HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

EZECHIEL 46

CHAPTER XLVI.

Ver. 2. Prince. After the captivity, although the race of David continued in Salathiel, Zorobabel, &c. yet they had not the state of kings. Hence Christians, R. David and other Jews, understand this of the Messias and the rites of his Church, with a literal allusion to the old law. W. --- Without, not proceeding into the court of the priests. C. xliv. 2.

Ver. 4. Six. Moses only prescribed two lambs for every day. Num. xxviii. 9.

Ver. 5. Sacrifice. See C. xlv. 24. Flour and oil accompanied the victim. When lambs were presented, this was left to the prince's devotion (v. 7. and 11. C.) only. If he gave three or four ephies of flour, he must give as many hins of oil. H.

Ver. 6. Calf. Moses orders two, and seven lambs. Num. xxviii. 11. C. --- The rams. Heb. "a ram. They shall," &c. H.

Ver. 9. It, perhaps to avoid confusion, (M.) and turning the back on the temple, (C.) or to exercise their obedience. As many might enter by one gate as by another, and thus the concourse would not be diminished. H.

Ver. 10. Out. The prince went in and out by the same gate, (v. 8.) and might order that on the east to be opened when he had to offer a voluntary sacrifice. In other respects he was like a simple Israelite, and was to attend the temple and use the same gates as the rest. Before, the kings had a gate on the west leading to their palace. But this was no longer to subsist, and the palace was to be far removed. C. xlviii. 21.

Ver. 11. Solemnities. Heb. "on feasts and on days of meeting." C. --- Sacrifice: mincha. v. 7, and C. xlv. 24. H.

Ver. 13. Morning. That for the evening had the same ceremonies. Lev. vi. 9.

Ver. 14. By. Cata seems to be taken C. from the Gr. kata, "according to," or by. v. 15. H.

Ver. 17. Sons. If any portion of his land was made over to them, it still remained in the family; but if any other had a present of it, the land must revert to the royal family, agreeably to the law. Lev. xxv. 10. C. --- This insinuates that works done by the true children of God, in the state of grace, merit an eternal reward, while moral good works performed in the state of sin, can only have a temporal one. W.

Ver. 19. Gate, on the north. C. xliv. 4. --- West. At this corner was the kitchen for victims, which could only be eaten in the inner court. If they had been brought into that without, the people would have become unclean; as it is equally wrong to touch holy or impure things when they are forbidden. C. xliv. 19. There were four other kitchens for the people who might choose to eat their peace-offerings. v. 24. C.

Ver. 22. Little. Heb. "courts joined." Prot. or marg. "made with chimneys," (H.) or "smoked," as no chimneys were used. Sept. "little courts," as they have read differently. C. --- Vulg. unites both meanings. H.

Ver. 24. Kitchens. Sept. "porticoes," or rather (C.) "boiling places;" Prot. and v. 24. H.