making them larger and more precisely determined than other parts.
Copyright information for
TNotes