The vision of A. M. 3430. B. C. 574. Olymp. LI. 3. Anno Servii Tullii, R. Roman., 5. EZEKIEL. 2 Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way with out unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side. 3 And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. 4 Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. 5 Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for Chap. xl. 3,- d Heb. waters of the ankles.- e Heb. waters of swimming.- Heb. lip. pipes to the place: but a fountain producing abundance of water was not there, and could not be there, on the top of such a hill; and consequently these waters, as well as those spoken of in Joel iii. 18, and in Zech. xiv. 8, are to be understood spiritually or typically; and indeed the whole complexion of the place here shows, that they are thus to be understood. Taken in this view, I shall proceed to apply the whole of this vision to the effusion of light and salvation by the outpouring of the Spirit of God under the Gospel dispensation, by which the knowledge of the true God was multiplied in the earth; and have only one previous remark to make, that the farther the waters flowed from the temple, the deeper they grew. the typical waters. waters the waters were risen, to swim in, a river that could not be passed over. A. M. 3430. Olymp. LI. 3. Anno Servii Tullii, R. Roman., 5. 6. And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river. 7 Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8 Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. 9 And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the Ver. 12; Rev. xxii. 2.- Or, plain; see Deut iii. 17; iv. 49; Josh. iii. 16. from that seed. 3. The ear out of that blade. And, 4. The full corn in that ear. III. It may be applied to the discoveries a penitent believer receives of the mercy of God in his salvation. He is-1. A little child, born of God, born from above, and begins to taste the bread of life, and live on the heavenly food. 2. He grows up and increases in stature and strength, and becomes a young man. 3. He becomes matured in the Divine life, and has his spiritual senses exercised so as to become a father in Christ. In other words, the grace of God appears to come drop by drop; it is given as it can be used; it is a seed of light, and multiplies itself. The penitent at first can scarcely believe the infinite goodness of his Maker; he however ventures to follow on with the conducting angel, the minister of the Gospel, in his With respect to the phraseology of this chapter, it may be said that St. John had it particularly in view while he wrote his celebrated description of the para-descriptions of the plenitude of that salvation, provided dise of God, Rev. xxii. The prophet may therefore be referring to the same thing which the apostle describes, viz., the grace of the Gospel, and its effects in the world. Verse 2. There ran out waters] ' ' mayim mephaccim, the waters seem to have been at first in small quantity; for the words imply that they oozed or dropped out. They were at first so small that they came guttatim, drop by drop; but they increased so, that they became a river in which one could swim. Verses 3-5. He measured a thousand cubits,—the waters were to the ANKLES; a thousand more, the waters were to the KNEES; a thousand more,—they became a RIVER that could not be forded. The waters were risen, and they were waters to swim in. I. This may be applied to the gradual discoveries of the plan of salvation,-1. In the patriarchal ages. 2. In the giving of the law. 3. In the ministry of John the Baptist. And, 4. In the full manifestation of Christ by the communication of the Holy Ghost. II. This vision may be applied also to the growth of a believer in the grace and knowledge of God. There is-1. The seed of the kingdom. 2. The blade in that living Temple in which alone the well-spring of life is to be found. 4. In thus following on to know the Lord he finds a continual increase of light and life, till at last he is carried by the streams of grace to the ocean of eternal mercy; then "Plunged in the Godhead's deepest sea, IV. These waters may be considered as a type of the progress which Christianity shall make in the world. 1. There were only a few poor fishermen. 2. Afterwards many Jews. 3. Then the Gentiles of Asia Minor and Greece. 4. The continent and isles of Europe. And, 5. Now spreading through Africa, Asia, and America, at present these waters are no longer a river, but an immense sea; and the Gospel fishers are daily bringing multitudes of souls to Christ. Verse 9. Every thing whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live] Life and salvation shall continually accompany the preaching of the Gospel; the death of sin being removed; the life of righteousness shall be brought in. There shall be a very great multitude of fish] On The dimensions and A. M. 3430. Olymp. LI. 3. Anno R. Roman., 5. i rivers shall come, shall live: months, because their waters they and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. 10 And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from En-gedi even unto En-eglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many. 11 But the miry places thereof and the marshes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt. m 12 And by the river' upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed it shall bring forth new fruit according to his i Heb. two rivers. Num. xxxiv. 6; Josh. xxiii. 4; chap. xlviii. 28. Or, and that which shall not be healed.- m Ver. 7. Heb. shall come up. Job viii. 16; Psa. i. 3; Jer. xvii. 8. P Or, principal. Or, for bruises and sores. Rev. xxii. 2. the above plan this must refer to genuine converts to the Christian faith; true believers, who have got life and salvation by the streams of God's grace. The apostles were fishers of men; converts were the fish caught. See below. As the waters flow into the DEAD Sea, where no fish, it is said, can live, its waters must be healed, that is, made capable of preserving life; and so its nature be thus far most surprisingly altered. Verse 10. The fishers shall stand upon it] On the above plan of interpretation these must mean—1. The apostles of our Lord Jesus. 2. The preachers of the everlasting Gospel. See Matt. iv. 19. A. M. 3430. issued out of the sanctuary; and Olymp. LI. 3. Anno Servii Tullit, R. Roman., 5. 16 Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; a Hazar-hatticon, which is by the coast of Hauran. 17 And the border from the sea shall be Gen. xlviii. 5; 1 Chron. v. 1; chap. xlviii. 4, 5. Or, swore." Gen. xii. 7; xiii. 15; xv. 7; xvii. 8; xxvi. 3; xxviii. 13; chap. xx. 5, 6, 28, 42.- Chap. xlviii. 29.Chap. xlviii. 1. —x Num. xxxiv. 8.-y Num. xxxiv. 8.- 22 Sam. viii. Ş. Or, the middle village. Verse 12. Shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade] A description that suits the righteous, who are still producing-1. The fruits of faith. 2. The fruits of the Spirit. 3. The fruits of love to God, obedience to his holy will, and love to all men. Benevolence, mercy, charity, kindness, &c. The leaf thereof for medicine.] See Rev. xxii. 1-5. Even the leaves, the holy profession of the righteous, is a spiritual medicine. Righteousness is thus encouraged in the world. The profession points out the salvation, as it shows the nature and sufficiency of that salvation; for a just creed contains all the articles of From En-gedi] At the southern extremity of the the Christian faith. Dead Sea. Verse 13. Joseph shall have two portions.] That Unto En-eglaim] At the northern extremity of the is, In Ephraim and Manasseh, his two sons, who each had a separate inheritance. same. Their fish shall be according to their kinds] Every kind of fish, and the fish all excellent of their kinds. All nations, and kindreds, and people shall be called by the Gospel; it shall not be an excluding system like that of Judaism, for its Author tasted death for every man. Verse 11. The miry places] "Point out," says Calmet, "the schismatics and heretics who do not live by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, but separate from his Church; and the evil Christians who dishonour that Church, of which they are corrupt members." A description applicable to the Roman Catholic Church, that is both schismatic and heretic from the Church of Jesus Christ, which is built on the foundation of the prophets and apostles, Jesus himself being the chief corner stone; for the Church of Rome, leaving this foundation, is now built on the foundation of councils and traditions, and lying miracles; the popes in their succession being its only corner stones. Verse 15. The way of Hethlon, as men go to Zedad.] Probably Hethlon is the same as Cuthlon, a city of Syria, between Antioch and Laodicea, according to Antoninus. Some of these places are not known; but see the same kind of division, Num. xxxiv. 7-12. Verse 16. Hamath] Emesa or Amesa, in Syria.— Calmet. Berothah] Berytus, now Baruth or Beeroth, which David took from Hadarezer, king of Syria, 2 Sam. viii. 8; but these things are very uncertain. Sibraim] Sabarim or Sepharvaim, according to the Hauran.] The city Aurana, and the district Verse 17. The border from the sea] The north bor The portions of A. M. 3430. B. C. 574. Olymp. LI. 3. Anno Servii Tullii, R. Roman., 5. 21 So shall ye divide this land unto you according to the tribes of Israel. Hazar-enan, the border of Da-h Hamath. This is the west mascus, and the north northward, side. and the border of Hamath. And this is the north side. 18 And the east side ye shall measure from Hauran, and from Damascus, and from Gilead, and from the land of Israel by Jordan, from the border unto the east sea. And this is the east side. 19 And the south side southward, from Tamar even to the waters of strife in Kadesh, the river to the great sea. And this is the south side southward. 20 The west side also shall be the great sea from the border, till a man come over against b Num. xxxiv. 9; chap. xlviii. 1.— c Heb. from between. d Num. xx. 13;. Deut. xxxii. 51; Psa. lxxxi. 7; chap. xlviii. 28. e Or, Meribah. der eastward is ascertained ver. 15, 16; here it is shown how far it extends itself northward. Hazar-enan] The village of Enan, Num. xxxiv. 9, placed to the north of Cæsarea Philippi. Ziphron, see Num. xxxiv. 9, called Zaphion by the Syriac. Verse 18. The east sea] The same as the Dead Sea. Verse 19. Tamar] Called Hazazon Tamar, or Engedi, 2 Chron. xx. 2. A. M. 3430. B. C. 574. Olymp. LI. 3. Anno Servii Tullii, R. Roman., 5. 22 And it shall come to pass, that ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you, and to the strangers that sojourn among you, which, shall beget children among you: * and they shall be unto you as born in the country among the children of Israel; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel. 23 And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord GOD. fOr, valley.- -g Or, toward Teman.- Num. xiii. 21; xxxiv. 8; Josh. xiii. 5.- See Eph. iii. 6; Rev. vii. 9, 10. Rom. x. 12; Gal. iii. 28; Col. iii. 11. From the border] The southern border, mentioned ver. 19. Verse 22. And to the strangers that sojourn] In former divisions of the land, no place was given to strangers; but in this division, (which seems to have no other reference than to the Gospel, for literally such a division never took place,) the strangers are to have an inheritance; intimating the calling of the Gentiles The river] Besor, which runs into the sea near into the Church of Christ, to an inheritance that is inGaza. Verse 20. The great sea] The Mediterranean. corruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away. Glory be to God for his unspeakable gift! Amen. Amen. CHAPTER XLVIII. This chapter contains a description of the several portions of the land belonging to each tribe, together with the portion allotted to the sanctuary, city, suburb, and prince, 1–29; as also the measure and gates of the new city, 30-35. A. M. 3430. B. C. 574. Olymp. LI. 3. Anno Servii Tullii, R. Roman., 5. east side unto the west side, a 5 And by the border of Manas- NOW these are the names of the tribes. From the north end to the coast of the way of Hethlon, as one goeth to Hamath, Hazar-enan, the border of Damascus north-west side, a portion for Ephraim. ward, to the coast of Hamath; for these are his sides east and west; b a portion for Dan. 2 And by the border of Dan, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Asher. 3 And by the border of Asher, from the east side even unto the west side, a portion for Naphtali. A. M. 3430. B. C. 574. Olymp. LI. 3. Anno Servii Tullii, R. Roman., 5. 6 And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even unto the west side, a portion for Reuben. 7 And by the border of Reuben, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Judah. 8 And by the border of Judah, from the east 4 And by the border of Naphtali, from the side unto the west side, shall be the offering a Chap. xlvii. 15, &c.- b Heb. one portion. NOTES ON CHAP. XLVIII. Verse 1. Now these are the names of the tribes.] See the division mentioned Num. xxxiv. 7--12, which casts much light upon this. C Chap. xlv. 1-6. Verse 9. The oblation] This was a portion of land-twenty-five thousand cubits in length, by ten thousand broad; in the centre of which was the temple, which must be destined for the use of the priests, the Levites, and the prince. Division of the land A. M. 3430. B. C. 574. which ye shall offer of five and the north side four thousand and Olymp. Ll. 3. twenty thousand reeds in breadth, five hundred, and the south side Anno Servii Tullii, R. Roman., 5. and in length as one of the other parts, from the east side unto the west side and the sanctuary shall be in the midst of it. : 9 The oblation that ye shall offer unto the LORD shall be of five and twenty thousand in length, and of ten thousand in breadth. four thousand and five hundred, 17 And the suburbs of the city shall be toward the north two hundred and fifty, and toward the south two hundred and fifty, and 10 And for them, even for the priests, shall toward the east two hundred and fifty, and be this holy oblation; toward the north five toward the west two hundred and fifty. and twenty thousand in length, and toward the 18 And the residue in length over against west ten thousand in breadth, and toward the east ten thousand in breadth, and toward the south five and twenty thousand in length: and the sanctuary of the LORD shall be in the midst thereof. 11 It shall be for the priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadok; which have kept my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray. 12 And this oblation of the land that is offered shall be unto them a thing most holy by the border of the Levites. 13 And over against the border of the priests the Levites shall have five and twenty thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth all the length shall be five and twenty thousand, and the breadth ten thousand. 14 h And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange nor alienate the first-fruits of the land: for it is holy unto the LORD. 15 And the five thousand that are left in the breadth over against the five and twenty thousand, shall be a profane place for the city, for dwelling, and for suburbs: and the city shall be in the midst thereof. 16 And these shall be the measures thereof; Chap. xliv. 15.- Or, The sanctified portion shall be for the priests. Or, ward, or ordinance.- - Chap. xliv. 10. Verse 15. And the five thousand that are left] The territory of the Levites was twenty-five thousand square cubits, ver. 20. But their city was only four thousand five hundred square cubits, see ver. 13 and 16; there remained, therefore, ten thousand cubits square to be divided, of which five thousand cubits in breadth, by twenty-five thousand in length, on the east and west sides, were reserved for a sort of second city; or for suburbs where laymen might dwell who were employed by those priests and Levites who lodged in the temple and in the city, ver. 18. And another space of one thousand cubits in breadth, by twenty-five thousand in length, which extended only from north to south, was the oblation of the holy portion shall be ten thousand eastward, and ten thousand westward: and it shall be over against the oblation of the holy portion; and the increase thereof shall be for food unto them that serve the city. 1 19 And they that serve the city shall serve it out of all the tribes of Israel. 20 All the oblation shall be five and twenty thousand by five and twenty thousand ye shall offer the holy oblation foursquare, with the possession of the city. 21 And the residue shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy oblation, and of the possession of the city, over against the five and twenty thousand of the oblation toward the east border, and westward over against the five and twenty thousand toward the west border, over against the portions for the prince: and it shall be the holy oblation; and the sanctuary of the house shall be in the midst thereof. n Conclusion of the A. M. 3430. Olymp. LI. 3. Anno Servii Tullii, EZEKIEL. east side unto the west side, Ben- 24 And by the border of Benja- 29 This is the land which ye shall divide by lot, unto the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their portions, saith the Lord GOD. description of the temple. A. M. 3430. Servii Tullit, on the north side, four thousand 32 And at the east side four thousand and five hundred and three gates; and one gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin, one gate of Dan. 33 And at the south side four thousand and five hundred measures: and three gates; one gate of Simeon, one gate of Issachar, one gate of Zebulun. 34 At the west side four thousand and five hundred, with their three gates; one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naphtali. 35 It was round about eighteen thousand measures: t and the name of the city from 30 And these are the goings out of the city that day shall be, "The LORD is there. Heb. one portion.-P Chap. xlvii. 19.- Heb. Meribah-kadesh. Chap. xlvii. 14, 21, 22. Rev. xxi. 12, &c.- - Jer. xxxiii. 16. Verse 30. These are the goings out] Each of the four sides of the city was four thousand five hundred cubits long. There were three gates on each side, as mentioned below; and the whole circumference of the city was eighteen thousand cubits. See the map, plan B. dddd. The rector of New Haven College, in New England, supposes the preceding representations to refer to the happy state of the Church in what is called the Millennium. Leaving this period out of the question, the following observations are worthy of notice : "The Jews, for whom this vision was intended, would conceive their country to be divided to the twelve tribes, in lots of a regular and mathematical form; and not confused or intermixed, as in Joshua's time. Their city laid out larger than before; and exactly four-square, with regular suburbs; the temple and appendages much more commodious for their sacrifices, and the habitations of the priests and Levites regularly formed round about the temple. So that this whole plan of the division of the country, laying out of the city, temple, and all the appendages, appears to be perfectly regular and uniform, as if it were drawn all at one time, and by one hand, who had power to effect it; and therefore conveyed to the Jews the most complete idea they were capable of conceiving of the most perfect church, commonwealth, city, temple, and conveniences, for Divine Heb. Jehovah-shammah; see Exod. xvii. 15; Judg. vi. 24. Psa. ii. 6; ix. 11; lxxvi. 2; xcix. 2; Jer. iii, 17; Joel iii. 21; Zech. ii. 10; Rev. xxi. 3; xxii. 3. Only worship. I. The Holy Land, as described chap. xlvii. and xlviii., according to the original grant, being about two hundred and fifty miles long, north and south, and about one hundred and fifty miles wide, is divided, by parallel lines east and west, to the twelve tribes, each of them having a portion twenty miles wide. between Judah and Benjamin, there is a holy portion near ten miles wide; in the middle of which is the holy oblation, twenty-five thousand cubits; that is, about ten miles square for the priests, Levites, city, and temple, chap. xlv. 1; xlviii. 8; the two ends are for the prince, chap. xlv. 7, &c. II. The holy oblation, lying in the middle of the holy portion, is twenty-five thou sand cubits square, which is near ten miles; of which ten thousand cubits, or four miles, are taken off from the north side for a habitation for the priests, and as much for the Levites on the south side, chap. xlv. 4, 5, and xlviii. 20; and five thousand cubits in the middle for the city portion, chap. xlv. 6; in the middle of which is the city, four thousand five hundred cubits square, which is nearly two miles, chap. xlviii. 15, 16. Round about this is left, two hundred and fifty cubits, near thirty rods, for suburbs, ver. 17. The remaining ten thousand cubits on the east side, and the ten thousand cubits on the west side, are for the profit of those who serve the city, out of all the tribes, ver. 18, 19. The sanctuary is in the midst of the city, chap. xlviii. 8. Ill. The sanctuary or temple, and its appendages, were entirely surrounded with a wall six cubits high and six cubits thick, chap. xl. 5; and five hundred cubits long on each side, chap. xlii. 15, &c., and xlv. 2. In the middle square stands the temple, which was surrounded by a wall one hundred cubits long on each side, chap. xli. 13, and six cubits thick, chap. xli. 6. The side-chambers on the outside four cubits, ver. 6. The |