Ezekiel 46

Ezekiel 46 continues the prophet’s vision of the future temple and its regulations. This chapter focuses on the worship and offerings to be observed on the Sabbath, new moons, and specific feast days. It also outlines the roles and responsibilities of the prince and the regulations surrounding land inheritance for the people and the prince. Through these instructions, the chapter underscores the importance of order, reverence, and dedication to God in worship.

Ezekiel 46:1-2 (NKJV)
1 “‘Thus says the Lord God: “The gateway of the inner court that faces toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the Sabbath it shall be opened, and on the day of the New Moon it shall be opened.”
2 “The prince shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gateway from the outside and stand by the gatepost. The priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings. He shall worship at the threshold of the gate. Then he shall go out, but the gate shall not be shut until evening.”

The eastern gate of the inner court is reserved for holy days such as the Sabbath and new moons, emphasizing the sanctity of these occasions. The prince’s role is symbolic, as he approaches God on behalf of the people, yet does not enter the sanctuary itself. His presence at the gate exemplifies reverence and represents a deeper connection between the people and God during worship.

Ezekiel 46:3 (NKJV)
3 “Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the entrance to this gateway before the Lord on the Sabbaths and the New Moons.”

The people are encouraged to gather at the gate’s entrance to worship collectively, fostering a sense of community devotion. This gathering highlights the importance of worship as a communal experience, reminding the people of their shared identity in revering and honoring God.

Ezekiel 46:4-5 (NKJV)
4 “The burnt offering that the prince offers to the Lord on the Sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish, and a ram without blemish.”
5 “And the grain offering shall be one ephah for a ram, and the grain offering for the lambs, as much as he wants to give, as well as a hin of oil with every ephah.”

The offerings prescribed for the Sabbath reflect God’s requirement for purity and dedication. The lambs and ram without blemish symbolize spiritual wholeness and commitment to God. The prince’s offerings, with a flexible amount of grain, also show an aspect of freewill, where devotion goes beyond the required and reflects personal commitment.

Ezekiel 46:6-7 (NKJV)
6 “On the day of the New Moon it shall be a young bull without blemish, six lambs, and a ram; they shall be without blemish.”
7 “He shall prepare a grain offering of an ephah for a bull, an ephah for a ram, as much as he wants to give for the lambs, and a hin of oil with every ephah.”

The offerings for the new moon include a young bull along with lambs and a ram, symbolizing renewal and the beginning of a new cycle. This ritual signifies a fresh dedication to God’s purposes, with offerings that symbolize strength, purity, and readiness to start anew with each month.

Ezekiel 46:8 (NKJV)
8 “When the prince enters, he shall go in by way of the vestibule of the gateway, and go out the same way.”

The prince’s designated entrance and exit reinforce an orderliness in worship. His adherence to this specific path reflects humility and respect for the temple protocols, which in turn emphasizes the significance of following God’s ordinances faithfully.

Ezekiel 46:9-10 (NKJV)
9 “But when the people of the land come before the Lord on the appointed feast days, whoever enters by way of the north gate to worship shall go out by way of the south gate; and whoever enters by way of the south gate shall go out by way of the north gate. He shall not return by way of the gate through which he came, but shall go out through the opposite gate.”
10 “The prince shall then be in their midst. When they go in, he shall go in; and when they go out, he shall go out.”

By requiring worshipers to exit through a different gate, God emphasizes the journey of worship as transformative. This act symbolizes that after encountering God, the worshiper should not return unchanged. The prince’s presence among the people highlights the shared experience and unity in worship.

Ezekiel 46:11-12 (NKJV)
11 “At the festivals and the appointed feast days the grain offering shall be an ephah for a bull, an ephah for a ram, as much as he wants to give for the lambs, and a hin of oil with every ephah.”
12 “Now when the prince makes a voluntary burnt offering or voluntary peace offering to the Lord, the gate that faces toward the east shall then be opened for him; and he shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings as he did on the Sabbath day. Then he shall go out, and after he goes out the gate shall be shut.”

The voluntary offerings by the prince signify a heart of worship beyond obligation, embodying dedication and personal devotion. The temporary opening of the east gate for these offerings highlights the special access granted during personal worship acts, showing that voluntary dedication is especially pleasing to God.

Ezekiel 46:13-15 (NKJV)
13 “You shall daily make a burnt offering to the Lord of a lamb of the first year without blemish; you shall prepare it every morning.”
14 “And you shall prepare a grain offering with it every morning, a sixth of an ephah and a third of a hin of oil to moisten the fine flour. This grain offering is a perpetual ordinance, to be made regularly to the Lord.”
15 “Thus they shall prepare the lamb, the grain offering, and the oil, as a regular burnt offering every morning.”

The daily offering reflects a rhythm of ongoing devotion, symbolizing the importance of regular communion with God. Offering a lamb every morning signifies a fresh start each day and reaffirms commitment to God’s standards. This practice underlines the need for consistency in devotion.

Ezekiel 46:16-18 (NKJV)
16 “Thus says the Lord God: ‘If the prince gives a gift of some of his inheritance to any of his sons, it shall belong to his sons; it is their possession by inheritance.”
17 “But if he gives a gift of some of his inheritance to one of his servants, it shall be his until the year of liberty, after which it shall return to the prince; but his inheritance shall belong to his sons; it shall become theirs.”
18 “Moreover the prince shall not take any of the people’s inheritance by evicting them from their property; he shall provide an inheritance for his sons from his own property, so that none of My people may be scattered from his property.”

These regulations protect the people’s land rights and prevent abuses of power by the prince. By ensuring that land given to servants reverts back in the year of liberty, God emphasizes fairness and family inheritance. This provision reflects God’s care for justice and stability among His people.

Ezekiel 46:19-24 (NKJV)
19 “Now he brought me through the entrance, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers of the priests which faced toward the north; and there a place was situated at their extreme western end.”
20 “And he said to me, ‘This is the place where the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin offering, and where they shall bake the grain offering, so that they do not bring them out into the outer court to sanctify the people.’”
21 “Then he brought me out into the outer court and caused me to pass by the four corners of the court; and in fact, in every corner of the court there was another court.”
22 “In the four corners of the court were enclosed courts, forty cubits long and thirty wide; all four corners were the same size.”
23 “There was a row of building stones all around in them, all around the four of them; and cooking hearths were made under the rows of stones all around.”
24 “And he said to me, ‘These are the kitchens where the ministers of the temple shall boil the sacrifices of the people.’”

The kitchens located in the outer court allow for the preparation of sacrificial meals without contaminating the inner sacred areas. This arrangement reflects a careful division between holy and common spaces, underlining the need for respect and order within God’s temple. The structure of these kitchens provides both practicality and reverence in temple rituals.