8 And when the prince shall enter, he shall go in by the way of the porch of that gate, and he shall go forth by the way thereof.

9 But when the people of the land shall I come before the LORD in the solemn feasts, he that entereth in by the way of the north-gate to worship, shall go out by the way of the south gate; and he that entereth by the way of the south-gate, shall go forth by the way of the north-gate; he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth over against it.

n

10 And the prince in the midst of them, when they go in, shall go in; and when they go forth, shall go forth.

11 And in the feasts and in the solemnities, the meat-offering shall be an ephah to a bullock, and an ephah to a ram, and to the lambs as he is able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah.

13 Thou shalt daily prepare a burntoffering unto the LORD of a lamb of the first year without blemish: thou shalt prepare it every morning.

14 And thou shalt prepare a meat-offering for it every morning, the sixth part of an ephah, and the third part of an hin of oil, to temper with the fine flour; a meatoffering continually, by a perpetual ordinance unto the LORD.

15 Thus shall they prepare the lamb, and the meat-offering, and the oil, every morning for a continual burnt-offering.

[Practical Observations.]

If the

16 Thus saith the Lord GOD; prince give a gift unto any of his sons, the inheritance thereof shall be his sons', it shall be their possession by inheritance.

17 But if he give a gift of his inheritance to one of his servants, then it shall be his to the year of liberty; after, it shall return to the prince: but his inheritance shall be his sons' for them.

a

c

12 Now when the prince shall prepare 9 a voluntary burnt-offering, or peace- 18 Moreover the prince shall not take offerings voluntarily unto the LORD, one of the people's inheritance by oppression, shall then open him the gate that look- to thrust them out of their possession; but eth toward the east, and he shall pre- he shall give his sons' inheritance out of pare his burnt-offering and his peace-offer- his own possession: that my people be not ings, as he did on the sabbath day: then scattered every man from his possession. he shall go forth, and after his going forth one shall shut the gate.

k 2. 44:1-3. Col. 1:13.

1 Ex. 23.14—17. 34:23. Deut. 16:16. Ps. 84.7.

o Lev. 23:
Deut. 16:

P 7.

Num. 15: 28: 29:

e

19 T After, he brought me through the

t Ex. 29.38-42. Num. 28.3-
8,10. Dan. 811-13.
1 Pet. 1:19,20.

1:29.
13:8.

John
Rev.

Ex.

*Heb. a son of his year.
125. Lev. 126. marg.
Heb. morning by morning.
Ps. 92:2. Is. 50:4.
u Num. 28:5.

x Heb. 7:27. 9:26. 10:1-10.
y Gen. 25:5,6. 2 Chr. 21:3. Ps.
37:18. Matt. 25:34. Luke 10:

42. John 8:35,36. Rom. 8:15
-17,29-32. Gal. 4:7.

z Lev. 25:10. Matt. 25:14-29.
Luke 19:25,26. Gal. 4:30,31.
a 45:8. Ps. 72:2-4. 78:72. Is.
11:3,4. 32:1,2. Jer. 23:5,6.
b 22:27. 1 Kings 21:19. Mio.
2:1,2. 31-3.

c Ps. 68:13. John 10:28. Eph.

4:8.

d 34:3-6,21.

e 40:41-46. 12:9.

'since all men are equal in the sight of God.' Lowth. (Marg. Ref.)

V. 11. Marg. Ref.—Notes, 4-7, v. 7. 45:18

V. 12. 'When the service is performed, he shall go back the same way, (8) and the porter 'shall shut the gate after him; because it may not stand open upon ordinary days.' Lowth. (Marg. Ref.--Note, 1--3.).

V. 8, 9. None but the prince might enter he sanctuary from the east, and there was no entrance from the west; so that all the people must enter from the north, or from the south.-27. (Note, 1-3.) But those who entered from the north were to go out by the south; and they who entered by the south, to go out by the north. This may signify, that every thing should be regulated, in respect of divine worship, in that way which may most effectually V. 13-15. (Marg. and Marg. Ref.--Notes, prevent disorder and interruption: but it is Ex. 29:38--41. Num. 28:3-10.) It is observagenerally supposed to intimate that men ble, that nothing is here said about "the evenshould go forward, and make progress in re-ing-sacrifice;" or the additional lamb, mornligion, and go through with it; and not be su-ing and evening, on "the sabbath-days." Many perficial, hypocritical, or apostate.-"There suppose the evening-sacrifice to be included: being no passage or thoroughfare out of the but as "the morning" is repeated in a remark'temple westward; if the people had entered able manner, and the evening is not once menin at the east gate, they must have returned tioned; it seems rather to be an intimation of 'back the same way they came in; which that change in the externals of religion, which 'would have been turning their back upon God the coming of Christ would introduce. 'and the place of his residence.' Lowth.-As the prince was to return by the east gate, this reason is scarcely conclusive. (Marg. Ref.)

V. 10. Though the prince was directed to enter and return by a way of his own; yet he might enter the sanctuary at the same time, and continue as long there as the people; and thus testify his fellowship with them in the worship of God.-'He shall pay the same at'tendance upon God's worship with the people;

The

V. 16-18. This may signify, that princes in those days will not waste their revenues in enriching favorites and dependants. prince might settle a perpetual inheritance on his sons; but the grant made to any servant would expire at the year of jubilee.--Some think, that this implies, that Christ our Prince gives his children, or true believers, their inheritance unalienably: but those whom he only endues with gifts and talents, and employs in

[619

er business of the whole day: and it may be right occasionally to appropriate a day from the other six, to be spent in a similar manner.

some part of his service, whilst they remain unregenerate, will be deprived of all, when true Christians receive the full possession of their inheritance. And in this case, the eighteenth-It verse may be considered as descriptive of the character and government of our Prince of Peace. (Marg. Ref.)

behoves those in authority to use their influence and example, in promoting a general regard to the worship of God, and their wealth in preparing every thing for it; they should frequent his holy ordinances with reverence and attention, and without betraying any symptoms of weariness: for, however they may be distinguished in other matters from their subjects, they are in the sight of God entirely upon a level with them; and every distinction admissible respecting his worship, between them and others, must be confined merely to external circumstances. But whether rulers will or will not join with us, in attending on the lively ordinances, in which "Christ is set forth as evidently crucified among us;" he, our Prince of Peace, will sure

V. 19-24. The flesh of the sacrifices, which were to be eaten, was to be boiled, ex'cept the flesh of the passover. (2 Chr. 35:13.) So it is taken notice of as a piece of daintiness ... in the sons of Eli, that they would not have 'the flesh which came to their share sodden, but roasted. (1 Sam. 2:15.)... The Hebrew 'word Keturoh, translated joined, is rendered in the margin, made with chimneys, which sense 'very well agrees with the description.... There 'was a place in the inner court for boiling the trespass and sin-offerings; (19,20.) and boiling places might be appointed for boiling the 'peace-offerings, which... perhaps were dress-ly 'ed by the Levites; ... whereas the former were 'boiled by the priests in the court properly belonging to them.' Lowth.-'About the walls of these little courts, which were as kitchens, 'were little chambers for the cooks.' (Marg. and Marg. Ref.)-The most holy things, of which none but the priests might eat, were to be prepared in the inner court: the peace-offerings, of which the people partook, were to be boiled in these little courts, at the corners of the outward court. The direction, "not to bear the most holy things out into the outer court, to sanctify the people," may intimate, that the peculiar privileges of believers are not granted, or left open to unconverted persons; and that they should not promiscuously be admitted to partake of the Lord's supper: as this tends to induce in them an opinion, that they are holy persons, and need not conversion; and thus occasions much superstition and delusion. (Note, 44:17-20, v. 19.)

PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.

V. 1-15.

manifest his presence amidst us: and especially when we spend his holy day with his assembled saints, and feed by humble faith on the Sacrifice, which he has prepared and offered for us. In expectation and assurances of his glorious and gracious presence, we should worship with reverence in his courts; abound in spiritual sacrifices; consecrate our talents and substance to him, according to our ability; and take care that every thing be done decently and in order. We should recollect, that Press forward is the Christian's motto: we must still depart further and further from our sins, and sinful pursuits and connexions; and get further into the knowledge, practice, and experience of the gospel; and we should dread a hypocritical profession and worship, which generally terminate in a man's returning into his old course of sin and death.-The Lord has prescribed us many duties, as of indispensable obligation: but he has also graciously left many things to our voluntary choice; especially as to the proportion of our time and substance, to be appropriated to his immediate worship and service: that they, who "greatly delight in his commandments," may abound in them to his glory, the edification of their brethren, and their own benefit; without entangling their own consciences, or prescribing rules that might be inexpedient to others; or inducing them to formal services, for which they have no heart, and in which God could have no pleasure. But we must never omit our daily worship, nor neglect to apply the sacrifice of the Lamb of God to our souls, for pardon, peace, and salvation.

We should worship and commune with God every day, in our closets and families, and in public as we have time and opportunity. On six days of the week indeed, men are called to serve God in their temporal employments; and must not neglect those duties, even for the sake of spending all their time in his more immediate worship. But on his own day we all should occupy ourselves wholly in his sacred service: and, laying aside every other employment and all avocations, as much as may be, and shaking off sloth and inactivity, V. 16-24. we must learn to delight in the succession of Our King of peace and righteousness will one religious exercise to another, as the prop-enrich all his spiritual progeny with an un620]

CHAP. XLVII.

3 And when the man that had the line

The prophet is shewn waters springing from under the threshold in his hand went forth eastward, he measurof the temple, growing wider and deeper, and at length be

coming an impassable river, which healed the desert, and the filed with new fruit every month, the leaves of which served for medicine, 1-12. The borders of the land appointed, as to be divided among Israelites and sojourners, 13-23

dead sea; abounded with fish; and had on each bank fruit-trees

a

FTERWARD he brought me again! A unto the door of the house; and, pehold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the fore-front of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from

under, from the right side of the house, at

the south side of the altar.

2 Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the without unto the outer gate, by the way way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.

a 41.2,23-26.

Rev. 22:1.

b Ps. 46:4. s. 30:25. Joel 3:19. c 44:2.4. Zech. 148. John 7:37--39.

e

ed a thousand cubits, and he brought me
through the waters; the waters
the ancles.

were to

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 measu.ed a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, & waters † to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.

6 And he said unto

d 40:3. Zech. 2:1. Rev. 11:
1. 21:15.

me, Son of man,

Col. 1:6.

Dan. 2:34,35. Hab. 2:14. Matt. 13.31,32. Rev. 7.9. 11:

15. 20.2-4.

Heb. of swimming.

in this vision, denotes the large effusion of the
Spirit, which was very remarkable at the first
'publication of the gospel, and its wonderful
increase from small beginnings; and will be
'so again, when God shall "pour the Spirit of
'grace" upon the Jews, in order to their con-

alienable inheritance: nor will he let any man doors of the house: but he now for the first in any way serve him, without allotting him a time discovered a very small stream of waters, suitable reward. But it will be dreadful to be (so the word signifies,) springing forth from put off with a revocable portion, and to be under the threshold of the house eastward, left utterly destitute, when the children shall at his right hand, and at the south-side of the receive their full liberty and eternal inherit-altar. These waters no doubt were an emblem ance: let us then rest in nothing short of re- of the "gospel preached with the Holy Ghost generating grace, and the Spirit of adoption sent down from heaven" to render it effectuwitnessing with our spirits, that we are chil-al; and conveying with it all spiritual blessdren and heirs of God.-If all princes had in ings to the souls of believers, and to the nations them the mind that was in Christ; their peace-of the earth. (Marg. Ref. b.-Note, Rev. 22:1.) able subjects would never have cause to com--The gradual rise of the waters represented plain of being thrust out of their possessions, or scattered from them; in order that favorites and dependants might be enriched with the spoil. They would rather straiten themselves to relieve the people; as "knowing the grace of Christ, who, though he was rich, for our sakes became poor, that we through his pov-version. (Zech. 12:10.) ... The supplies of erty might be rich.”—The minister of the gospel is as truly serving Christ and the people, when in his study he is searching the scriptures, meditating, and preparing for his work, as when he is publicly preaching the word to the congregation. He should endeavor to get well acquainted with his instructions, and to speak from a matured judgment, and an experienced heart, and with fervency of spirit: he should be careful, both in dispensing the word, and in administering the sacraments, to guard the people against superstition and false confidence, and from mistaking the notion or form for "the power of godliness:" and every thing, in his outward accommodations, and manner of life, and his method of spending his time, should be so regulated, as may best tend to make him "approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

'grace are often represented, in the holy wri'ters, under the metaphor of a river, and 'streams watering the dry and thirsty earth, both cleansing and making fruitful the ground 'where they pass. The metaphor is probably 'taken from the river that watered paradise.' Lowth. (Marg. and Marg. Ref. c-f.-Note, Gen. 2:10-14.)—When the prophet had been shewn the source of these waters, he was led by his conductor to observe the progress and increase of them: and, as the east-gate was shut, he was brought out from the temple northward.-When his conductor, with the line in his hand, had measured the length of a thousand cubits from the source, he led the prophet across the waters, which only reached to his ancles: but continuing to try their depth every thousand cubits, he found them grow still deeper every time, till they could no longer be forded, but were become a river impassable, except by swimming.-This was an emblem of the progress of Christianity, from CHAP. XLVII. V. 1-5. This part of the small beginnings to an immense increase: and vision must be understood figuratively; which the latter part of the representation may relate is important, in forming a determination con- to the times, when the gospel shall fill the earth, cerning the import of the whole vision.- and produce the most extensive and important Doubtless both Solomon's temple and the sec-good effects on the state of mankind in every ond temple were well supplied with water, conveyed thither in order to wash the sacrifices, and for similar purposes; and to preserve every thing clean and wholesome: but these waters flowed originally from the temple, not as a common sewer, but as a delightful fertilizing river. The prophet had before surveyed the

NOTES.

nation. Thus the river signifies the same as the "stone, cut out without hands, and becoming a great mountain and filling the whole earth;" and the grain of mustard seed becoming a large plant, like a tree in which the fowls, of the air make their nests. (Marg. and Marg. Ref. g.–Notes, Is. 2:2-5. 9:5,6. Dan. 2:34,35,44,

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 rivers shall come, m shall live: 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.

h 8:17 40:4. 44-5. Jer. 1:11-12 Kings 2:19-22. Is. 11:6-9.
13. Zech. 4:2. 5:2. Matt. 13: Mal. 1:11. Matt. 13:15.
51.

Heb. two rivers. Ps. 78:16.

m John 5:25. 6:63. 11:25. 14:6,
19. Rom. 8:2. 1 Cor. 15:45.

Eph. 2:1-5,

n Is. 49.12. 60:3-10. Zech. 2: Or, and that which shall not
11. 8:21-23. Acts 2.41,47.
4:4. 5.14. 6:7. 21:20. Greek.

45. Matt. 13:31,32.) The passage may also be
accommodated to the progressive growth in
knowledge and holiness of true Christians:
and it is often applied to the holy scriptures,
in which are some things plain to the meanest
capacity, and others incomprehensible to the
most exalted created understanding; and only
to be apprehended by faith, as a river that can-
not be forded.
V. 7.
-Note, 12.

Trees, &c.] Marg. and Marg. Ref.

be healed, shall be, &-c. Heb.
6:4-8. 10:26-31. 2 Pet. 2:19
-22. Rev. 21:8. 22:11.

r Deut. 29:13. Judg. 9:45. Ps 107:34. Jer. 17.6. Mark 32 49.

87. Ps. 92:12. Is 60:21 61-3 Heb. come up.

1 Job 8:16. Ps. 1:3. Jer. 12. Or, principal.

** Or, bruises and sore bab 6. Jer. 8 22. Rev. 2

ed: till at length the most hopeless and benighted nations would be abundantly filled with the light and holiness of true religion, (Marg, and Marg. Ref.-Joel 3:18-21, t. 18. Matt 4:18-22, v. 19. 13:47—50. Luke 5:1—JI, v. 10.)

The rivers, &c. (9) 'The word "rivers and 'river," are promiscuously used in this verse: "though some of the Jewish writers are of 'opinion, that these waters divide themselves, 'and some flow eastward, and others west'ward; which opinion they ground ... chiefly upon the words of Zechariah. 14:8.' Louth. (Note, Zech. 14:6–9, v. 8.) The dual (marg.) seems to mark out two rivers; but as the word rendered "country" (8) is Galilee, it perhaps implies that one river flowed into the sea of Galilee, though that which flowed into the dead sea be principally noticed.

V. 11. There would, however, still remain some marshes, creeks, or swamps, into which these healing waters could not find an entrance; and these would be left incurably steril and worthless. This represents the case of those, who reject, neglect, or pervert the gospel; or those countries, which exclude it from among them. In short it is the only healing medicine for the distempers of our fallen race; and they will be given up as reprobate to final ruin who are not healed by it. (Marg, and Marg. Ref.-Notes, Heb. 6:4–8. 2 Pet. 2:W— 22.)

V. 8-10. These waters ran eastward into the desert, and then into the sea; which is supposed to mean the dead sea, or the lake of Sodom, that lay east of Jerusalem. In this sea it is said no living creature is found; at least it is evident, that it does not abound with fish, as other seas do. But the prophet was informed by his conductor, that when the waters from the sanctuary should enter the sea, its waters also would become wholesome, and fit for the production and habitation of fishes, and of every living thing found in other seas; for to every place whither they flowed they would communicate life abundantly: so that fishers would spread their nets from one side of this lake of Sodom to another, (for En-gedi || lay on one side, and En-eglaim on the other side, of the lake,) and take exceedingly great quantities of all those kinds of fish, which they had been used to catch in the Mediterranean sea. 'Mystically denoting the healing virtue 'of God's grace to cure the vices and corrup V. 12. St. John has almost transcribed this 'tions of wicked men.' Lowth. This repre- part of the vision, and applied it to the salvasented the efficacy of the gospel, when attend-tion of Christ, as perfected in the felicity of ed by the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, to heaven. (Note, Rev. 22:2-5, v. 2.) In his viscommunicate spiritual life to the most atro-ion, the trees, on each side of the river of the cious sinners, like those of Sodom; to render water of Life, seem to signify the several parts the Gentile nations productive of numerous of the mediatorial work of Christ, and the sufconverts; checking the progress of iniquity, ficiency of his salvation to supply all the variundermining the foundations of idolatry, re- ous wants of believers, and to complete their forming cities and countries, and bringing uninterrupted felicity. Many expos'tors inmen to know, worship, and serve the one liv-terpret this verse of believers, who are “trees ing and true God, where his name had not of righteousness" planted on the banks of this before been known. So that the ministers of river in great abundance. Yet the plenteous Christ would meet with abundant encourage- provisions of the gospel, the precious promis ment to labor, and to preach the gospel, where es of the sacred word, and the privileges of before none ever thought of being so employ-believers, as communicated to their souls by

13 Thus saith the Lord GOD; " This || from Gilead, and from the land of Israel shall be the border whereby ye shall in- by Jordan, from the border unto the east herit the land, according to the twelve sea. And this is the east side. tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have two 19 And the south side southward, from portions. ¡Tamar even to the waters of strife in Kadesh, the river to the great sea. this is the south side southward. 20 The west side also shall be the great

14 And ye shall inherit it, one as well as another; concerning the which I lifted up mine hand to give it unto your fathers: and this land shall fall unto you for in-sea from the border, till a man come over heritance.

22 And it shall come to pass, that k 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: m 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.

g Gen. 31:23,47. Galead. Num. 1 ¶ Or, toward Teman.
32:1. Judg. 10:8.
k 13,14.