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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Ezekiel 43:13 - 43:27
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Description and Dedication of the Altar of Burnt Offering
v. 13. And these are the measures of the altar after the cubits (the cubit is a cubit and an hand-breadth, the so-called sacred cubit) even the bottom, literally, "the bosom," probably a paneled recess in the side of the altar, shall be a cubit and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about shall be a span, that is, the molding, or ornamental border, enclosing such a panel; and this shall be the higher place of the altar, or its elevation.
v. 14. And from the bottom, literally, "the bosom," upon the ground even to the lower settle, the rest, or projection, running round about the altar, shall be two cubits and the breadth one cubit; and from the lesser settle, near the bottom, even to the greater settle, the second projection, or ornamental rest, shall be four cubits and the breadth one cubit. The altar was thus built in successive units, or cubes, each one set off with a molding.
v. 15. So the altar, according to the Hebrew, the mountain of God, the altar proper, with its plate, as it were the sanctuary upon a high mountain, shall be four cubits, and from the altar and upward, on the four corners of its plate, as on the altars of Solomon's Temple, shall be four horns.
v. 16. And the altar shall be twelve cubits long, twelve broad, square in the four squares thereof, so that its plate had an area of 144 square cubits.
v. 17. And the settle, the lower ledge, shall be fourteen cubits long and fourteen broad in the four squares thereof, the extra cubits being added on account of the depth of the panel; and the border about it shall be half a cubit, the span spoken of in verse 13; and the bottom thereof shall be a cubit about; and his stairs shall look toward the east, that is, the ascent for the officiating priests faced the east. The altar of burnt offering is so minutely described because under the Old Dispensation it was the place where the ordinary worship centered, where the believing Israelites drew near to God, where their relation to him, disturbed by the fact of their trespasses, was once more restored.
v. 18. And He said unto me, Son of man, Thus saith the Lord God, the sovereign Ruler of the universe, These are the ordinances of the altar, the regulations concerning its service, in the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt offerings thereon and to sprinkle blood thereon, in the act of atonement combined with that of consecration to Jehovah.
v. 19. And thou shalt give to the priests, the Levites, the descendants of Levi, that be of the seed of Zadok, of this line of the family, the other line having been discontinued since the time of Solomon, 1Ki_2:26-27, which approach unto Me to minister unto Me, saith the Lord God, a young bullock for a sin-offering. Cf Lev_4:3 ff.
v. 20. And thou shalt take of the blood thereof and put it on the four horns of it, according to the ancient ritual, and on the four corners of the settle, of the ledge below, and upon the border round about; thus shalt thou cleanse and purge it, this purification and expiation of the altar being symbolical of the complete sanctification of the people.
v. 21. Thou shalt take the bullock also of the sin-offering, Exo_29:10; Lev_8:14, and he shall burn it, rather, impersonal, "one shall burn it," in the appointed place of the house, without the Sanctuary. Cf Exo_29:14.
v. 22. And on the second day thou shalt offer a kid of the goats without blemish, this being a prime requisite in all sacrificial animals, for a sin-offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, namely, the priests engaged in this work, as they did cleanse it with the bullock, the offering of expiation thus being a daily occurrence.
v. 23. When thou hast made an end of cleansing it, of purifying the altar by these rites, thou shalt offer a young bullock without blemish and a ram out of the flock without blemish, for atonement and consecration.
v. 24. And thou shalt offer them before the Lord, in whose worship they were brought, and the priests shall cast salt upon them, as required by the ordinance, Lev_2:13, and they shall offer them up for a burnt offering unto the Lord, again to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
v. 25. Seven days shalt thou prepare every day a goat for a sin-offering, Exo_29:35; Lev_8:33; they shall also prepare a young bullock and a ram out of the flock without blemish.
v. 26. Seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it, by means of these sacrifices; and they shall consecrate themselves, literally, "fill their hands. " namely, with offerings to the Lord, as when the priests of old were inducted into office. Cf Exo_29:24-35.
v. 27. And when these days are expired, it shall be that upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar and your peace-offerings, or thank-offerings, in the regular work of their calling; and I will accept you, saith the Lord God. While this passage is clearly retrospective. that is, looking backward to the Levitical sacrifices, it is also prophetical, looking forward to the great sacrifice of propitiation whereby Christ, by one offering, forever atoned for the sin of mankind. Cp Heb_10:1-18.