The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 374

even by the ldng; if, o.fter Keil, the second introduction into the sanctuary, while the view be preferred, the sense will amount to priests were engaged in sacrifice, of strangers this, that nuder the regulations of the futnre -aliens (Revised Version); literally, sons the prince should ho.ve the fo.vour accorded of a stranger-uncircumcised in heart and him "of holding his sacrificial meals in the unoircnmcised in flesh, in express contra- gate," whereas the people shoald only be vention of Jehovah's covenant. Ewald, permitte<l to holcl theirs "in the court," or Hii.vernick, Hengstenberg, Schri:icler, and "iu the vicinity of the sacrificial kitchens." Currey restrict the designation "strangers" The way of the porch is mentioned as tho to unfaithful nncl unauthorizecl priests, who, ingress and egress for the prince; which as in the days of Israel's apostasy, noto- implies that be should obto.iu acceBB to the riously under Jeroboam (l Kings xii. 31 ; 2 outer court by either the north or the south Chron. xi. 15), may, in the confluence of gate, since the outer door of the east gato idolatries that took place in Jerusalem was shut. This renders it probable that during the reigns of Ahaz (2 Kings xvi. 3, Ezekiel we.s himself standing on the outside 4, 10-15; 2 Chron. xxviii. 2-4, 23-25) of the east gate (see on ver. 1). and Manasseh (2 Kings xxi. 2-7, II, 15; Vere. 4-16.-The relations of the people, 2 Chron. xxxiii. 2-7), h:we been a,lmitted to participate in the temple services; but Lei:i~, and priests to the sanctuary. Kliefoth, Delitzsch, Keil, Smend, and Ver. 4.-From the outside of the east Plumptre, with better judgment, recognize gate of the outer court the prophet was in the "strangers" foreigners who had not brought the way of the north gate, but incorporated themselves with Israel by whether of the outer or of the inner is un- submitting to circnmcision, but, though certain, and set down before the house. On dwelling in the midat of Israel, were still the ground that the prophet at his new uncircumcised heathen in both heart and station was in front of tho temple, Hitzig, flesh. With regard to these foreigners, the Keil, and others decide for the north gate Law of Moses (Lev. xvii. 8, 10) enacted that, of the inner court; whereas Kliefoth, look- by accepting circumcision, they might be- ing to the circumstance that the first com- oome members of the Israeliti:ih co=on- munications made to the prophet at his wee.Ith, but that without this they could new post concerned "the entering in of the not be permitted to po.rtnko of the Passover, house," and "the going forth of the sanc- the highest symbol of national o.nd religious tuary," prefers the north gnte of the outer unity (Exod. xii. 48, 49). Nevertheless, it court. But at whichever of the gates the was open to them, on giving o. certain prophet wes set down he perceived a second measure of obedience to the Lo.w (Exod. xii. time ( comp. oh. xii ii. 5) that the glory of the 19; xx. 10; Lev. xvii. 10, 12; x:viii. 26; Lord filled the house of the Lord, and this, xx. 2; xxiv. 16, 22), to enter the so.nctuo.ry perhaps, should cast the balance in favour o.nd present nil sorts of offerings to J ehove.h of the inner court entrance, from which the (Lev. xvii. 8; Numb. xv. Ii, 29). Hence interior of the "house" could be more eo.sily Israel's offence had not been the o.dmission seen. of such "sons of the stronger" into the Ver. 5.-Ho.ving fa.Hen on his face before sanctuary, but the o.dmission of them with- the renewed thcophany, the prophet was out insisting on tho above specified con- summoned as once before (oh. xl. 4), but ditions, in other worus, the o.dmission of with greo.ter emphasis than before, to mark such o.s not only lacked the bo,lily mark well, or set his heart to observe, the commu- of circumcision-which would not have ex- nications a.bout to be made to him ooncem- oluded them-but were destitute o.s well of ing all the ordinanoes of the hollSe of the the first elements of Hebrew piety, i.e. were Lo1·d, and all the laws thereof (see on eh. o.e uncircumcised in heo.rt us they were iu xliii. 11), more especially with regard to the the flesh. The so.nctioning of such within persons who should he.ve e. right to partioi- the temple courts, while Jehovah'a bread, pe.te in its services. the fat e.nd the blood, was being offered, Ver. 6.-Let it suffice you of all your i.e. while so.crifioio.l worship was being per- abomina.tions, It was not without signifi- formed, was not simply a. deseoro.tion of the cance the.t at the north gate, which ho.cl "house," but was an express violo.tion of formerly been represented ns the scene of the covenant Jehovah ho.d mode with Israel Israel's idolatries (eh. viii. 5), the prophet with referonco to these very "sollil of the should be reminded of those past iniquities stranger." of his nation, and reooivo instructions o.s to Ver. 8.-Instead of having exrrcised i. how the now community should be pre- holy solicitude for the purity of tho temple served from lo.psing into similo.r tre.nsgres- and the regularity of its rites, by keepin"' eiorui. strict watoh over the holy things of J ohovnh~ Ver. 7.-The specinl , sin chargeable the house of Israel ho.d sot keepers ; lite- 11gainst Lm1el iu the past he.d been the mlly, had s,t them, i.e. the uncircumwaed SSS THE BOOK OF 'l'HE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [ea. XLIV.1-31,