15. A golden reed. Add pérpov as a measure. See ch. xi, 1. Compare Ezek. xl. 5.
16. Four square (retpdyovos). From rétpa four and ywvia an angle. Only here in the New Testament. Compare Ezek. xlviii. 16, 20.
Twelve-thousand furlongs (éml cradiov Sadexa yurtdbor). Strictly, to the length of (émi) twelve, etc. For the collective term yiduddes thousands, see on ch. v. 11. For furlongs see on ch. xv. 20. The twelve-thousand furlongs would be 1378.97 English miles. Interpretations vary hopelessly. ‘The descrip- tion seems to be that of a vast cube, which may have been sug- gested by the Holy of Holies of the tabernacle, which was of that shape.* But opinions differ as to whether the twelve- thousand furlongs are the measure of the four sides of the city taken together, in which case each side will measure three- thousand furlongs; or whether the twelve-thousand furlongs are intended to represent the length of each side. The former explanation is prompted by the desire to reduce the vast dimen- sions of the city. Another difficulty is raised about the height. Diisterdieck, for example, maintains that the howses were three-thousand stadia in height. The question arises whether the vertical surface of the cube includes the hill or rock on which the city was placed, a view to which Alford inclines. These are enough to show how utterly futile are attempts to reduce these symbolic visions to mathematical statement. Pro- fessor Milligan aptly remarks: “ Nor is it of the smallest mo- ment to reduce the enormous dimensions spoken of. No re-
* This cubical plan, applied not only to the Tabernacle, but to the Ark of the Flood, the Temple of Solomon:and the ‘‘ King’s House,” is minutely worked out in ‘The Holy Houses” by Dr. Timothy Otis Paine; a book full of curious erudition, in which the Tabernacle, the Ark of Noah, the Temple, and the Capitol or King’s House, are treated as developments from a common type ; but which proceeds on the utterly untenable hypothesis that the tem- ple of Ezekiel’s vision was Solomon’s; and that, accordingly, from the two books of Kings and the prophecies of Jeremiah and Ezekiel all the data are furnished for a complete restoration of the Temple; the prophetic vision of Ezekiel supplying the details omitted in the historic record of Kings.