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Rev_11:2. Καὶ τὴν αὐλὴν τὴν ἕξωθεν , κ . τ . λ . Incorrectly, Luther: “The inner choir,” after a bad variation. Also Vitr., Ewald,[2809] Züll., object not only to the expression, but also to what was said in Rev_11:1, since they conceive of τ . αὐλ . τὴν ἔξωθεν τοῦ ναοῦ in the sense of Τ . ΑὐΛ . ΤῊΝ ἘΞΩΤΈΡΑΝ Τ . Ν ., and distinguish[2810] an outer and an inner court, the latter of which, as belonging to the ΝΑΌς , is measured with it. But the expression ἜΞΩΘ . Τ . Θ .[2811] confirms rather the idea given, Rev_11:1, of the ΝΑΌς alone to be measured, i.e., the proper temple-building, outside of which the ΑὐΛΉ , i.e., the entire space of the court, lies.[2812] Arbitrarily, the ΑὐΛΉ is interpreted by Weiss: “the congregation of unbelieving Jews.”
ἜΚΒΑΛΕ ἜΞΩ . The casting out, viz., beyond the reach of that which is to be measured, is determined, according to the sense as well as the form of the idea, by the parallel addition, καὶ μὴ αὐτὴν μετρήσῃς ;[2813] yet in the significant expression[2814] the point must not be overlooked, which Eichh. alone, and without the textual reference to the boundaries of the space to be measured, in his unhappy paraphrase makes equivalent to “declare profane.”[2815]
ὅτι ἐδόθη τοῖς ἔθνεσιν , for it is given to the Gentiles, viz., by the Divine decree; as the immediately following fut. πατήσουσι , which describes the impending fulfilment of this decree, unambiguously declares. Entirely in violation of the context, Beng. remarks that the Gentiles, on account of whose immensity, i.e., innumerableness,[2816] the outer court shall not be measured, shall at one day worship there. Improper also is the mingling of the idea, that the bloody sacrificial service at the altar of burnt offerings is not to be maintained:[2817] it is intended by this, only that according to the Divine decree, the Gentiles shall tread ( πατήσουσι , Luk_21:24) the court and the entire holy city.[2818] Allied with this is the determination of the ΚΑΙΡΟῚ ἘΘΝῶΝ by the schematic temporal specification: ΜῆΝΑς ΤΕΣΣΑΡΆΚΟΝΤΑ ΚΑῚ ΔΎΟ , i.e., 3½ years,[2819] according to the type of the treading down of the holy city and the sanctuary by Antiochus Epiphanes.
[2809] Cf. Gött., Gel. Anz., 1861, p. 1013.
[2810] Cf. Eze_40:17 sqq.
[2811] Cf. Rev_14:20; Mar_7:15.
[2812] De Wette, Hengstenb., Ebrard.
[2813] Beng., Ewald, De Wette, Hengstenb., Ebrard.
[2814] Cf. Mat_8:12; Joh_9:34 sqq., Joh_12:31; 3Jn_1:10.
[2815] Cf. Vitr.: “Excommunicate.”
[2816] Rev_7:4; Rev_7:9.
[2817] Against De Wette, etc.
[2818] Cf. Mat_4:5.
[2819] = 3½ καιροί , Dan_7:25; Dan_12:7; Rev_12:14.