Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 7 · Ezekiel · Chapter 48
CHAP. XLVIII.
HAving set forth the boundaries of the land in generall, here followeth V. 1, 2.the distribution thereof in particular amongst the 12. tribes, and first of 7. of them on the one side of the holy portion northward, then of the other five southward, vers. 23. all which yet are said in latitude to lye east and west. Then it is repeated again, which was said before of the most holy portion, of the city and the princes portion. Vers. 8, 9, 10, &c. to vers. 23. The 25000. reeds in length being exactly cast up, came to 45. miles, which is such a length, as never any city in this world was of, and therefore cannot be meant of any city to be built by the Jewes again after their return from Babylon, but of the Chuch under the Gospell, as hath been said before. And by this great length between the city and sanctuary it is well noted by some, what a long Note. way he must goe, that would attain to the kingdome of heaven, so that as he, that hath a long journey to go, must get up betimes in the morning, so he that would go thither had need to begin to go in the straight way betimes, in his youth, and not deferre it till sicknesse or old age. Again because this city Note. is placed afarre off from the sanctuary, for that was in the midst of the holy portion of this great length, so that there were above twenty miles between the city and the house of God, note that such as would attain everlasting life, shall be nearest unto it, if they remove before out of the city, that is, worldly distractions and troubles, betaking themselves to a more solitary kinde of life wherein they may more freely attend upon Gods worship and service. Under the Old Testament indeed the Temple stood in the city, because men might intend worldly things, and yet be near unto God, whose service stood then so much in outward things: but now the Lord saith, He that will be my disciple must deny himself, and take up his crosse and follow me. And he speaks of forsaking father and mother, and house and land for his Names sake, for thus it was at the first necessary, seeing otherwise there could not have been preachers without any clog or hinderance to hinder them in their course of going out to convert souls. But now it sufficeth in minde to be lifted up towards Gods tabernacle, and when we use the world to be as if we used it not, remote from the city of those, that like moules are alwaies delving in the earth through the worldlinesse of their mindes.
Whereas it is said vers. 14. of the Levites portion, they shall not sell, nor alienate, V. 14.nor exchange it, because it is holy to the Lord. It is hereby shewed, that lands given to the ministers of Christ under the New Testament, may never be again taken away, or put to any other use, but to their maintenance for ever. Note. Of the danger of taking any thing away, that hath been dedicated to God, see in the example of Ananias and Saphira, and before of Achan, about the gold Act. 5. Josh. 7. Cap. 6. 19.of Jericho, which was to come into the sanctuary; and if by the consent of Gods ministers themselves there may never be any such alienation, how shall they answer it, who against their consent, and to the immediate depriving of some of their livelihood dare lay violent hands hereupon?
For the breadth of 5000. left over against the 25000. of the holy portion, it shall be a prophane place. That is, of the 25000. reeds assigned to the city in length, but V. 15.5000. in breadth, for the building of the city and the suburbs, a square of 5000. shall be taken, upon which it shall stand, within the wals 4500. every way, and without 250. round about it. And thus 5000. being taken out of the length, there will remain 10000. eastward, and 10000. westward, which shall be for fields, for vines, olive-trees, and corn for the use of the city. Where the city is called the prophane place in none other sense, but as it was for common persons, and not ministers to dwell in, for the word rendred prophane, signifieth indifferently prophane or common. But by the number of Note. 5000. said to be prophane was shewed, that all things pertaining to the 5. senses are prophane or common, & therefore such as spiritual persons ought not to be taken with, to be hereby drawn in their affections from heavenly.
And they that serve the city, shall be out of all the tribes of Israel. That is, indifferently permitted to dwell there from all parts, so Lyra, or they shall bring from all parts provision to be spent there, as they did of old at their 3 festivals yearly.
All the holy oblation shall be foursquare with the possession of the city, 2500. and V. 20.25000. How the city and holy portion together made a square 25000. every way, may be made to appear thus, the priests portion in length 25000. the Levites lying along by that 25000. either 10000. broad, and the cities portion. 25000. long, and 5000. broad, which breadths being all put together make just the square before spoken of. And a square God would have it, to shew Note. 1. the durability thereof, as any thing made square standeth strongest, and 2. how firmly we should stand, that be the city, that is the Church of God, whatsoever contrary conditions we be cast into, as a dye that is square standeth, howsoever it be cast. 3. That all our dealings should be square, our deeds, words, thoughts, and outward shewes all answering to one another, when it is thus with us, we are the holy portion, otherwise not, but unholy and unclean.
Here (after the Levites and cities portion, being a square altogether intimating V. 21, 22.in the quadrature before spoken of, that ministers and common people are all alike) a repetition is made also of the princes part, to shew next unto what tribes it should lye on the one side of the portion before spoken of and the other, viz. by Judah on this side, and Benjamin on that, therefore as it was ended with Judahs portion in speaking of the 7. former tribes, so it is begun with Benjamins, vers. 23. in speaking of the five.
And these are the goings out of the city on the north side 4500. measures. That is, V. 30.the city being square the north side being 4500. had 3 gates to go out at, so likewise the south, the east and the west, 12. in all according to the number of the tribes of Israel, as hath been before said, the whole compasse of the city being thus found to be 18000. and the name of the city shal be from that day, The Lord is there. The name implying his everlasting being with his Church, as he saith, V. 35. Math. 28. 20. Isidor.Loe I am with you to the end of the world. The gates to goe out at set forth mens divers goings out or departures out of this life, some having a sharp passage as it were northward, some more comfortable southward, some in a sense of the light of Gods favour eastward, some in darknesse westward.