C!J:1~7:, which properly signifies "on both hat these were oourts joined of forty oubite sides;" but when applied to the tabernaole ong and thirty broad. The word "joined" (Exod. xxvi. 2S) or temple (1 Kings vi. 16), nl,l;IR) ho.s been variously translated: by olwa.ys describes the back part or rear. Gesenius (see 'Heb. Lex.,' sub 17oce), as Tba.t a simila.r "place" existed on the "vaulted" or "roofed," with which Hitzig south side is more than probable; though seems to agree; by the LXX., whom Bottcher Smend thinks there was not a " place " on and Ewe.Id follow, µ.,1epd, equal to con- the south. The LXX. omits the words after tracta ; by Kliefoth, " uncovered ; " b:, "place," and supplies '"X"'P•~µ.lvos, "sepa- H'li.vernick, "firm," "strongly built; " by rated." Keil finds in the description here Smeud," separated; " by Hengstenberg and given of the passage towards the holy Schroder, after the Talmudists (jumum chambers a proof that this section could exha1.antia), "smoking" or "made with not have stood originally after eh. xiii. 14, chimneys" (Authorized Version margin): as in that case no such description would but is probably best rendered by the have been needed. Nor would the language Revised Version, Keil, Cnrrey, after in eh. xlvii 1, "and he brought me be.ck," Gesenius (' Thesaurus,' p. 1213), •• enclosed," have been required or appropriate had the meaning muris cincta et januis clausa. Ao- prophet not in the mean while changed bis cording to the last clause of ver. 22, these place, which he does to visit the holy four corners were of one measure; or, 01l8 chambers. measure was to the four cut-away places, ie. Yer. 20.-The "place" was designed as corners, n\J1¥Rc:ir;:> being the hoph. parti- a kitchen where the priests should boil the ciple of Jl;p., "to cut off." This last word is trepe.ss and the sin offerings and bake the meat (or, meal) offering, i.e. cook the portions omitted in the LXX. and the Vulgats, of the sacrifices they should eat in their Hitzig, and Smend, the puncta eztraordinaria official cape.city (see eh. xiii. 13). The Law showing that the Massorites regarded it as of Moses (Lev. viii. 31) required the flesh to snspieious. be boiled (and probably also the flour to be Ver. 23.-And there was a row of build- baked) at the tabernacle door. The last ing round about in them; bnt whether iil:l clause, tha.t they, i.e. the priests, bea.r them, meant a "wall," "fence," or "enclosure," i.e. the offerings, not out into the utter (or, as Gesenius, Havernick, and Ewald trans- outer) court, to sanctify the people, is by late, or "row,'' "series," "a shelf of brick- most interpreters understood in the sense of work which bad several separate shelves eh. xliv. 19 (which see). To this, however, nuder which the cooking-hearths were Kliefoth objects that the conception of placed,'' as Keil explains, the obvious inten- deriving ceremonial sanctity from contact tion was to describe the range of boiling with such offerings is completely strange to places which were built along the inside the Old Testament (see Hag. ii. 12), and walls of these corner courts, as the next acoording!y he connects the words, "to verse states. sanctify the people," with the "baking" Ver. 24.-These are the places (literally, and "boiling" of the preceding clause. houses) of them that boil-hence kitchens- Vere. 21, 22.-The prophet next observed, where the ministers of the house(or, temple) as bis guide led him round the outer area., -i.e. the Levites (see eh. xliv. 11, 12)--she.ll that in every corner of the court there was a boil the se.orifloe of the people i i.e. the court-literally, a court in a comer of the portions of the people's offerings whioh foll court, a court in a comer of t1l6 court-and to be oonsumed by the priests.
HOMILETICS. Ver. 3.-The people's worship. Although there was an elaborate hierarchical system in the Hebrew religion, care was taken that the people generally should take an important pa.rt in the service. They were not admitted to the most sacred parts of the temple enclosure, but they were expected to come up to the temple and share in its worship. I. GoD LOO.KB FOB TBE PEOPLE'S WOBBHIP. If this was expected under the Law, much more is it looked for in the gospel dispensation, according to which all the Lord's people are priests, and all are admitted to the most holy place through the rent veil, God has personal dealings with each soul, and it is right for each soul to come up before him in grateful adoration. The service in which the people do not take part cannot be said to be of much use to them. It is true that there is value in intercession, and we should all plead one for another. Still, we cannot grant to any priest a power of attorne1 to execute our religious contracts in our stead. • ' oH, XLVI, 1-24.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 433