Exposition of the Whole Bible

and the new Yeru/alem -church-ftate ‘by the uppermoit ftory; which city, or ftate will be very large, and next to heaven, or the ultimate glory; fee. Rev. xxi, 16. The winding that went up wards to the fide-chambers, were winding-ftairs, which went up from one {tery to another, ‘hi and higher; fee 1 Aizgs vi, 8. The MGi/nie dox fay *, that in the fecond temple thefe winding-ftairs went from one fide of the temple to the other, from the north-eaft to the north-weft; by which they went up to the roofs of thefe chambers, and to the upper-room over the fanctuary., Thefe may fignify the various afflictions and tribulations, trials and exercifes, in which the- Lord leads his people, and by which the churches of Chrift pafs from one ftate to another: for the winding abous of the houfe went fill upward round about the boufes | not on the outfide, but within; properly round about the chambers, which are here called the. houfe: therefore the breadth of the houfe,was ftil] upward; became broader and broader, as it rofe up higher and higher: awd fo increafed from the loweft chamber to the higheft by the midft; from being only four cubits broad in the loweft ftory; it became five cubits in the middlemoft, and from thence fix cubits in the highett. Bis.

¥.8. I faw alfo the height of the houfe round about, &c.| Not of the temple itfelf, but of the chambers, and the three ftories of them, which ' wenc round about it; and particularly the height of the higheft ftory, which yet is not given; it could not be fo high as the temple, itfelf; for then there would have been no room for windows to let in light into it: the foundations of the fide-chambers were @ full reed of fix great cubits; not of the loweft {tory of them, for that was but four cubits broad, ¥. 5. nor of the middlemoft, which was five; but of the uppermoft, which was fix; and thefe were cubits of the largeft fize, an hand’s breadth larger than the common cubit, and made one full reed, or three yards and a-half; fee ch. xl. 5. thefe founs dations fignify the fame as the twelve foundations of the wall of the new Jeru/alem, and which are no other than the one foundation Chrift, minifterially laid by his twelve apoftles; and who is the only foundation of his church and people, and is a fure one, Rev. xxi. 14, 19. Epb. ii 20, 1 Cor, ijt, 11. Jf. xxvii. 16. do hes

¥. 9. Lhe thicknefs of the wall which was for the Side-chambers without, was five cubits, &c.| This is the outward wall.of the chambers, north and fouth, which was five cubits thick, made of ftone; fee the note on ¥..5: and.that whith was left, was the place of the fide-chambers that were within, this was a void fpace, not built upon, which was be+ fore the chambers that ftood within it; and was a fpace to walk in for thofe that dwelt in. ‘the chambers, or to go in from:chamber to chamber; which alfo was five cubits in breadth, as appears from the next verfe. This may denote the communion of churches, and the members of them one with another. } 26.08 ede ke eae y.10. And betweeen the chambers was the wide~ nefs of twenty cubits, &c.] Not the fide-chambers before-mentioned, as if there was the fpace of twenty cubits between each chamber; for another word is ufed; more probably the meaning is, that — between the fide-chambers, or the void {pace before

| them of five cubits, and the chambers which were in the court facing them, was fuch a “a j 200. neh: bor “ses _ twe

twenty cubits;‘reund about the houfe on every fide; on all fides of the temple, where the above chamthat are brought into it. fhall ever remain in it; which is che caie of the faints in heaven.

bers were, weft, north and fouth. ¥. 11. And the doors of the fide-chambers were to-

¥.13. So be measured the koufc, an hundred cubits long, &c.| ‘The whole temple, the parts of which wards the place that was left, &c.] Thefe opened jhe had meafured; and this is the fum total: and to the void fpace before them; that is, thofe of, the lower ftory; the others muft open to the winding ftair-cafe that led down to it: one door toward the north, and another door toward the fouth; which is not to be underftood, as if each chamber had two doors; but either of the two doors, which opened at the top of the ftair-cafe to the, north and fouth; or of the doors of thofe chambers, which were on the north, and opened towards it; and of thofe that were on the fouth, that opened to that; indeed the Mi/nic doctors fay *, that each chamber had three doors; one to the chamber on the right; another to the chamber on the left; and a third to the upper chamber: and in the north-eaft corner were five doors; one to the chamber,on the right; and one to the upper chamiber; a third to the winding-ftairg; a fourth to the\little gate;.and the fifth to the temple: thefe fignify the free entrance of ‘men into the churches of Chrift in the Jatter day, whofe gates fhall be opened to let in the righteous nation;_ and fhall itand open continually, that the forces of the Genizles, and their kings may be brought, J/, xxvi.,2. and Ix. 11, 18. and in the new Jerufalem there ate gates, eait, weft, north and fouth, even twelve of them, and at them twelve angels; and which gates fhall not be fhut day nor night, Rev, xxi. 12, 13, 25: and the breadth of the place that was left, was five cubits round about, the void fpace that was left before the fide-cham-

¥.12. Now the building that was before the feparate place, &c.| The feparate place is the holy of holies, which was feparated by a veil under the fecond temple, and by a wall as in this, and the firft from the holy place, before or over-againft which was a building, as it is rendered, ¥.15. a new building, not betore taken notice of; and it was fituated at thé end toward the -weft, or fea *, the Mediterranean-fea, which lay weft to the land of Canaan. The meaning is, that this building was to the weft of the temple, at which end ftood the holy of holies, and this near to that: what building is here meant is not eafy to fay, there being nothing in the firft or fecond temple which anfwered to it: it feems to be a new building; and what the myftical fenfe of it is; ‘cannot be eafily guefied at. Cocceius thinks, that as the holy of holies fignifies the heavenly or more perfect ftate of. the’

church on earth, this being over-againft it, or behind it, as in ¥. 15. may defign heaven itfelf, the happinefs and glory of the faints treafured up and. referved there: it was feventy cubits broad, Ferom feems to have the fame myftica] fenfe in view.; fince he obferves, that after labours and perils, and the floods and fhipwrecks of this world for feventy years, we come to enjoy the eternal reft: and the wall of the building was five cubits thick round about; which may anfwer to the vaft gulph fixed between the godly in heaven, and the wicked in hell; fo that there is no going the one to the other, Luke xvi, 26: and the length thereof ninety cudits, there ‘are no out-goings to this building, as Hafenrefferus ‘a Geriaan divine obferves; {fo that thofe the feparate place, and the building with the walls thereof, an hundred cubits long, thefe.are the feveral parts of the houfe or temple: the /eparate place, the holy of holies, the building, the fanctuary or holy place; which, with the walls thereof, made a hundred cubits in Jength from eatt to weft, thus; the thicknefs of the wall of the eaft porch, fix cubits; the paflage thro’ the porch, eleven cubits; the wall between the porch and the temple, Gx cubits; the temple or holy place, forty cubits; the wall between that and the mott holy place, two cubits.; the holieft of all, twenty cubits; the thicknefs of the weft wall, fix cubits; the chambers at the end of it, four cubits; and the outer wall of them, five cubits; in all a hundred cubits; for this cannot be underftood of the feparate place, and the building before it, or rather behind it; fince the feparate place, or holieft of all was twenty cubits, and the building ninety cubits; befides the thicknefs of each wall, five cubits a piece; in all a hundred and twenty.

v.14. Alfo the breadth of the face of the houfe, and the. feparate place toward the eaft, &c,| The whole front of the temple, the holy and moft holy place, which looked to the eaft: and was meafured from north to fouth,-an hundred cubits, which fome reckon thus; the breadth of the temple, twenty cubits; the thicknefs of the outward walls, twelve cubits; the fide-chambers, eight cubits; the walls

; of thefe chambers, five cubits on each fide; the breadth of the void fpace, five cubits on each fide; and twenty cubits round about the houfe; fo that the length and breadth of this ftructure was the fame, and made a perfect four-fquare, as the city of the new Zeru/alem is faid to be, Rev. xxi. 16. ¥.15. Aud he meafured the length of the building over-againft. the feparate place, &c.] Which, was ninety cubits, as appears from y¥. 12. when meafured by itlelf: which was behind it, that is, behind the feparate place, or holieft of all, at the back of it, at the weft end.. No/dius ® renders the words, e meafured the length of the building before the feparate place, and bebind it; or its back part, as the Syriac, and interprets it thus; that he meafured the building or the porch which was before the temple, that is to the north; and the porch oppolite to it, that is to the fouth: this duiding behind it, with the Fews*, is the fame with Beth- Chaliphoth', or the houfe of knives, which the priefts ufed in facrificing:. and the galleries thereof on the one fide, and on the other fide, an hundred cubits; as the above is the length of this building from eaft to weft, this is the breadth of it from north to fouth; the breadth of the building itfelf was feventy cubits, y. 12. and the galleries on the north and fouth fides of it, and the thicknefs of the walls, which were five cubits each, made thirty more; in all an hundred cubits; which is equal to the breadth of the temple, as in the preceding verfe; thefe galleries, or balconies, ‘or porticoes, fupported by pilafters, ‘defign places for the faints to walk in, converfe and commune with one another; and where Chrift the king of faints is held me forth,

214. forth, and feen in his beauty and glory; fee Zach. iii. 7. Cant. vii. 5. John xvii. 24: with the inner temple, and the porches of the court, or, and the inner temple *, 8c. that is, and he alfo meafured the inner temple or holy of holies, with all the porches, chambers and their walls, and with all the fpaces and appendages to it, which were of the fame meafure; fee the preceding verfe.

y¥. 16. The door-pofis, and the narrow windows; &c.] Of the inner temple or holy of holies; for this is what is laft mentioned; of the door-pofts of it, fee ¥. 3. in the holy of holies, both in Mo/es’s tabernacle, and Selomon’s temple, were no windows; Febovah dwelt in thick darknefs, 1 Kings viii. 12. but in this inner temple, or the more perfe& flate of the church on earth, there will be much light: thefe windows are faid to be narrow, that is, without, but broad within; and let in a creat deal of light, which, tho’ not difcerned by thofe without, yet comfortably enjoyed by thofe within; and will be fo great, that there will be no need of the fun or moon; Chrift the Lamb will be the light of this ftate; and the nations of the faved and their kings will walk in the light of it, Rev. XXi..23, 24, 25: aud the galleries round about on their three ftories; thefe feem to be the fame with the fide-chambers, which were three ftory high, and were on the three fides of the houfe, weft, north and fouth; fee y¥. 6: ever-againfg the door cieled with wood round about, with cedar wood, as the Targum: or, anfwerable were the doors cieled with wood; door, for doors; that is, the doors of thefe fide-chambers, which anfwered to one another, were lined with cedar wood; all which doors, doors-pofts, windows and galleries were feverally meafured: and from the ground up to the windovs;

from the bottom of the floor of the moft holy place up to the windows, which were above the third ftory of the fide-chambers, he meafured alfo: and the windows were covered, either by the jetting out of the fide-chambers, fo that they could not well be feen in the courts below; or they were * Jattice-windows with fuch fmall holes, as at a diftance were fcarce difcernible; or. were covered with curtains within; or being very narrow on the outfide, tho’ broad within, looked as if they were covered; denoting how impenetrable the glories of this ftate are to thofe that are without, Rev. Xxif ic:

¥.17. To that above the door, even unto the inner houfe, &c.}] The meaning ‘is, either there were fuch windows as before-defcribed, above the door of the eaftern-gate, that led into’ the holieft of all, and even unto the inner houfe or holy of holies: and without; and to all the: fide-chambers that were built without it: and by all the wall round about within and without; both within the holy place, and without, in the places adjoining to it, on all fides, weft, north and fouth; or all were cieled with cedar wood, that it might be more capable of being ornamented, either with gold, or with the decorations mentioned in the following verfes: or the fenfe is, that all thefe were meafured éxactly: for it follows, by meajure; or to all thefe were meafures™; the dimenfions were taken; every thing in the gofpel-church-ftate, whether in its Jefs or more perfeét ftate, will be all according to rule and meafure.

y. 18. And it was madé with cherubim, and

| palm-tree on the one fide, &c.] The cherubim in, rthis verfe are the fame with the living creatures

@ young lion toward the palm-tree on palm-trees, &c.] That is, alk the wall of the houfe round about was ornamented with theft, even both” of the holy and of the moft holy place; with thefe ’ the curtains of Mo/es’s tabernacle, and the veil that’ divided between the holy and the moft holy place,

'were decorated; as alfothe walls, both of the fanc- ’

tuary and oracle,, in Solomon’s temple, Exod. xxvi.~ 1, 31.1 Kings viii. 23—32., The former, according to the commonly received notion, were an~ emblem of angels; the latter, of true believers, or holy upright men: why thefe are called palmtrees, fee the note on ch. xl. 16: fo that a palmtree was between a cherub and a cherub; thefe were fo placed all around, that there was firft a cherub, next a palm-tree, and then a cherub again, and fo on; and if angels and faints are meant, and that notion could be fupported, which fome have given into, that the number of men redeemed by Chrift, is the fame with that of the angels that fell,-and their places are filled up by them; this would ferve to illuftrate it, particularly as thefe were all around the walls of the moft holy place; a type of heaven, as here of the new Ferufalem- {tate; that as there was a cherub and a palm-tree, a cherub and a palm-tree throughout all the houfe, fo an angel and a faint, an angel and a faint throughout all the manfions in the’ holy city, and in the heavenly glory: and every cherub had two faces which, by what follows, were the faces of | aman, and of a'lion. The gherubim Ezekiel faw in his firft vifion had four faces, Ezek. 1. 10. and fo thefe muft be fuppofed to have, tho’ only two were feen; becaufe thefe were carved or painted on the walls, fo that the hindmoft faces, thofe of the ox and eagle, could not be perceived. ¥. 19. So that the face of a man was toward the this prophet faw by the river Chebar, and which he knew to be the cherubim, Ezek. x. 20. and the fame with ‘fobn’s four beafts or living creatures) in Rev. iv. 7, 8. and he being the lait that wrote concerning them, gives the cleareft account of them; and by which the beft judgment may be formed about them; and from which it appears, that they are men redeemed by the blood of Chrift; and as they are on the one hand diftinguifhed from angels, fo on the other from the four and twenty elders, or common chriftians, Rev. iv. 8, 9. and v. 8—1z. and plainly defign the minifters 2 the word, and who are every where to be underfto by them: their having the face of a man, fhews - they are men, and have to do with men, and fhould be humane, kind and tender, knowing and underftanding as men; fee the note on ch, i. 10. and their face being towards the palm-tree, fhews that they fhould- be upright and fincere in their ‘doctrine, miniftry and conyerfation; that they fhould bear all weights and preffures laid upon them. patiently; and rife up heaven-wards in their affeétions and defires, and in their expectation of help and affiftance in’ their work, and triumph in Chrift, thro” whom they are conquerors; the palm-tree |. being an emblem of thefe things: a7 ‘the face of other fide, this face of the cherubim denotes the ftrength of gofpel-minifters they have from Chriit to; work, defend the gofpel, withftand gain-{z fupport the weak, and bear with t eit infirmities; <a rees

Ghexlti?, 26223) Ao ZZ EK Y ££ LE: 213 as alfo their boldnefs, courage and-intrepidity in preaching the gofpel of Chrift without fear of men; of this their face, and the other two not mentioned here, fee the note on ch. i. 10: é was made thro all the houfe round about;

cherubim and palm-trees were carved or pourtrayed in the form and order here defcribed throughout; the holy of holies, as ‘archi interprets the houfe; and fignifies that gofpel-minifters fhall have aj place, and peculiar honour done them in the new Ferufalem-{tate, who will be particularly rewarded) lent as the cedars; fair and beautiful; ftrone, durable and incorruptible; tho’ its original is of the earth, as wood: or was made of a woman;. of the earth, earthly; but produced without fin. This that is, the) altar; both in the tabernacle and temple, was covered with gold; as it was fit it fhould be with fome hard fubftance that would bear incenfe to be burned on it; and therefore was called the golden altar, Ewod. xxx. 3. Numb. iv. 11. 1 Kings vi. 20, 22. and fo the altar at which our Lord officiates as Mediator and Interceffor is called a

¥. 20. From the ground unto above the door, &c.) From the floor of the holy of holies, to above the door. of it to the eaft, where was the entrance into it; or from thence to the cieling, as the Septuagint verfion: were cherubim, and palm-trees made, either in rows one above another, quite up to the place mentioned; or they were made fo large, that each cherub and palm-tree reached from the ground to ‘above the door, or to the cieling: and on the wall of the temple; that is, they were not only thus placed in the holieft of all; but in the temple, or holy place on the wall of it all around; and fhews, that in the ftate of the church in the latter day, which this part of the building reprefents more efpecially, will be great numbers of gofpel-minifters, who will faithfully and uprightly preach it to men; fee Dan. xii. 4, Rev. xiv. 6, 7, 8.

y. 21. The pofts of the temple were fquared, 8cc. Or, wére four-/quare ™, the two pofts on each fide the door, the lintel and the threfhold, made a fquare; the pofts themfelves were not round as | pillars, but flat and fquare; and the upper part was not arched, as in fome buildings, but f{quare. Farchi fays he had heard that the poits of Solomon's temple were four-fquare; but that is not certain; however -thefe were. The Vulgate Latin verfion renders it, four-cornered,; as doors formerly were: this was the ancient way of building, as Pd:/ander ° obferves; almoft-every thing in this wonderful building was four-fquare; denoting the firm- _nefs, ftability and perfection of all things in it: and the face of the fan&iuary, the appearance of the one as the appearance of the other; that is, the front of the holy of holies was like that of the temple; they both had the fame appearance, tho’ one was larger than another. The pofts of the one werefquared, even as the pofts of the other; fhewing, that the fame is the way of entrance into the gofpel-church, and into the new Ferufalem-churchftate, and even into the heavenly glory, which is Chrift; and whether in the lefs or more perfect ftate of the church on earth, there are the fame precious faith, and love, and communion, tho’ different degrees. The Targum is, ‘* and the face *¢ of the houfe of the propitiatory, and its ap- *< pearance as the appearance of its glory;” which archi interprets, as the appearance of the throne of glory, feen by the prophet at the river Chebar, deity of Chrift, that gives virtue to his mediation; or the glorification of his human nature in heaven, in which he minifters; and alfo the precioufnefs of his interceffion, and the duration of it. The incenfe burnt on this altar may fignify both the mediation of Chrift, which is pure and holy, tho” for finners; large and frequent, continually made, and very fragrant and acceptable; and the prayers of the faints which are offered up on this altar, which fanétifies them; and thro’ the much incenfe, which perfumes them, whereby they afcend up to God, and are fweet odours to him, being fragrant and fervent, pure and holy. This altar in the tabernacle of Ado/es, and probably in the temple of Solomon, tho’ its dimenfions there are not given, was four-fquare, Exod. xxx. 2. very likely fo was this; and indeed the Septuagint ver- | fion adds, and the breadth two cubits, which being the fame with its length, made it four-fquare; and fo may point at the firmnefs, unchangeablenefs and perfection of this part of Chrift’s priefthood, his interceffion, which is true of the whole of it, Hed. vii. 19,24, 25. and it may be obferved, that the altar here was a cubit longer, and a cubit broader, as well as. a cubit higher than the Mo/aic one, Exod. xxx. 2. Kimchi fays, this altar was not liké to that which Mo/es or Solomon, or the children of the captivity made; it was larger than any of them; which fhews that the interceffion of Chrift out high-prieft is larger‘and more extenfive than that of the priefts under the law; they offered incenfe only for the people of J/rael; but Chrift, as he is the propitiation, fo the advocate for Gentiles, as well as. Fews; tho’ not for the whole world of men, yet for the world of the elect; and for all bleffings of grace and glory for them, 1 Yobu ii.1,2, John xvii. 9, 20. and moreover, that under the gofpel-difpenfation there would be more praying fouls, and more ufe made of the Mediator, of his name, blood, righteoufnefs, facrifice and interceffion; and a greater fpirit of grace and fupplication poured out, efpecially in the latter day; hence we read of Chrift’s much incenfe, Fobn xvi. 23, 24. Zech. xii. 10. Rev. viii. 3: and the corners thereof, and the length thereof, and the walls thereof were of wood; that is, the horns that were at the four corners of it; and the top of it, which was its length and breadth; and the fides of it, called it walls,

¥. 22. The altar of wood was three cubits high, - and the length thereof two cubits, &c.} ‘This was the altar of incenfe, and was typical of Chrift in his intercefion and mediation. It was made of wood; that in the tabernacle of Mofes was of fhittim-wood, a kind of cedar; and that in Solomon's temple was of cedar, Lxad. xxx. 1. 1 Kings vi. 20. and may fignify the human -nature of Chrift, in which he mediates and intercedes; which is excelmyftical fenfe of which has been given; only it may be obferved, that the four corners or horns of it may denote the ftrength of Chrift’s interceffion; and to which men have recourfe, and lay hold on, for their relief, even from all parts of the world, eaft, weft, north and fouth: and he faid unto me, this is the table that is before the Lord; that is, either the altar before defcribed is the table before the Lord, which he has fpread, and where

216 EZ EK 1 Et. Gistng sy his people feed ‘in his prefence; the intercefiion of

Cbrift being a feaft to the faith of faints: or it turning leaves, &c.] Each of thele doors had may be, that the divine guide of the prophet turning himfelf to the right-hand of the altar, pointed to. the table of fhew-bread, which ftood in the fame place; and faid this or that which ftands yonder is the table before the Lord; and which alfo was typical of Chrift, the true bread that comes down from heaven, who is the food ot his people; for quality, the fineft of the wheat; for quantity, enough and to fpare; for-favour, fuch as gracious fouls defire always to have’; for duration, conti-.

nual bread, fet forth by priefts, and only eat by them; and like that dread of faces, as the fhewbread:is called?; denoting the interceffion of Chrift, the angel of God’s prefence; and who always appears in the prefence of God for his people, bearing on him. the names’ of the children of J/rael, to which the twelve fhew-bread loaves anfwered. The table on which they were fet, fignifies the communion faints have with Chrift in his word and ordinances; which are called.a feaft, of which Chrift is the.fum and fubftance; and where, as at a table, he fits and favours them with fellowfhip with himfelf; fee Prov. ix. 2. Cant. i. 12. andv. 1, Rev. iii. 20. The Jews? have an obfervation upon this text, that it begins. with an altar, and ends with a table;.and further obferve, that while the temple ftood, the altar atoned for a man, but now a man’s table atones for him: but this is not a man’s table, but the Lord’s table;. and Chrift the facrifice held forth on this table does indeed atone for a man.

¥. 23. And the temple and the fanétuary had two doors.| Or the houle of propitiatory, as the Targum; that is, the moft holy place; not two doors a piece, but each had one door, which made two; the door of the temple was ten cubits broad, and the door of the moft holy place fix cubits, y: 2, 3. fhewing the door is wider, and more enter into the outward vifible church,,or lefs perfect ftate, even fome bad, as well as good, than the door of the Ferufalem-church-ttate, or heavenly glory, into which fewer enter.

ie this chapter are a defcription of fome chambers in the northern part of the outward court, y¥.1—12. an account of the ufe made of them by. the priefts, y. 13, 14. the meafuring of the area or whole compa{s of ground, on which the whole building before meafured ftood, with the wall that furrounded it, ¥.15—20.

¥.1.. Then he brought. me forth into the utter court, the way toward the north, &c.|. After the dimenfions of the gates and courts.of this building had been fhewn, and that of itfelf, the holy and moft holy place, with the ornaments thereof; the prophet is brought by his guide into the outward court, which encompaffed the building to _the north part of it; probably he came out of the north-gate of the houfe into it. So the Targum renders it, ‘* by the way of the gate which is ** open to the way of the north:” and he brought me into the chamber that was over-againft the fepa-. vale place; or holy of holies; fee ch. xli..12. over-

Chote Ph OZ oF: "PITT INIT 1D Ox XP. avr etiam denfo ligno in fronte weltibulivextrimfecas, Junius & Tremellius; & trabs lignea ante veitibulum erat foris, Starckius, oa § Taurath Beth Hamikdahy, 4.71. ‘ xy. 24. And the doors had two leaves a piece, + leaves, which met in a middle poft, and’ might B opened either’ fingly or together, as occafion’

quired; fee the note on ch. xl. 48: feo leaves for’

the one door, and two leaves for the other door 5 two”

for the door ofthe temple, and two for’ the door.

of the moft holy place; or each leaf of both doors’ * had two foldings; as there were two leaves ee door, there were two foldings in every leaf; fo!

that the door might’ be opened wider or narrower.

as was thought fits denoting the greater number? — of perfons Jet in, and the greater light and know-"

ledge had, at one time than at another; fee 1 Kings

vi. 31, 34. ss ¥.25. And there were made on them, on the doors

moft holy place: cherubim and palm-trees, like as were made on the walls; the doors of both places had the fame decorations as the walls of each; fee’

palm-tree on each leaf, or on each folding of a leaf, according as it would admit of: and there were thick planks upon the face of the porch without;

on the outward front of the porch, were fome thick wainfcot boards, which projected as a cover to the entrance into it; or as it may be rendered, alfo on the thick piece of wood in the front of the:

porch without*; which, as Starckius thinks, was a large wooden bar, which fhut and held in the folding leaves of the door; and on this, 6r thefe thick planks, were cherubim and palm-trees. ~~”

¥.26. And there were narrow windows, Bcc.) See x. 16. and ch. xl. 16: and palm-trees on the one fide, and on the other fide, on the fides of the porch; upon the pofts that were en each fide the porch, north and fouth; fee ch. xl. 16, 26: and. upon the fide-chambers of the houfe, and thick planks; that is, there were palm-trees upon the fide-chambers, which were in number thirty, ¥. 6. and upon the planks alfo; every part of this fabric within and without were ornamented.

againft or before this, to the north of it, were a chamber or chambers; the fingular being put for — the plural; whither the prophet was brought to take a-view of, being a new and diftinét building from all others he had feen before; unto; one of them, or to the place of them, as Yarchi, where they ftood: there were two rows of them oppofite to each other, and a walk between them; they are afterwards called the north and fouth chambers, ¥.13! aud which was before the building toward the north, this chamber or chambers were-over= againft or before the whole fabric, to the north of ~

}it. The Yews here confefs their ignorance, there being nothing in the firft or fecond temple anfwer- _ able to thefe. Lipman ‘ exprefsly fays, thefé chambers were not in the fecond temple; perhi h 4 may defign the proteftant reformed churches in the northern parts of the world; the religion ¢ teftants is by the papifts called the northern and if our northern’ churches are here pointed and defcribed, it is a great honour that is done itn iyls legoerae them,;

Ch.xla.v.2—-6. FE ZE K JE L. 207 way, P/) cxix. 32,96. and the moral jaw, as ia the hands of Chrift, is a rule of walk and converfation to believers under the gofpel: and befides, there was a way of one cubit; which led into the chambers, and out of them into the broad wall:: this is a narrow way, as Chrift is faid to be, Matt. vii. 14. and whoever profefs faith in him, and in this way enter into a. gofpel-church-ftate, and into the kingdom of heaven, muft be attended with much affliction and perfecution).and pafs thro’ many tribulations; and there being both a broad walk, and a narrow way, and thefe lying near one another, and a paflage froin the one to the other, may denote that the churches and people of God are fometimes in profperity, and fometimes in adverfity; one while they walk at liberty, as in a large place; and at other times in great ftraits and difficulties: and their doors toward the north; that is, the doors of that row of chambers neareft the temple 5 thefe opened to the north into the walk of ten cubits; tho’ one would think, that the row oppofite to them, their doors muft be to the fouth, into the broad walk between them; unlefs this is to be underftood of the doors that opened into the way of one cubit, and were to the north in both rows; but then the way of one cubit could not in both lead into the broad walk. ¥. 5. Now the upper chambers were fborter, &c.] The chambers were in three f{tories, as in the following verfe, one above another; the middlemoft were fhorter than the lowermoft, and the upper fhorter than either; juft the reverfe of ‘the chambers in ch.xli. 71, they were not fo high from the floor to the cieling, nor fo broad from fide to fide. The reafon' follows: for the galleries were bigher than thefe; or, ate out of thefe*, than the lower, and thaw the middlemoft of the building; the meaning is, thatthe galleries or balconies in the middlemoft and upper chambers were taken out of them, and {fq made them leffer than the lower ones, and the upper ones leffer than either; or the pofts or pillars, as the word may be rendered; fee’ y¥. 3: which fupported the chambers, took more out of the uppermoft than the others, and fo made~them fhorter. This may. fignify the diverfity of. gifts and grace, of light and knowledge, and of liberty and comfort in the churches; and that, as thofe that are uppermoft have moft light, they:are-ufually the leaft, and feweft members in them; who are the few names in Sardis, Rev. iii. 4. and are generally, more ftraitned, afflicted, reproached and perfecuted.. _ ¥. 6. For they were in three frories, &c.] Not only the galleries or pofts, but the chambers; they were one over another; there were the lowermoft, middlemoft and uppermoft; which, as before, may denote the difference in churches, and the different {tates, conditions and characters of thofe that are in them’; fome being fathers, others young men, and others little children: or their different offices and relations; fome being paftors, others deacons, and others private members: or their knowledge of, and profeffion of faith in the doétrine of the Trinity, the myftery of God, and of the Father, and of Chrift; and their being baptized in the name of the three divine perfons; and their being built on Chrift the foundation, an habitation for God thro’ the Spirit: dut bad not pillars as the pillars of the courts; thofe which fupported the por- "4 Concord, Pbt. Partic, puSts... 05 de out mai) opp) al PS 135 by PTW poltis ante poltem in triplici, Starckius, * = 519 oy Keri, >>) comedebant ex ipfis, Mariana; demordebant ab illis, Cocceius, Starckius, Vou. Il. Ne. 29. a them, to have a particular -apartment allotted, them in this wonderful building; compare P/. xlviil. 2..

¥. 2. Before the length of an hundred cubits was the north door, &c.| That is, the north door of the houfe opened to a fpace that lay between that and the chambers, which was an hundred cubits long: and the breadth was fifty cubits; or the fenfe is, that the prophet was brought, as No/dius renders the words ', to a place whofe length was an hundred cubits towards the north doer, io that they deicribe the length and breadth of thefe chambers, the whole of them; and to this agrees the drabdic verfion: this account of them makes them larger than Solomon’s temple, 1 Kings vi. 2. which may fignify the largenefs of thefe churches; the number of men in them; and the abundance of fpiritual bleffings and privileges, of light and knowledge, peace and joy, pofiefled by them: but the meafure being oblong, and not four-fquare, as the city of the new Ferufalem, Rev, xxi. 16. fhews they are not yet come to ftability and perfection.

¥. 3. Over-againft the twenty cubits which were for the inner court, &c.] Starckius thinks that the breadth of the chambers being fifty cubits, is here parted, and difpofed of, and accounted for. The chambers were in two rows over-againft each other; that row which leoked to the fouth, and fo to the temple, was twenty cubits broad; and becaufe it led to the temple, its court is called the inner court: and over-againft the pavement which was for the utter court, or that row which was over-againit the pavement of the outward court to the north, was alfo twenty cubits broad, which make. forty; and the walk of ten cubits between them, y. 4. account for the breadth of the fifty cubits: was gallery againft gallery in three tories; or, there was poft before poft in three ftories “; each chamber had a pott or pillar, fo Farchi,; which diftinguifhed or divided one from another, and ran up with the chambers three ftory high; and as the chambers, fo thefe pofts in both rows anfwered to one another. Thefe may denote the minifters of the gofpel, who are as pillars in the houfe of God, and churches of Chrift; and every diftinét church has its pillar or paftor, Prov. ix. 1.

y¥.4. And before the chambers was a walk of ten cubits breadth inward, -&c.|. That is, withinfide, or between the two rows of chambers, there was a walk of this breadth, for thofe, that lodged in the chambers to walk in. for their pleafure and profit, and to converte with one another, Such who by thefe chambers under{tand places of retirement for ~private. devotion, or the duties of the clofet, which fit and prepare for public worfhip; as. thefe chambers were near and in fight of the temple, fo by this wall think chriftian conference and converfation is. intended;. and. fhews, that; the whole of religious time is not to be fpent between the church and the chamber; but fome part of it fhould be allotted for fpiritual difcourfe, about gracious experiences, the truths of the gofpel, and the duties of religion: but. as chambers defign churches, this walk denotes the outward walk.and converfation of the faints; which fhould, be. according to the rule of God’s word, as becomes the golpel, and worthy of the vocation wherewith they are called. Ssarckius applies this to the decalogue or ten commandments, which is a broad porticoes and galleries in the Courts of the temple, not pillars fo thick and ftrong as they: fo the churches repréfented by thefe chambers, tho’ they havé gofpel-minifters, which are as pillars, and valuable members, which are as fuch, that fall not go out; yet they have not thofe external fupports from great and rich men, but confift generally of the poor of this world, as churches on a civil eftablifhment have, who are fupported by the ftate: therefore the building was ftraitened more than the loweft, and the middlemoft from the ground, the upper part of it, or the uppermoft chambers were more ftraitned, and had lefs room in them than the middlemoft, and the middlemoft than the loweft; fuggefting, that the more heavenly and fpiritual men are, the further they depart from the men of the world and their converfation, from the fentiments and practices of natural men; the more they are expofed to their fcorn and contempt, and are the more afflicted and ftraitened by y.7. And the wall that was without over-againft the chambers, &c.] This wall. feparated and diftincuifhed the chambers from the outward court, as well as was a protection of them; and fignifies the grace and power of God, which feparates his true churches from the world, and is the fecurity of them; fee the note on ch. xl. 5. this was towards the utter court, on the fore-part of the chambers; or front of them, which feems to be to the north of them; fince their doors were towards the _ north, y. 4. tho’ Cocceius makes it to be to the weft, which better agrees with what follows: the length thereof was fifty cubits; which anfwers to the breadth of the chambers, ¥. 2. and what is called length here, with refpect to the wall, is called the breadth with refpect to the chambers. The wall of divine protection is equal to the length and breadth, and even the whole compafs of the churches of Chrift.

¥. 8. For the length of the chambers that were in

the utter court was jifty cubits, 8c.) Which was the reafon why the wall was of the fame length, that it might be anfwerable to them; here length is put for breadth; fee y. 2. this meafure was from the north to fouth, as Lipman * obferves: and lo, before the temple were an hundred cubits; as the breadth of the wall and chambers was fifty, fo in length, as they were over-againft the temple, they were an hundred cubits, as in y. 2. unlefS the account is to be taken thus; that the row of chambers towards the north were fifty cubits -long, and the row towards the fouth over-againft the other was’ fifty cubits, and fo both made an hundred; to which fenfe is the Septuagint verfion, ‘* for the ‘* length of the chambers that look to the out- “¢ ward court was fifty cubits, and thofe (that is, ** thofe that looked to the temple, or were before ** that) anfwered to them, the whole an hundred ** cubits;” that is, both rows made an hundred cubits; but rather, as Lipman fays, the chamnF contained from ‘eaft to weft an hundred cu-

_ 9. And from under thefe chambers, 8&c.] Or, from the lower part of thefe chambers*; or, from the loweft of them there was a fpace, as may be fupplied, and as is by Cocceius and Starckius; and dedacebat me ab ofiente, Junius & Tremellius; quamque is as there was a wall to the weft of them, fo there was a void fpace to the eaft; and as follows: sbé entry on the eaft-fide, or, be that brought me from the eaft*, as the Keri; and coming eaftward to thefe chambers, one muft needs go thro’ this fpace: as one goeth into them from the utter court; if a man went eaftward into thofe chambers from the outward court, he muft go thro’ this’ fpace, which lay to the eaft of the loweft chambers: or the fenfe is, that from under the north chambers to the fouth was an entry on the eaft-fide, which led from one to the other.

¥. 10. The chambers were in the thicknefs of the « wall of the court toward the eaff, &c.] As there were chambers in the northern part of the outward’ court, fome which looked to the north, and others to the fouth, fo likewife fome to the eaft; and thefe were built on the breadth, as it may be réndered, of the court-wall to the eaft; fignifying, there will be churches raifed in all the northern parts of the world: over-againft the feparate place, and overagainft the building; as the other chambers were; fee the note on ¥. I.:: J y.11. And the way before them was like the appearance of the chambers which were toward the north, &c.| The way before thefe eaftern chambers was exactly like to that of the northern chambers; which was either the way of one cubit into them, or the walk of ten cubits before them, or both; fignifying, that the way into gofpel-churches is the fame every where, and the walk and converfation of the faints the fame in all places: as long as they, and as broad as they; which feems to confirm that both the way and the walk are meant, which were the fame in thofe eaftern chambers as in the northern; the way being as long, of one cubit, and the walk as broad, of ten cubits: and all their goings out were both according to their fa- Jhions, and according to their doors; the form and fafhion of them were alike; they were built threé {tories high, were as long, and as broad, and thé upper fhorter than the middlemoft and loweft; the way of going into them, and coming out of them, were juft the fame; their doors were in the fame pofition: in gofpel-churches there are the fame ordinances of baptifmm and the Lord’s-fupper; the fame laws and rules; the fame privileges and immunities; the fame graces in the members of - them, like precious faith, hope and love; whatever difference there may be in temporal things, there is none in {piritual ones; be they rich or poor, their communion is equal, their benefits the fame. ¥. 12. And according to the doors of the chambers that were toward the fouth, &c.] That is, the doors of thefe eaftern chambers, were exaétly like to the doors of the.fouthern chambers, as well ‘as to the northern ones: was @ door in the head of the way; or beginning of the way; the door opened into the way of one cubit, and that led into the walk of ten cubits; and fuch a way and walk were before thefe eaftern chambers, as were before thé fouthern and northern ones: even the way diret?ly before the wall toward the eat, as one entreth inte them or, alfo a way before the wall direé, a way to the eaft, as one goes into them”; which feems to defcribe fuch a way from under thefé eaftern chamtoukek

2 osm mown mmm & ab ima parte 2 2D DPM is gui qui introduxerat me ab oriente, Pifeator.

SONIA DP PA Pyar ITI 93H2 AIT vie, ixquam, que erat ante maceriam reétam orientem verfus, qua venitur ad illas, Tunius & Tremellius, Pifcator; via ante maceriam retta, via orientis in introitu illaram, Cocceius, Starckius.

Ch. uliivet stk Za ky Re fe ks 1:

bers, as were from under the northern or fouthern chambers, ¥. 9.. _ ¥. 13. Then faid be unto me, &c.| ‘The divine perfon, that meafured and defcribed thefe chambers, and brought the prophet to take a view of them, faid to him, as follows: she north chambers, and the fouth chambers, which are before the feparate place, they be holy chambers; thefe are the two rows of chambers before defcribed, which were fouthward and northward to each other, tho’ both in the northern part of the outward court; thefe were for holy perfons to dwell in, and for holy things to be done in, as the churches of Chrift are; they confift of holy perfons, men called with an holy calling, and in them the holy word of God is preached, and holy ordinances adminiftred: where the priefts that approach unto the Lord shall eat the moft holy things; which is to be underftood not of the minifters of the gofpel, for whom a proper maintenance is to be provided, and who fhould live of the gofpel they preach; but of all the faints, who are made prie/is to God by Chrift; and who approach unto the Lord by him, in his name and righteoufneis, and by the faith of him, with true hearts, in a {piritual manner; and which is profitable to themlelves, and acceptable to God; for whom fpiritual provifions are made in his houfe: thefe have moft -holy things to eat of, the holy word of God, the law-part of which is holy, jutt and good; and the gofpel-part is our moft holy faith, which is food for faith, favoury and falutary, milk for babes, and meat for ftrong men; and which is found and eat, and digefted by them: alfo our Lord Jefus Chrift, who is the moft holy, and is the fum and fubftance of the word and ordinances, and the food of believers, the bread of jife, the hidden manna, the lamb of God, and fatted calf; whofe flefh and blood are meat and drink indeed, and are eaten and fed upon by faith. There fball they lay the moft holy things; lay wp the word of God in their minds and. memories, and remember the love of God, his fufferings and death, and the benefits arifing from them, particularly in the ordinance of the {upper: and the meat-offering; the Minchab or bread-offering, made of fine four, typical of Chrift, the bread of life: and the finoffering, and the trefpa/s-offering; both typical of Chrift, made fin for his people; and who by one facrifice of himfelf, has made atonement for it, and an end of it; fee the note on ch. xl. 39. thefe were called the moft holy things, and were laid up in the fanctuary for the priefts and their families to live upon, Lev. vi. 17: for the place is holy, the place of thefe chambers holy, as the temple itfelf, where thefe moft holy things, and holy perfons were.

¥. 14. When the pricfs enter therein, &c.] Into the holy place, thefe holy chambers, and approach unto: God, and eat of the moft holy things, and minifter therein to the Lord:. then fhall they not go out of the boly place into the utter court, denoting, not that the minifters of the word fhould not concern, themfelves in fecular employments, but give themfelves up to the word and prayer, tho’ fo to do is right, but the perfeverance of the faints in the houfe and worfhip of God, in grace and holinefs, and in all the duties of religion; thefe fhould not relinquifh their profeffion, defert their ftation and the fervice of God, and return to the world; but continue as pillars in the temple of

God, and go no more out, but abide by the truths and ordinances of the gofpel: ut there they hall lay their garments wherein they minifter; for they are holy; thefe fignify Chrift’s robe of righteoufnefs and garments of falvation, that fine linen clean and white, which is the righteoufnefs of the faints; and fitly reprefented by the linen garments of the priefts, in which they miniftred in their office, and were like them; holy, pure, and {potlefs; in thefe only faints appear before God, and prefent their fupplications to him, not for their own, but for Chrift’s righteoulnefs fake, making mention of that only; and herein they have acceptance with God now, and fhall be introduced into his prefence hereafter, and behold his face, clothed with thefe garments, and ferve him for ever: and fhall put on other garments, and fhall approach to thofe things which are for the people; thete are the converfation-garments of the faints, which are not fit to appear in before God, being attended with impanietien and fin; but very proper to appear in before men, among whom their lights fhould fhine, and their good works be feen, for the adorning of the doétrine of Chrift, the recommending of the chriftian religion, and the ftopping of the mouths of gain-fayers: for this refpects not the different habits of minifters, when they are in their miniftrations, and out of them; tho’ the allufion is to the priefts under the law, who wore their prieftly garments only in the temple, and whilft miniftring there, and never elfewhere, or when among the common people on civil accounts: fo Yo/ephus fays *, the priefts only wore their holy garments when they miniftred, at other times they appeared in the habit of private perfons; with which agrees what Maimonides * fays, their garments are not upon them, when they are not miniftring in the prieftly office, but then they are clothed as lay-men; or when, as the Targum here has it, ‘* they were mingled with the people.” There were places in the temple, where they put on and off their cloaths, and where they were laid up. So Adrichomius ¢ fays, {peaking of the temple, ‘* there were rooms, otherwife called treafu- ‘¢ ries, and priefts apartments, which were houfes on the fide of it, like towers, long, broad, and ‘¢ high; in which the priefts, when they went into “« the fanétuary, put off their common woollen garments, and put on their holy linen ones; “and when they had performed their. holy fer- ‘* vices, laid them up there again.” And another writer, quoted by Solomon Ben Virga', obferves, that ‘* here (that is, the temple) was an houfe for ‘© the prieft, whofe office it was to clothe the reft “¢ of the priefts at the time of fervice; and he ‘* pave to every one of them four forts. of gar- *¢ ments, as were commanded, and fetched them “* out of the chefts of the wardrobe; and on every <¢ cheft, which were at the walls of this houfe, ‘* that is, above every one of them, was the name ‘* of the garment, that there might be no miftake *¢ nor confufion when they were wanted.” And this agrees with what is faid in the Mifnab *, that there was one that was appointed over the priefts garments, and who might be properly enough called the mafter of the wardrobe; on which one of the commentators fays *, his bufinefs was ‘* to ‘ clothe the priefts at the time of fervice, and to “© unclothe them after. fervice was done, and to keep the garments of ‘the priefthood in the “© chambers made for that purpofe.” Very wrongly therefore is the learned Se/den ‘ charged by Mr. Sheringham * with a miftake, in denying that the priefts wore their holy garments at any other time, but when they were at divine fervice.

y¥..315. Now when be had made an end of meafuring the inner boufe, &c.| The holy place, and the holy of holies, with all the courts and chambers belonging to them even the whole building within the compafs of the outermoft wall, and all that pertained unto it; the chambers laft mentioned, as well as the reft, the dimenfions of which are given in this and the two preceding chapters: be brought me forth toward the gate, whofe propel is toward the eaft, not to the eaft gate of the outward wall, but to the eaft gate which led into the outward court; the gate he was firft brought unto, and which was firft meafured, ch. xl. 6: and meafired it round about; not the eaft-gate, nor the outward wall that went all round the houfe; tho’ this was meafured, ‘and its dimenfions given, laft of all; nor the houfe itfelf, which had been meafured already; or the figure of it, as the Septuagint and Arabic verfions; but all that fpace that was between this building, and the wall that furrounded it; the area or compafs of ground -on which the building ftood.

¥. 16. He meafured the eaft fide, &c.) He began with that, being at the eaft gate: the building was four-{quare, and fo was the wall about it, and had» each four equilateral fides, which were feparately meafured; here the eaft fide, from the two angles of it, the north and-fouth points: with the meafuring reed; which confifted of fix cubits, and which cubits were larger than the common fort-by an hand’s breadth; fo that a meafuring reed, meafured three. yards and an‘half: and the whole meafure of the eaft fide, were jive hundred reeds’; which make one thoufand, feven hundred, and fifty yards: with the meafuring reed round about, not round about the building, fince only one fide, as yet, was meafured; but round about that fide, or from angle to angle, or from one fide to the other: having finifhed one fide, he went to another, until he had meafured all round; but did not go four times round it, only once.

¥.17. He meafured the north fide, five hundred reeds, &c.] From the two angles of that fide, eaft and weft; and it was of the fame dimenfion as the eaft fide, juft five hundred reeds, or one thoufand, feven hundred, and fifty-yards: with a medfuring reed round about; he meafured with the fame reed, from point to point; and having meafured this fide, ‘he went to another.

xy. 18. He meafured the fouth fide, five hundred reeds, &c.| From the two angles of ‘that fide, eaft and weft; and it amounted to juft the fame num-