Seventh-day Adventist Bible CommentaryEzekiel 44

Brought me back. That is, from the inner court (see ch. 43:5). Gate of the outward sanctuary. Or, “the outer gate of the sanctuary” (RSV), here the entire enclosure. See p. 716, B.

Hath entered in by it. See ch. 43:4. Sanctified by the divine presence, the gate would not be used for the ordinary purpose of the entrance of the people.

The prince. That is, the civil ruler of the future kingdom. The rabbis referred this to the Messiah. But Jesus Christ could not be the prince here mentioned. The prince would offer a sin offering for himself (ch. 45:22), would have sons (ch. 46:16), and would worship by offering sacrifices (ch. 46:2). To eat bread. Doubtless a reference to sacrificial meals such as were eaten with certain offerings (see Ex. 18:12; Lev. 7:15; Deut. 12:7, 18).

The north gate. Since this is described as “before the house,” that is, in front of it, the gate must have been the inner north gate (p. 716. I). Glory of the Lord. See on ch. 43:2–5.

Strangers. Or, “foreigners.” The aliens living in Israel were allowed to take part in the Passover and other religious rites if they submitted to circumcision (Ex. 12:48). In certain circumstances they were allowed to offer sacrifices (Num. 15:14, 26, 29).

Not kept the charge. Instead of keeping the charge of the Temple as they had been appointed to do, the Levites had hired servants of aliens and had allowed them in the Temple court whether they were true worshipers of God or not (Joshua 9:27; Ezra 8:20; cf. Num. 16:40; Zech. 14:21).

No stranger. The precaution was designed to prevent the desecration of the temple of the future.

Levites. Verses 10–14 describe the official duties of the Levites in the new economy. Because of apostasy and idolatry the Levites would be degraded from the exalted privilege of ministering at the altar.

Sons of Zadok. On the historical background of the Zadokite priesthood see on 2 Sam. 8:17; cf. Eze. 40:46.

Linen garments. Compare Ex. 28:40–43; 39:27–29; Lev. 6:10.

Put off their garments. The priests were to wear their sacrificial robes only when engaged in the service of the temple. Special buildings (p. 716, T, T) were provided near the temple where they were to change their garments before and after ministering at the altar (ch. 42:13, 14).

Shave their heads. Compare Lev. 21:1–5; Deut. 14:1. It was the practice of the heathen Egyptians to shave their heads. This was probably one of the reasons for its prohibition for the priests of the Lord. They were not to let their hair grow long as the barbarians did, but to cut it and keep it orderly. Only while under the vow of the Nazirite had they been permitted to let it grow long (Num. 6:5; cf. Lev. 10:6; 21:10).

Wine. Compare Lev. 10:9; Jesephus Antiquities iii. 12. 2.

A widow. According to Levitical law a distinction was made between the marriage and mourning laws for the high priest and those for the ordinary priest. The ordinary priest could not marry a divorced woman (Lev. 21:7) but could, apparently, marry a widow, whereas the high priest could not marry a divorced woman, not even a widow, but only a virgin of Israel (Lev. 21:14). Here the ordinary priest’s marriage to a widow is restricted.

Teach my people. The priests were to be the teachers of the people so that the people might know the truth and be guarded against apostasy. Instruction is essential to Christian growth. There can be no real spiritual growth unless there is continual advancement in knowledge. Israel had earlier been “destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). This was not to be repeated in the restored economy. The individual Christian today receives such instruction through the study of the Word and through instructors of the Word. Each day he should add to his fund of spiritual knowledge, and act upon the new light. A change in heart is always accompanied by a clear conviction of Christian duty.

Stand in judgment. This had been their previous office under the earlier economy (Deut. 33:10).

Come at no dead. This regulation resembled the earlier one (see Lev. 21:1–3).

Their inheritance. The order of offerings again reflected the ancient law. On the meat, sin, and trespass offerings see Lev. 2:3; 6:25, 29; 7:6, 7; on the devoted field see Lev. 27:21; on the first fruits see Ex. 23:19; 34:26; Num. 18:13; Deut. 18:3, 4; on the special heave offerings see Num. 15:19–21; 18:19. The priests of the new temple were provided a place of residence in the “obligation,” or “holy portion of the land” (Eze. 45:1–5).

Dead of itself. Compare Lev. 17:15; 22:8; Deut. 14:21.