Ezequiel 42
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Ezequiel 42:1-9
42:1 "he brought me" See note at Ezek. 41:1. NASB, NRSV, NJB, JPSOA "outer court" "outer courtyard" "inner court" The Hebrew OT Text Project of the UBS, p. 160, gives "outer" an A rating (very high probability). 42:4 NASB, NRSV, REB "a way of one hundred cubits" "at a distance of one cubit" The MT has "one cubit," but the Septuagint and Peshitta have "one hundred cubits. The Expositors Bible Commentary (p. 967) says that "an inner walk" (BDB 237) of Ezek. 42:4 can be understood as a step (1x10 cubits). There are many ambiguous and rare terms and phrases in this section that remain unknown. Special Topic: Cubit.
Ezequiel 42:13-14
42:13 "the priests who are near to the Lord" This refers to Zadok's line which exclusively offered sacrifices (cf. Ezek. 40:46). These priests were allowed to eat part of most sacrifices (cf. Lev. 2:3; 5:13; 6:16,26,29; 7:6,10; 10:12-14). The sacrifices are described in Leviticus 1-7. Special Topic: Sacrifices in Mesopotamia and Israel, IV. 42:14 The priests' garments (cf. Exod. 39:1-43) that they wore when ministering at the altar must be left in the "holy" place. This corresponds to Aaron's instruction in Lev. 16:23. Special Topic: Tabernacle (chart)
Ezequiel 42:15-20
42:16 "the measuring reed five hundred reeds by the measuring reed" The problem occurs in the length of a "measuring reed." Earlier in the literary unit (cf. Ezek. 40:5) it was over ten feet, but here it seems to refer to one cubit (i.e. 21 inches). The MT scholars recognized the problem. Qere (to be read), five hundred reeds Ketiv (written), five cubits, reeds This same confusion is repeated in Ezek. 42:17, 18, and 19. If one assumes that a reed is over 10' the area was about 500 acres (The Jewish Study Bible, p. 1125), if 21 inches, the area is about 14 acres. If the larger measurement is used it denotes the symbolic nature because of its size. 42:20 "to divide between the holy and profane" This is another example of architectural design to accentuate holiness. The wall was too low to provide protection; therefore, some commentators see it as a wall of holiness (similar to the dividing walls of Herod's temple).